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A record of atmospheric halocarbons during the twentieth century from polar firn air

Author

Listed:
  • James H. Butler

    (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory)

  • Mark Battle

    (Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
    Princeton University
    (M.B., M.L.B.) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory
    (A.D.C.) US Global Change Research Program)

  • Michael L. Bender

    (Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
    Princeton University
    (M.B., M.L.B.) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory
    (A.D.C.) US Global Change Research Program)

  • Stephen A. Montzka

    (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory)

  • Andrew D. Clarke

    (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado
    Princeton University
    (M.B., M.L.B.) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory
    (A.D.C.) US Global Change Research Program)

  • Eric S. Saltzman

    (Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami)

  • Cara M. Sucher

    (Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
    Princeton University
    (M.B., M.L.B.) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory
    (A.D.C.) US Global Change Research Program)

  • Jeffrey P. Severinghaus

    (Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
    Princeton University
    (M.B., M.L.B.) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory
    (A.D.C.) US Global Change Research Program)

  • James W. Elkins

    (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory)

Abstract

Measurements of trace gases in air trapped in polar firn (unconsolidated snow) demonstrate that natural sources of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, persistent chlorocarbon solvents and sulphur hexafluoride to the atmosphere are minimal or non-existent. Atmospheric concentrations of these gases, reconstructed back to the late nineteenth century, are consistent with atmospheric histories derived from anthropogenic emission rates and known atmospheric lifetimes. The measurements confirm the predominance of human activity in the atmospheric budget of organic chlorine, and allow the estimation of atmospheric histories of halogenated gases of combined anthropogenic and natural origin. The pre-twentieth-century burden of methyl chloride was close to that at present, while the burden of methyl bromide was probably over half of today's value.

Suggested Citation

  • James H. Butler & Mark Battle & Michael L. Bender & Stephen A. Montzka & Andrew D. Clarke & Eric S. Saltzman & Cara M. Sucher & Jeffrey P. Severinghaus & James W. Elkins, 1999. "A record of atmospheric halocarbons during the twentieth century from polar firn air," Nature, Nature, vol. 399(6738), pages 749-755, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:399:y:1999:i:6738:d:10.1038_21586
    DOI: 10.1038/21586
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    Cited by:

    1. Malte Meinshausen & S. Smith & K. Calvin & J. Daniel & M. Kainuma & J-F. Lamarque & K. Matsumoto & S. Montzka & S. Raper & K. Riahi & A. Thomson & G. Velders & D.P. Vuuren, 2011. "The RCP greenhouse gas concentrations and their extensions from 1765 to 2300," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 109(1), pages 213-241, November.
    2. Lori Bruhwiler & Sourish Basu & James H. Butler & Abhishek Chatterjee & Ed Dlugokencky & Melissa A. Kenney & Allison McComiskey & Stephen A. Montzka & Diane Stanitski, 2021. "Observations of greenhouse gases as climate indicators," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 165(1), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Ramachandra, T.V. & Aithal, Bharath H. & Sreejith, K., 2015. "GHG footprint of major cities in India," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 473-495.

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