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Data Set ID:
NSIDC-0314

Atmospheric CO2 and Climate: Byrd Ice Core, Antarctica, Version 1

Reconstructions of ancient atmospheric CO2 variations help us better understand how the global carbon cycle and climate are linked. This data set compares CO2 variations on millennial time scales between 20,000 and 90,000 years with an Antarctic temperature proxy and records of abrupt climate change in the Northern hemisphere.

Geographic Coverage

Parameter(s):
  • Snow/Ice
  • Snow/Ice > Snow/Ice Chemistry
Spatial Coverage:

  • N: -80.01, S: -80.01, E: -119.833611, W: -119.833611
Spatial Resolution: Not Specified
Temporal Coverage: Not specified
Temporal Resolution: Not specified
Data Format(s):
  • Microsoft Excel
Platform(s) GROUND STATIONS, LABORATORY
Sensor(s): CORING DEVICES, GAS CHROMATOGRAPHS
Version: V1
Data Contributor(s): Jinho Ahn, Edward Brook
Metadata XML: View Metadata Record
Data Citation

As a condition of using these data, you must cite the use of this data set using the following citation. For more information, see our Use and Copyright Web page.

Ahn, J. and E. J. Brook. 2007. Atmospheric CO2 and Climate: Byrd Ice Core, Antarctica, Version 1. [Indicate subset used]. Boulder, Colorado USA. NSIDC: National Snow and Ice Data Center. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7265/N58W3B80. [Date Accessed].

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Detailed Data Description

Reconstruction of ancient atmospheric CO2 variations help us better understand how the global carbon cycle and climate are linked. This data set compares CO2 variations on millennial time scales between 20,000 and 90,000 years with an Antarctic temperature proxy and records of abrupt climate change in the Northern hemisphere. CO2 and Antarctic temperature are positively correlated over millennial-scale climate cycles, implying a strong connection to southern ocean processes. Evidence from marine sediment proxies indicates that CO2 rose most rapidly when North Atlantic Deep Water shoaled and stratification in the Southern Ocean was reduced. These increases in CO2 occurred during stadial (cold) periods in the Northern hemisphere, several thousand years before abrupt warming events in Greenland.

Format

Data files are in Microsoft Excel format viewable with spreadsheet software and an Adobe Acrobat PDF

File Naming Convention

Files are named according to the following convention.

File name File Size Description  
Ahn-Byrd-CO2-20-90ka.xls
 45 KB Microsoft Excel File 
Ahn-08-sci.pdf
 450 KB associated .PDF file 
Ahn-08-sci-SOM.pdf
 700 KB associated .PDF file
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Volume

The data set is approximately 45 KB.

Spatial Coverage

Southernmost Latitude: 80.01° S 
Northernmost Latitude: 80.01° S 
Westernmost Longitude: 119.51° W
Easternmost Longitude: 119.51° W

Temporal Coverage

90 to 20 ka

Parameter or Variable

Parameter Description

The measured parameter is CO2 at various depths in the ice core.

Parameter Range

Carbon dioxide (Co2): 201.79 parts per million by volume (ppmv) to 224.99 ppmv.

Sample Data Record

The data below are the first 10 data samples showing Byrd CO2 records.

BP= Before 1950 (GISP2 time scale)

Uncertainty is estimated from the standard deviation of the mean for 2~5 ice samples

Depth
Blnier-01 age
Ahn-08age
mean CO2
# of replicates
Uncertainty
Ref.
(m)
GISP(ka BP)
GISP(ka BP)
(ppm)
(ppm)
1315.91
19.460
19.286
194.36
2
0.97
AB-08
1332.34
20.061
19.887
191.14
2
0.19
AB-08
1334.20
20.152
19.978
192.54
2
0.09
AB-08
1346.28
20.578
20.404
204.27
2
0.48
AB-08
1353.02
20.759
20.585
195.37
2
0.02
AB-08
1363.17
21.065
20.891
197.12
2
1.04
AB-08
1381.14
21.731
21.557
195.81
2
1.66
AB-08
1401.95
22.399
22.225
199.75
3
4.49
AB-08
1410.30
22.729
22.555
194.62
2
0.31
AB-08
1420.27
23.530
23.356
195.97
2
1.88
AB-08

Data Acquisition and Processing

Sensor or Instrument Description

Agilent 6890N Gas Chromatograph

Data Acquisition Methods

The CO2 mixing ratio was measured with an Agilent 6890N Gas Chromatograph (GC) with flame ionization detector, with nickel catalyst conversion of CO2 to CH4 prior to measurement.

References and Related Publications

Ahn, Jinho and Ed Brook. 2007. Atmospheric CO2 and climate from 65 to 30 ka B.P. Geophysical. Research Letters. 34, L10703, doi:10.1029/2007GL029551.

Ahn, J. and Brook, E.J. Atmospheric CO2 and climate change on millennial time scales during the last glacial period, Science, 322, 83-85, doi: 10.1126/science.1160832 (2008)  

RELATED DATA COLLECTIONS

Contacts and Acknowledgments

Jinho Ahn
Department of Geosciences
Oregon State University
104 Wilkinson Hall
Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA 

Ed Brook
Department of Geosciences
Oregon State University
104 Wilkinson Hall
Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA 

Acknowledgments: 

This research was supported by National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs (OPP) grant 0337891and ATM 0602395 awarded to E. Brook and the Gary Comer Science and Education Foundation (PI: Prof. Edward J. Brook).

Document Information

DOCUMENT CREATION DATE

October 2007

DOCUMENT REVISION DATE

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