Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Geophysical Research

Publisher

American Geophysical Union

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Publication Date

10-27-1996

First Page

23,317

Last Page

23,334

Issue Number

D18

Volume Number

101

Abstract/ Summary

Ice core data from Yukon and Greenland spanning from ∼1750 to 1950 indicate that between ∼1850 and ≤1910 a clear atmospheric signal exists of an episodic biomass burning event that is referred to as the Pioneer Agriculture Revolution. This is best seen in NH4+ ion and particulate concentrations but also in some limited black carbon concentration data, where for all three quantities maximum levels reach about 3 times the prerevolution background concentrations. Tree cellulose δ13C data and some early, controversial, French, air CO2 data, occurring within the same time interval, are interpreted as providing other independent evidence for the same, mainly North American, late 19th century biomass burning event. Some hitherto problematic northern hemisphere ice core derived CO2 concentration data may now be interpreted as containing a biomass burn signal, and these data are compared, especially as to the time of occurrence, with all the other results. A global carbon cycle model simulation of atmospheric CO2 mixing ratios using a maximum input of 3 Gt(C)/yr at northern midlatitudes produces “anomalous” CO2 levels close to some of the ice core carbon dioxide values. However, other values in this data set do not reasonably represent fully mixed atmospheric values. This suggests that these values might be transients but still “tracers” for biomass burning. Nevertheless, it appears possible that interhemispheric CO2 gradients of similar magnitude to the present one could have existed briefly late last century.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Holdsworth, G., K. Higuchi, G. A. Zielinski, P. A. Mayewski, M. Wahlen, B. Deck, P. Chylek, B. Johnson, and P. Damiano (1996), Historical biomass burning: Late 19th century pioneer agriculture revolution in northern hemisphere ice core data and its atmospheric interpretation, Journal of Geophysical Research, 101(D18), 23,317–23,334, doi:10.1029/96JD01158.

DOI

10.1029/96JD01158

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