Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2024-123
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2024-123
20 Aug 2024
 | 20 Aug 2024
Status: a revised version of this preprint was accepted for the journal AMT and is expected to appear here in due course.

A new portable sampler of atmospheric methane for radiocarbon measurements

Giulia Zazzeri, Lukas Wacker, Negar Haghipour, Philip Gautchi, Thomas Laemmel, Sönke Szidat, and Heather Graven

Abstract. Radiocarbon (14C) is an optimal tracer of methane emissions, as 14C measurements enable distinguishing fossil from biogenic methane (CH4). However, 14C measurements in atmospheric methane are still rare, mainly because of the technical challenge of collecting enough carbon for 14C analysis from ambient air samples. In this study we address this challenge by advancing the system in Zazzeri et al. (2021) into a much more compact and portable sampler, and by coupling the sampler with the MICADAS AMS system at ETH, Zurich, using a gas interface.

Here we present the new sampler setup, the assessment of the system contamination and a first inter-laboratory comparison with the LARA AMS laboratory at the University of Bern.

With our sampling line we achieved a very low blank, 0.7 µgC compared to 5.5 µgC in Zazzeri et al. (2021), and a sample precision of 0.9 %, comparable with other measurements techniques for 14CH4, while reducing the sample size to 60 liters of air. We show that this technique, with further improvements, will enable routine 14CH4 measurements in the field for an improved understanding of CH4 sources.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Giulia Zazzeri, Lukas Wacker, Negar Haghipour, Philip Gautchi, Thomas Laemmel, Sönke Szidat, and Heather Graven

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on amt-2024-123', Anonymous Referee #1, 26 Aug 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on amt-2024-123', Anonymous Referee #2, 08 Sep 2024

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on amt-2024-123', Anonymous Referee #1, 26 Aug 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on amt-2024-123', Anonymous Referee #2, 08 Sep 2024
Giulia Zazzeri, Lukas Wacker, Negar Haghipour, Philip Gautchi, Thomas Laemmel, Sönke Szidat, and Heather Graven
Giulia Zazzeri, Lukas Wacker, Negar Haghipour, Philip Gautchi, Thomas Laemmel, Sönke Szidat, and Heather Graven

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Short summary
Radiocarbon (14C) is an optimal tracer of methane (CH4) emissions, as 14C measurements enable distinguishing fossil from biogenic methane. However, these measurements are particularly challenging, mainly due to technical difficulties in the sampling procedure. With this work we made the sample extraction much simpler and time efficient, providing a new technology that can be used by any research group, with the goal of expanding 14C measurements for an improved understanding of methane sources.