Efficient Sampling of Atmospheric Methane for Radiocarbon Analysis and Quantification of Fossil Methane.

ABSTRACT: Radiocarbon (¹⁴C) measurements offer a unique investigative tool to study methane emissions by identifying fossil-fuel methane in air. Fossil-fuel methane is devoid of ¹⁴C and, when emitted to the atmosphere, causes a strong decrease in the ratio of radiocarbon to total carbon in methane (Δ¹⁴CH₄). By observing the changes in Δ¹⁴CH₄, the fossil fraction of methane emissions can be quantified. Presently, there are very few published Δ¹⁴CH₄ measurements, mainly because it is challenging to collect and process the large volumes of air needed for radiocarbon measurements. We present a new sampling system that collects enough methane carbon for high precision Δ¹⁴CH₄ measurements without

SUBMITTER: Zazzeri G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8264951 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature