Ice core measurements of 14CH4 show no evidence of methane release to atmosphere from methane hydrates during a large warming event 11,600 years ago

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dc.contributor.authorPetrenko, VVen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSeveringhaus, JPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSmith, AMen_AU
dc.contributor.authorRiedel, Ken_AU
dc.contributor.authorBrook, EJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSchaefer, Hen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBaggenstos, Den_AU
dc.contributor.authorHarth, CMen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHua, Qen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBuizert, Cen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSchift, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFaïn, Xen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMitchell, Len_AU
dc.contributor.authorBauska, TKen_AU
dc.contributor.authorOrsi, AJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWeiss, RFen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-03T09:03:42Zen_AU
dc.date.available2020-06-03T09:03:42Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2016-03-07en_AU
dc.date.statistics2020-05-28en_AU
dc.description.abstractThawing permafrost and marine methane hydrate destabilization have been proposed as large sources of methane to the atmosphere in response to both past and future warming. We present measurements of 14C of paleoatmospheric CH4 over the Younger Dryas – Preboreal (YD – PB) abrupt warming event (≈11,600 years ago) from ancient ice outcropping at Taylor Glacier, Antarctica. The YD – PB event was associated with a ≈ 50% increase in atmospheric CH4 concentrations. 14C can unambiguously identify CH4 emissions from “old carbon” sources, such as permafrost and CH4 hydrates. The only prior study of paleoatmospheric 14CH4 (from Greenland ice) suggested that wetlands were the main driver of the YD - PB CH4 increase, but the results were weakened by an unexpected and poorly understood 14CH4 component from in situ cosmogenic production directly in nearsurface ice. In this new study, we have been able to accurately characterize and correct for the cosmogenic 14CH4 component. All samples from before, during and after the abrupt warming and associated CH4 increase yielded 14CH4 values that are consistent with 14C of atmospheric CO2 at that time, indicating a purely contemporaneous methane source. These new measurements rule out the possibility of large CH4 releases to the atmosphere from methane hydrates or old permafrost carbon in response to the large and rapid YD - PB warming, and confirm that wetlands were the main driver of the CH4 increase.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationPetrenko, V.V., Severinghaus, J.P., Smith, A.M, Riedel, K., Brook, E., Schaefer, H.,Baggenstos, D., Harth, C. M., Hua, Q., Buizert, C., Schilt, A., Fain, X., Mitchell,L., Basuka, T.K., Orsi, A. J.,& Weiss, R. F. (2016). Ice core measurements of 14CH4 show no evidence of methane release to atmosphere from methane hydrates during a large warming event 11,600 years ago. Paper presented at the IPICS 2016, International Partnerships in Ice Core Sciences, Second Open Science Conference, 7-11 March 2016, Hobart, Tasmania.en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate11 March 2016en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameIPICS 2016, International Partnerships in Ice Core Sciences, Second Open Science Conferenceen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceHobart, Tasmaniaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate7 March 2016en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc9605en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/9501en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherAntarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centreen_AU
dc.subjectPleistocene epochen_AU
dc.subjectGlaciersen_AU
dc.subjectGreenhouse gasesen_AU
dc.subjectPaleoclimatologyen_AU
dc.subjectClimatic changeen_AU
dc.subjectAntarcticaen_AU
dc.subjectGreenlanden_AU
dc.subjectMethaneen_AU
dc.titleIce core measurements of 14CH4 show no evidence of methane release to atmosphere from methane hydrates during a large warming event 11,600 years agoen_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
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