In:
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, American Geophysical Union (AGU), Vol. 105, No. D11 ( 2000-06-16), p. 14531-14546
Abstract:
Atmospheric CH 4 and its stable isotope ratios 13 C/ 12 C and D/H have been investigated at the Global Atmospheric Watch station Izaña, Tenerife (28°N, 16°W, 2370 m above sea level), since late 1996. Every fortnight both spot samples and integral samples were taken, the latter collected continuously over 2‐week periods. While spot samples show considerable synoptic‐scale variability, the continuous samples clearly define seasonal cycles of CH 4 , δ 13 C, and δD, with peak‐to‐peak amplitudes of 30 ppb, 0.2‰ and 3.5‰, respectively. The measurement of the δD seasonality is the first ever reported for atmospheric background CH 4 and has been made possible by the development of a tunable diode laser based optical Methane Isotopomer Spectrometer (MISOS). The δD is well in phase with CH 4 mixing ratios, and the compact correlation between them allows to derive the average kinetic isotope effect (KIE) of the tropospheric sinks to be 1.23±0.04 (1σ), consistent with recent laboratory measurements of the kinetic isotope effect in the reaction of CH 4 ±OH. In contrast to δD, δ 13 C is out of phase to CH 4 mixing ratios, clearly indicating that δ 13 C is not only effected by the KIE of the CH 4 ±OH reaction, but also by seasonally varying source mixtures. Considerable short‐term variations are observed in the isotopic composition and mixing ratios of the spot samples. This can be attributed to different origin of air masses arriving at Izaña. Significant CH 4 enhancement is observed for air masses originating from the North American continent or Europe, of 12.7±11.7 and 13.4±0.3 ppb, respectively, while air from the African continent or the North Atlantic is depleted (−11.2±2.8 and −7.0 ± 8.2 ppb). Deviations from the mean seasonal CH 4 cycle are correlated with significant deviations of δ 13 C and δD, allowing to estimate the δ 13 C and δD signatures of major source regions. Furthermore, deviations in CH 4 mixing ratio are also clearly correlated with deviations of CO and SF 6 mixing ratios. A three‐dimensional inverse model is employed in order to assist with the interpretation of observational data. In general, the model shows excellent agreement with the observed mean seasonal cycles of CH 4 , δ 13 C, and δD, including the observed phase behavior.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0148-0227
DOI:
10.1029/1999JD901176
Language:
English
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Publication Date:
2000
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