Black Carbon Measurements of Snow and Ice Using the Single Particle Soot Photometer: Method Development and an AD 1852-1999 Record of Atmospheric Black Carbon from a Mount Logan Ice Core

<p>Black carbon (BC), produced by the combustion of fossil and biofuels, warms the climate by absorbing solar radiation when in the atmosphere and by reducing the albedo of snow and ice when deposited. Measuring BC in snow and ice is important for estimating albedo reduction and developing historical records of BC concentration. Experiments were conducted to further develop a method for measuring BC in snow and ice using the Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2). Results suggest the optimal procedures for sample storage, treatment, and nebulization, and analysis and calibration of BC concentrations measured using the SP2 coupled to a CETAC ultrasonic nebulizer. The methods were then used to develop an AD 1852-1999 record of BC using an ice core from Mt. Logan in the Yukon Territory, Canada. The BC recorded at Mt. Logan is predominantly from biomass burning in Alaska, the Yukon Territory, and Siberia. Climatic implications of the BC record are discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geological Sciences

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Menking, James Andrew

Contributors dc:contributor

• Susan Kaspari
• Carey Gazis
• Dominic Klyve

• black carbon
• atmospheric monitoring
• ice cores
• photometry
• Atmospheric Sciences
• Climate
• Environmental Monitoring
• Glaciology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1447

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-2472