Accelerator mass spectrometry of particle-bound ¹⁰Be

Priller, A., Berger, M., Gaggeler, H. W., Gerasopoulos, E., Kubik, P. W., Schnabel, C., Tobler, L., Wild, E.-M., Zanis, P. and Zerefos, C. (2004) Accelerator mass spectrometry of particle-bound ¹⁰Be. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 223-24, pp. 601-607. (doi: 10.1016/j.nimb.2004.04.111)

Abstract

In the framework EU Project STACCATO (Influence of Stratosphere–Troposphere Exchange in A Changing Climate on Atmospheric Transport and Oxidation Capacity), the first long-term, simultaneous monitoring of the two cosmogenic radionuclides ⁷Be and ¹⁰Be was performed. Emphasis was paid to a high-resolution record of the data, too. A comprehensive data set was created in order to validate model calculations and to provide an independent estimate of the strength of atmospheric transport processes, such as stratosphere–troposphere exchange. For that reason, particle-bound beryllium isotopes were collected at three high-alpine meteorological stations: at Sonnblick (Austria), Zugspitze (Germany) and Jungfraujoch (Switzerland), respectively. A total of 400 daily or bi-daily ¹⁰Be measurements are now available. While ⁷Be sampling and measurement processes are well standardized, the determination of ¹⁰Be concentrations using AMS is more complicated. For that reason an extensive description of the ¹⁰Be measurement is given. Moreover, the basic characteristics of the ¹⁰Be/⁷Be ratios are presented, leading to a mean annual value of 2.08 and 1.82 for Jungfraujoch and Zugspitze, respectively. Analysis in combination with meteorological parameters shows the usefulness of the ratio as an index of stratosphere-to-troposphere transport (STT), especially when wet scavenging becomes important. Regression analysis of the ¹⁰Be/⁷Be ratio with ⁷Be, ¹⁰Be and relative humidity revealed that the ratio is virtually independent from the effect of wet scavenging while inspection of the weather patterns related to the highest ratios indicated the presence of typical patterns for stratospheric intrusions. Nevertheless, although the ¹⁰Be/⁷Be ratio can be successful in identifying certain STT cases it is a difficult parameter for an automated stratospheric intrusion detection algorithm.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Schnabel, Dr Christoph
• Authors: Priller, A., Berger, M., Gaggeler, H. W., Gerasopoulos, E., Kubik, P. W., Schnabel, C., Tobler, L., Wild, E.-M., Zanis, P., and Zerefos, C.
• Subjects: Q Science > QC Physics
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
• Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
• ISSN: 0168-583X
• ISSN (Online): 1872-9584
• Published Online: 18 May 2004