Alkanes in firn air samples, Antarctica and Greenland
Summary
This data set contains ethane, propane, and n-butane measurements in firn air from the South Pole and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide in Antarctica, and from Summit, Greenland. The WAIS Divide and South Pole samples were collected in December to January of of 2005/06 and 2008/09, respectively. The Summit firn was sampled in the summer of 2006. Analyses were conducted on a gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system at the University of California, Irvine. Measurements and the associated uncertainties are reported as dry air molar mixing ratios in part per trillion (ppt). The reported measurements for each sampling depth represent a mean of multiple measurements on more than one flask in most cases.
Data are available via FTP in Microsoft Excel (.xls) format.
Citing These Data
The following example shows how to cite the use of this data set in a publication. For more information, see our Use and Copyright Web page.
The following example shows how to cite the use of this data set in a publication. List the principal investigators, year of data set release, data set title, publisher: NSIDC, and digital media.
Aydin, M and E. Saltzman. 2011. Alkanes in firn air samples, Antarctica and Greenland. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center. http://dx.doi.org/10.7265/N5X9287C.
Overview Table
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Data format | Microsoft Excel (.xls) |
| Spatial coverage and resolution | South Pole, Antarctica WAIS Divide Ice Core Site, Antarctica Summit Ice Core Site, Greenland |
| Temporal coverage | December to January 2005/06 December to January, 2008/09 Summer 2006 (Northern Hemisphere) |
| File naming convention | UCI_FirnAirData_LightAlkanes.xls |
| File size | 19 KB |
| Parameters | ethane propane n-butane |
| Procedures for obtaining data | FTP |
Table of Contents
- Contacts and Acknowledgments
- Detailed Data Description
- Data Access and Tools
- Data Acquisition and Processing
- References and Related Publications
- Document Information
1. Contacts and Acknowledgments
Investigators
Murat Aydin
University of California, Irvine
Department of Earth System Science
Irvine, California 92697
USA
Dr. Eric Saltzman
University of California, Irvine
3325 Croul Hall
Irvine, California 92697
USA
Technical Contact
NSIDC User Services
National Snow and Ice Data Center
CIRES, 449 UCB
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0449 USA
phone: +1 303.492.6199
fax: +1 303.492.2468
form: Contact NSIDC User Services
e-mail: nsidc@nsidc.org
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs (OPP) grant number 0739598.
2. Detailed Data Description
Format
This data set is provided in Microsoft Excel (.xls) format.
File and Directory Structure
Data are available on the FTP site in the ftp://sidads.colorado.edu/pub/DATASETS/AGDC/nsidc0504_aydin_V01/ directory. The data set consists of one file, UCI_FirnAirData_LightAlkanes.xls.
File Size
The data set is 19 KB.
Spatial and Temporal Coverage
Measurements were taken from firn air from three locations:
| Site Name | Location | Dates of Firn Sample Collection |
|---|---|---|
South Pole, Antarctica |
Latitude: 90°S |
December 2008 to January 2009 |
WAIS Divide Ice Core Site, Antarctica |
Latitude: 79.47°S |
December 2005 to January 2006 |
Summit Ice Core Site, Greenland |
Latitude: 72.5833°N |
Summer 2006 (Northern Hemisphere) |
Parameter or Variable
This data set contains ethane, propane, and n-butane measurements from firn air, reported as dry air molar mixing ratios in part per trillion (ppt).
Parameter Description
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
depth (m) |
Sample depth, in meters below surface |
ethane (ppt) |
Gas concentration measurement, reported as dry air molar mixing ratios in part per trillion (ppt) |
2 s.e. (ppt) |
Standard error range of the data, reported as dry air molar mixing ratios in part per trillion (ppt) |
Sample Data Record
This sample data record shows the first three records for propane data.
| Firn air propane data | ||||||||||
| South Pole, Antarctica | WAIS-D, Antarctica | Summit, Greenland | ||||||||
| depth (m) | propane (ppt) | 2 s.e. (ppt) | depth (m) | propane (ppt) | 2 s.e. (ppt) | depth (m) | propane (ppt) | 2 s.e. (ppt) | ||
| 0 | 6.3 | 1.7 | 0 | 11.3 | 2.0 | 0 | 102.7 | 14.2 | ||
| 10 | 22.0 | 0.6 | 14.99 | 25.1 | 6.2 | 10.01 | 459.4 | 30.8 | ||
| 17 | 29.9 | 2.0 | 20.53 | 28.8 | 6.2 | 15.05 | 469.7 | 25 | ||
3. Data Access and Tools
Data Access
Data are available via FTP.
Volume
Total volume of the data set is 19 KB.
Software and Tools
Data are accessible using Microsoft Excel.
Related Data Collections
- Analysis of Siple Dome Ice Core: Carbonyl Sulfide (COS), Methyl Chloride (CH3Cl), and Methyl Bromide (CH3Br)
- Antarctic Ice Cores: Methyl Chloride and Methyl Bromide
Related Web Sites
4. Data Acquisition and Processing
Theory of Measurements
Hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, and n-butane, are released from fossil fuel burning as well as from natural sources. By measuring the concentration of hydrocarbons from firn air samples, researchers can determine historical atmospheric concentrations of these chemicals, dating back multiple decades. These data may therefore be useful for quantifying historical fossil fuel emissions.
Sensor or Instrument Description
Samples were measured in a laboratory at the University of California, Irvine, on a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) designed for trace gas analysis.
Data Acquisition Methods
Researchers filled flasks from firn air samples using established methods, cited in Battle, et. al. 1996.
5. References and Related Publications
Aydin, M., K. R. Verhulst, E. S. Saltzman, M. O. Battle, S. A. Montzka, D. R. Blake, Q. Tang, and M. J. Prather. 2011. Recent Decreases in Fossil Fuel Emissions of Ethane and Methane Derived from Firn Air, Nature, 476, 198-201, doi:10.1038/nature10352.
Aydin, M., M. B. Williams, and E. S. Saltzman. 2007. Feasibility of Reconstructing Paleoatmospheric Records of Selected Alkanes, Methyl Halides, and Sulfur Gases from Greenland Ice Cores. Journal of Geophysical Research. 112, D07312, doi:10.1029/2006JD008027.
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.
6. Document Information
Acronyms
The following acronyms are used in this document.
| Acronym | Description |
|---|---|
| AGDC | Antarctic Glaciological Data Center |
| FTP | File Transfer Protocol |
| NSIDC | National Snow and Ice Data Center |
| URL | Uniform Resource Locator |
| WAIS | West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide |
Document Creation Date
14 December 2011
Document URL
http://nsidc.org/data/docs/agdc/nsidc0504-aydin/index.html
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