In Situ Production Of CO2 In The Antarctic Siple Dome Ice Core Record
Abstract
Understanding how the atmospheric concentration of CO2 changed in the past in response to other changes in the climate system provides us with a better understanding of how current and future changes in the carbon cycle will influence our future climate. CO2 records from Antarctic ice cores are considered to be representative of paleoatmospheric concentrations because its low dust content might not allow significant in situ production of CO2 by carbonate-acid reaction as shown in Greenland ice cores. Despite similarities in general time series of CO2 records with other Antarctic ice cores, at some depth intervals, the Siple Dome ice shows higher CO2 concentrations by up to 20 ppm (Øimol CO2/mol air) than those in other Antarctic ice cores. In order to examine the possible mechanisms of CO2 production in the Siple Dome ice core, we check the CO2 difference between Siple Dome and Taylor Dome or Dome C. With the latest results of chemical and physical studies of the Siple Dome ice we discuss three possible mechanisms for the in situ production of CO2 in the Siple Dome ice core: (1) carbonate-acid reaction, (2) oxidation of organic compounds, and (3) snowmelting/refreezing.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004AGUFM.U31A0006A
- Keywords:
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- 3344 Paleoclimatology;
- 1827 Glaciology (1863);
- 1615 Biogeochemical processes (4805);
- 0325 Evolution of the atmosphere