Chinese Journal of Polar Research

ADVANCES IN POLAR SCIENCE ›› 2005, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (2-English): 90-100.

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Atmospheric Methane in Ice Cores

 Xu Baiqing1,2, Yao Tandong1,2, Liu Xianqiu1 and Guo Xuejun1,2   

  1. 1 Laboratory of environment and process on Tibetan Plateau, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China;
    2 Key Laboratory of Cryosphere and Environment, Jointly Established by Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute and Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Meteorological Science, China Meteorological Administration, Lanzhou 730000, China
  • Online:1955-06-30 Published:1955-06-30
  • Contact: Xu Baiqing

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Abstract:

The reconstruction of air trapped in ice cores provides us the most di- rect information about atmospheric CH4 variations in the past history.Ice core records from the “Three Poles (Antarctica, Greenland and Tibetan Plateau)” reveal the detailed fluctuations of atmospheric CH4 concentration with time and are allowed to quantify the CH4 differences among latitudes. These data are indispensably in the farther study of the relationship between greenhouse gases and climatic change,and of the past changes in terrestrial CH4 emissions.Ice cores reconstruction indicates that atmospheric CH4 concentration has increased quickly since industrialization,and the present day's level of atmospheric CH4 (1800 pp by) is unprecedented during the past Glacial-Interglacial climate cycles.

Key words: Ice core, Methane record, Climate change