The Earth's atmosphere – A stable isotope perspective and review. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hoefs, Jochen; Harmon, Russell
• Is Part Of: Applied geochemistry. Volume 143(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: Environmental geochemistry -- Periodicals; Water chemistry -- Periodicals; Geochemistry -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Geochemistry -- Periodicals; 551.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105355
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-2927

Abstract

Abstract: This review summarizes the stable isotope composition of the gases and aerosols comprising the Earth's atmosphere. Recent technical progress in analytical methodologies has enabled analysis the H- and O-isotopic composition of water vapor by remote sensing, precise measurement of the rare isotopes 17 O, 33 S and 36 S, the recognition of mass-independent isotope fractionations, and determination of the stable isotope composition of volatile metals in aerosols. Together these approaches have resulted in new insights into atmospheric processes and permitted the delineation of atmospheric constituents derived from natural versus anthropogenic sources. Ice core analysis has demonstrated that the isotope composition of the atmosphere has changed continuously as a consequence of both past climate cycles and more recently because of fossil fuel and other anthropogenic emissions. Isotope proxies and geochemical modeling have recognized that the nature of the atmosphere has varied throughout geologic history and will continue to do so in the near future. Highlights: Isotope analysis of 17 O, 33 S and 36 S, and of volatile metals in aerosols gave new insights into atmospheric processes. Isotope analysis permitted the delineation from natural versus anthropogenic sources. Atmosphere has changed over geologic history as revealed by isotope composition of ice cores. The nature of the atmosphere will continue to vary in the near future.