Abstract:
This data set contains depth profiles for delta carbon-13 (δ13C) and delta deuterium (δD) of methane (CH/4) in South Pole firn air. The investigators obtained air samples from two boreholes during December 2008 and January 2009, and subsequently determined isotope ratios at 18 depths. The profiles represent a roughly 100-year history of the isotopic composition of CH/4 at South Pole Station (no depth-age model provided). Data are available via FTP as an ASCII text file (.txt) and a Microsoft Excel file (.xlsx).
Quality
The investigator analyzed 156 firn air samples from the 2008-2009 field season and 44 standards for δ13C and δD of CH4. The average standard deviation of replicate samples at each of the 18 depths was ±0.13 and ±4.2 for δ13C and δD, respectively.
National Snow and Ice Data Center
CIRES, 449 UCB
University of Colorado
City:
Boulder
Province or State:
CO
Postal Code:
80309-0449
Country:
USA
Publications/References
Battle, M. et al. 1996. Atmospheric Gas Concentrations over the Past Century Measured in Air from Firn at the South Pole. Nature 383, 231-235. Sowers, T., S. Bernard, O. Aballain, J. Chappellaz, J.M. Barnola, and T. Marik. 2005. Records of the delta 13C of atmospheric CH4 over the last 2 centuries as recorded in Antarctic snow and ice. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 19, doi:10.1029/2004GB002408.
