The role of atomic chlorine in glacial-interglacial changes in the carbon-13 content of atmospheric methane

Levine, James G.; Wolff, Eric W.; Jones, Anna E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2040-4841; Sime, Louise C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9093-7926. 2011 The role of atomic chlorine in glacial-interglacial changes in the carbon-13 content of atmospheric methane. Geophysical Research Letters, 38 (4), L04801. 6, pp. 10.1029/2010GL046122

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Abstract/Summary

The ice-core record of the carbon-13 content of atmospheric methane (δ13CH4) has largely been used to constrain past changes in methane sources. The aim of this paper is to explore, for the first time, the contribution that changes in the strength of a minor methane sink―oxidation by atomic chlorine in the marine boundary layer (ClMBL)―could make to changes in δ13CH4 on glacial-interglacial timescales. Combining wind and temperature data from a variety of general circulation models with a simple formulation for the concentration of ClMBL, we find that changes in the strength of this sink, driven solely by changes in the atmospheric circulation, could have been responsible for changes in δ13CH4 of the order of 10% of the glacial-interglacial difference observed. We thus highlight the need to quantify past changes in the strength of this sink, including those relating to changes in the sea-ice source of sea salt aerosol.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1029/2010GL046122
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Chemistry and Past Climate
ISSN:	0094-8276
NORA Subject Terms:	Glaciology Chemistry Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	19 May 2011 10:28 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/14068

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