Collaborative Research: Methane Isotopes, Hydrocarbons, and other Trace Gases in South Pole Firn Air

Aydin/0739598该奖项支持一个项目，该项目测量在南极采集的冰雪空气中的甲烷和其他痕量气体。分析将包括：甲烷同位素(Delta-13CH4和Delta-DCH4)、轻质非甲烷碳氢化合物(乙烷、丙烷和正丁烷)、硫磺气体(COS、CS2)和甲基卤化物(CH3Cl和CH3Br.)。这些微量气体的大气负荷反映了大气OH、生物质燃烧、陆地、海洋和湿地生态系统的生物活动以及工农业活动的变化。这个项目的目标是通过检查这些气体在南极冰雪空气中的深度分布，建立上个世纪这些痕量气体的大气历史。该项目将包括两个阶段：1)在南极洲南极进行实地作业，在120米深的地方钻两个降雪洞并填充总共200个烧瓶，2)在加州大学欧文分校、宾夕法尼亚州立大学和其他几个合作实验室对降雪空气进行分析。大气历史将通过使用降雪空气输送的一维平流/扩散模式的测量来推断。这项研究将提供有关这些气体的大气水平最近变化的新信息，提供大约90年的长达90年的时间序列记录，将早期的地面和降雪空气测量连接到今天。该项目还将探索在冰雪中就地生产与解释冰芯记录有关的轻质非甲烷碳氢化合物的可能性。这项研究的更广泛影响是，它有可能通过提高我们对气候变化的理解和人类对大气的投入而产生重大的社会影响。这项工作的结果将通过同行审查程序传播，并将有助于环境评估，如政府间气候变化专门委员会(气专委)气候评估和世界气象组织(气象组织)平流层臭氧评估。这项研究将为研究生和本科生提供教育机会，并将为少数民族学区K-12教师的教师培训计划做出贡献。

Aydin/0739598This award supports a project to make measurements of methane and other trace gases in firn air collected at South Pole, Antarctica. The analyses will include: methane isotopes (delta-13CH4 and delta-DCH4), light non-methane hydrocarbons (ethane, propane, and n-butane), sulfur gases (COS, CS2), and methyl halides (CH3Cl and CH3Br). The atmospheric burdens of these trace gases reflect changes in atmospheric OH, biomass burning, biogenic activity in terrestrial, oceanic, and wetland ecosystems, and industrial/agricultural activity. The goal of this project is to develop atmospheric histories for these trace gases over the last century through examination of depth profiles of these gases in South Pole firn air. The project will involve two phases: 1) a field campaign at South Pole, Antarctica to drill two firn holes and fill a total of ~200 flasks from depths reaching 120 m, 2) analysis of firn air at University of California, Irvine, Penn State University, and several other collaborating laboratories. Atmospheric histories will be inferred from the measurements using a one dimensional advective/diffusive model of firn air transport. This study will provide new information about the recent changes in atmospheric levels of these gases, providing about a 90 year long time series record that connects the earlier surface and firn air measurements to present day. The project will also explore the possibility of in- situ production of light non-methane hydrocarbons in firn air that is relevant to the interpretation of ice core records. The broader impacts of this research are that it has the potential for significant societal impact by improving our understanding of climate change and man's input to the atmosphere. The results of this work will be disseminated through the peer review process, and will contribute to environmental assessments, such as the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Climate Assessment and the Word Meteorological Organization (WMO) Stratospheric Ozone Assessment. This research will provide educational opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students, and will contribute to a teacher training program for K-12 teachers in minority school districts.