Instruments and methods: a novel method for obtaining very large ancient air samples from ablating glacial ice for analyses of methane radiocarbon

We present techniques for obtaining large (similar to 100 L STP) samples of ancient air for analysis of C-14 of methane ((CH4)-C-14) and other trace constituents. Paleoatmospheric (CH4)-C-14 measurements should constrain the fossil fraction of past methane budgets, as well as provide a definitive test of methane clathrate involvement in large and rapid methane concentration ([CH4]) increases that accompanied rapid warming events during the last deglaciation. Air dating to the Younger Dryas-Preboreal and Oldest Dryas-Bolling abrupt climatic transitions was obtained by melt extraction from old glacial ice outcropping at an ablation margin in West Greenland. The outcropping ice and occluded air were dated using a combination of delta N-15 of N-2, delta O-18 of O-2, delta O-18(ice) and [CH4] measurements. The [CH4] blank of the melt extractions was <4 ppb. Measurements of delta O-18 and delta N-15 indicated no significant gas isotopic fractionation from handling. Measured Ar/N-2, CFC-11 and CFC-12 in the samples indicated no significant contamination from ambient air. Ar/N-2, Kr/Ar and Xe/Ar ratios in the samples were used to quantify effects of gas dissolution during the melt extractions and correct the sample [CH4]. Corrected [CH4] is elevated over expected values by up to 132 ppb for most samples, suggesting some in situ CH4 production in ice at this site. © 2008, International Glaciological Society

Keywords

Air samplers, Methane, Ice, Glaciers, Air, Isotope dating

Citation

Petrenko, V. V., Severinghaus, J. P., Brook, E. J., Muhle, J., Headly, M., Harth, C. M., Schaefer, H., Reeh, N., Weiss, R. F., Lowe, D. C., & Smith, A. M. (2008). Instruments and methods: a novel method for obtaining very large ancient air samples from ablating glacial ice for analyses of methane radiocarbon. Journal of Glaciology, 54(185), 233-244. doi:10.3189/002214308784886135