Publication Abstracts

Schmidt et al. 2004

Schmidt, G.A., D.T. Shindell, and S. Harder, 2004: A note on the relationship between ice core methane concentrations and insolation. Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L23206, doi:10.1029/2004GL021083.

We re-examine the link between July 30°N insolation and methane in the Vostok ice core. Based on this link, Ruddiman [2003] suggested that an anthropogenic source of methane must have been present after 5 kyr BP in order to prevent concentrations from declining as insolation decreased through the Holocene. We conclude however, that since precessional forcing does not explain the large glacialinterglacial excursions, the component of methane variability associated with precession is significantly smaller than assumed in [Ruddiman, 2003]. The implied decrease from 10 kyr BP to the present associated with precession alone is 60 ppbv or less. We argue that increased emissions controlled by northern wetlands and river delta development likely contribute to the observed increase, consistent with similar stable CH4 levels at MIS 11 in the Vostok and Dome C records. Therefore a significant anthropogenic input is not obviously required to explain the late Holocene record.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{sc01200l,
  author={Schmidt, G. A. and Shindell, D. T. and Harder, S.},
  title={A note on the relationship between ice core methane concentrations and insolation},
  year={2004},
  journal={Geophysical Research Letters},
  volume={31},
  pages={L23206},
  doi={10.1029/2004GL021083},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - sc01200l
AU  - Schmidt, G. A.
AU  - Shindell, D. T.
AU  - Harder, S.
PY  - 2004
TI  - A note on the relationship between ice core methane concentrations and insolation
JA  - Geophys. Res. Lett.
JO  - Geophysical Research Letters
VL  - 31
SP  - L23206
DO  - 10.1029/2004GL021083
ER  -

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