Measurement Of Atmospheric CO2 Trapped In The Ice Core From Siple Dome, Antarctica

We have measured the CO₂ concentration in air occluded in the newly drilled Siple Dome ice core from Antarctica. We did this so far at moderate depth resolution from the Holocene to the bottom of the core. Higher resolution measurements will follow. The general pattern is similar to the Taylor Dome core and (at less resolution to the Vostok core). The dating of the Siple Dome core is not yet established firmly. However, the deepest CO₂ results indicate values of mid way of termination II, thereafter rising to 270 ppm and then declining. Features of CO₂ variations between 20 and 60 thousand years before present (kyr BP) resemble those by Indermuehle et al.(1999). Higher resolution data have to be done. Across termination I CO₂ follows temperature. As in the Holocene in Taylor Dome, the Siple Dome CO₂ record shows that the carbon cycle did not reach steady state after the termination I. Ref. Indermuehle et al (1999) Geophys. Res. Lett., 27-5, 735-738