An automated GC-C-GC-IRMS setup to measure palaeoatmospheric [delta].sup.13C-CH.sub.4, [delta].sup.15N-N.sub.2O and [delta].sup.18O-N.sub.2O in one ice core sample

Air bubbles in ice core samples represent the only opportunity to study the mixing ratio and isotopic variability of palaeoatmospheric CH.sub.4 and N.sub.2 O. The highest possible precision in isotope measurements is required to maximize the resolving power for CH.sub.4 and N.sub.2 O sink and source reconstructions. We present a new setup to measure [delta].sup.13 C-CH.sub.4, [delta].sup.15 N-N.sub.2 O and [delta].sup.18 O-N.sub.2 O isotope ratios in one ice core sample and with one single IRMS instrument, with a precision of 0.09, 0.6 and 0.7‰, respectively, as determined on 0.6-1.6 nmol CH.sub.4 and 0.25-0.6 nmol N.sub.2 O. The isotope ratios are referenced to the VPDB scale ([delta].sup.13 C-CH.sub.4 ), the N.sub.2 -air scale ([delta].sup.15 N-N.sub.2 O) and the VSMOW scale (δ.sup.18 O-N.sub.2 O). Ice core samples of 200-500 g are melted while the air is constantly extracted to minimize gas dissolution. A helium carrier gas flow transports the sample through the analytical system. We introduce a new gold catalyst to oxidize CO to CO.sub.2 in the air sample. CH.sub.4 and N.sub.2 O are then separated from N.sub.2, O.sub.2, Ar and CO.sub.2 before they get pre-concentrated and separated by gas chromatography. A combustion unit is required for [delta].sup.13 C-CH.sub.4 analysis, which is equipped with a constant oxygen supply as well as a post-combustion trap and a post-combustion GC column (GC-C-GC-IRMS). The post-combustion trap and the second GC column in the GC-C-GC-IRMS combination prevent Kr and N.sub.2 O interferences during the isotopic analysis of CH.sub.4 -derived CO.sub.2 . These steps increase the time for [delta].sup.13 C-CH.sub.4 measurements, which is used to measure [delta].sup.15 N-N.sub.2 O and [delta].sup.18 O-N.sub.2 O first and then [delta].sup.13 C-CH.sub.4 . The analytical time is adjusted to ensure stable conditions in the ion source before each sample gas enters the IRMS, thereby improving the precision achieved for measurements of CH.sub.4 and N.sub.2 O on the same IRMS. The precision of our measurements is comparable to or better than that of recently published systems. Our setup is calibrated by analysing multiple reference gases that were injected over bubble-free ice samples. We show that our measurements of [delta].sup.13 C-CH.sub.4 in ice core samples are generally in good agreement with previously published data after the latter have been corrected for krypton interferences.