An automated GC-C-GC-IRMS setup to measure palaeoatmospheric [delta]13C-CH4, [delta]15N-N2O and [delta]18O-N2O 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 CH4 and N2 O. The highest possible precision in isotope measurements is required to maximize the resolving power for CH4 and N2 O sink and source reconstructions. We present a new setup to measure δ13 C-CH4 , δ15 N-N2 O and δ18 O-N2 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[per thousand], respectively, as determined on 0.6-1.6 nmol CH4 and 0.25-0.6 nmol N2 O. The isotope ratios are referenced to the VPDB scale (δ13 C-CH4 ), the N2 -air scale (δ15 N-N2 O) and the VSMOW scale (δ18 O-N2 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 CO2 in the air sample. CH4 and N2 O are then separated from N2 , O2 , Ar and CO2 before they get pre-concentrated and separated by gas chromatography. A combustion unit is required for δ13 C-CH4 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 N2 O interferences during the isotopic analysis of CH4 -derived CO2 . These steps increase the time for δ13 C-CH4 measurements, which is used to measure δ15 N-N2 O and δ18 O-N2 O first and then δ13 C-CH4 . 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 CH4 and N2 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 δ13 C-CH4 in ice core samples are generally in good agreement with previously published data after the latter have been corrected for krypton interferences.