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Measurements and models of the atmospheric Ar/N 2 ratio
Author(s) -
Battle Mark,
Bender Michael,
Hendricks Melissa B.,
Ho David T.,
Mika Robert,
McKinley Galen,
Fan SongMiao,
Blaine Tegan,
Keeling Ralph F.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl017411
Subject(s) - atmospheric sciences , environmental science , tracer , maxima , atmospheric chemistry , climatology , meteorology , ozone , geology , physics , art , performance art , nuclear physics , art history
The Ar/N 2 ratio of air measured at 6 globally distributed sites shows annual cycles with amplitudes of 12 to 37 parts in 10 6 . Summertime maxima reflect the atmospheric Ar enrichment driven by seasonal warming and degassing of the oceans. Paired models of air‐sea heat fluxes and atmospheric tracer transport predict seasonal cycles in the Ar/N 2 ratio that agree with observations, within uncertainties.