the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
An improved method for delta 15N measurements in ice cores
F. S. Mani
P. Dennis
W. T. Sturges
R. Mulvaney
M. Leuenberger
Abstract. The use of isotopic ratios of nitrogen gas (δ15N) trapped in ice cores as a paleothermometer to characterise abrupt climate changes is becoming a widespread technique. The versatility of the technique could be enhanced, for instance in quantifying small temperature changes during the last glacial period in Antarctic ice cores, by using high precision methods. In this paper, we outline a method for measuring δ15N to a precision of 0.006\permil (1σ, n=9) from replicate ice core samples. The high precision results from removing oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapour from the air extracted from ice cores. The advantage of the technique is that it does not involve correction for isobaric interference due to CO+ ions. We also highlight the importance of oxygen removal from the sample, and how it influences δ15N measurements. The results show that a small amount of oxygen in the sample can be detrimental to achieving an optimum precision in δ15N measurements of atmospheric nitrogen trapped ice core samples.
F. S. Mani et al.


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RC S19: 'referee comment', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Mar 2008
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SC S23: 'Response to comments by Referee #2 ', Francis Mani, 18 Mar 2008
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SC S23: 'Response to comments by Referee #2 ', Francis Mani, 18 Mar 2008
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RC S35: 'Great Mani et al. paper', Todd Sowers, 20 Mar 2008
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RC S71: 'Needs further work', Anonymous Referee #4, 07 Apr 2008
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AC S255: 'Reply to Referees' Comments', William Sturges, 23 Jun 2008


-
RC S19: 'referee comment', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Mar 2008
-
SC S23: 'Response to comments by Referee #2 ', Francis Mani, 18 Mar 2008
-
SC S23: 'Response to comments by Referee #2 ', Francis Mani, 18 Mar 2008
-
RC S35: 'Great Mani et al. paper', Todd Sowers, 20 Mar 2008
-
RC S71: 'Needs further work', Anonymous Referee #4, 07 Apr 2008
-
AC S255: 'Reply to Referees' Comments', William Sturges, 23 Jun 2008
F. S. Mani et al.
F. S. Mani et al.
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