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Reconciling ice core CO₂ and land-use change following New World-Old World contact

Earth Sciences

Reconciling ice core CO₂ and land-use change following New World-Old World contact

A. C. F. King, T. K. Bauska, et al.

Discover how high-resolution CO₂ and CH₄ measurements from the Skytrain ice core reveal intriguing patterns of atmospheric carbon dynamics during the 16th and 17th centuries. This groundbreaking research by Amy C. F. King and colleagues uncovers a gradual CO₂ decrease and challenges existing models of carbon cycling post-European contact in the Americas.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
Ice core records of atmospheric CO₂ provide valuable insights into global carbon cycle dynamics. This study presents high-resolution CO₂ and CH₄ measurements from the Skytrain ice core (1450-1700 CE), suggesting a gradual CO₂ decrease (0.5 ppm per decade) from 1516 to 1670 CE, implying a land carbon sink of 2.6 PgC per decade. This finding supports models of land-use reorganization in the Americas post-New World-Old World contact, contradicting the rapid CO₂ decrease at 1610 CE observed in the Law Dome record, which is potentially an artifact.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Mar 05, 2024
Authors
Amy C. F. King, Thomas K. Bauska, Edward J. Brook, Mike Kalk, Christoph Nehrbass-Ahles, Eric W. Wolff, Ivo Strawson, Rachael H. Rhodes, Matthew B. Osman
Tags
ice core records
CO₂ measurements
carbon cycle
climate change
land carbon sink
atmospheric gases
New World contact

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