Researchers from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) have co-authored a significant research paper on the production, retention, and loss of in situ cosmogenic radiocarbon (^14C) in Greenland’s firn layer and shallow ice.
The paper, published in The Cryosphere, was led by an international team from the University of Rochester and has broad implications for ^14C measurements in ice sheets.
The researchers emphasized the importance of understanding ^14C isotopes in carbon gases such as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4), with methane accounting for 23% of global warming. Their work provides critical insights into the carbon cycle.
This research enhances the interpretation of past atmospheric methane levels, which have a short lifespan. By measuring ^14CO, the team tracks changes in hydroxyl radicals (OH), often referred to as the “detergent” of the atmosphere, which is key for mitigating climate change.
Source: Oman News Agency
