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1000 years of Nitrogen Oxide Sources in Western Europe: Evidence from Nitrogen Stable Isotopes (δ15N) of Nitrate in a Mont Blanc Ice Core
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  • Alexis Lamothe,
  • Pete Douglas Akers,
  • Sarah Albertin,
  • Nicolas Caillon,
  • Sophie Darfeuil,
  • Elsa Gautier,
  • Patrick Ginot,
  • Shohei Hattori,
  • Joel Savarino
Alexis Lamothe
Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Grenoble INP, IGE

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Pete Douglas Akers
Trinity College Dublin
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Sarah Albertin
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement
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Nicolas Caillon
Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP (Institute of Engineering), IGE
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Sophie Darfeuil
Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Grenoble INP, IGE
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Elsa Gautier
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement
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Patrick Ginot
IRD
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Shohei Hattori
Nanjing University
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Joel Savarino
Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l'Environnement
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Abstract

Nitrogen stable isotopes (δ15N) of ice core nitrate of nitrate (NO3-) are often subject to various interpretations, associated with source, atmospheric, and/or post-depositional changes. Here, an analysis of a Mont-Blanc (French Alps) ice core was conducted to investigate δ15N(NO3-) records over the last 1000 years. We find that the glacially archived δ15N(NO3-) signal reliably preserves a record of NOx emission sources with limited post-emission isotopic changes. We use the δ15N record to reconstruct a history of NOx emissions and compare it with existing estimated NOx inventories for Western Europe. Notably, our ice-derived record suggests that inventories for the early 20th-century may have underestimated NOx emissions resulting from agriculture. During the 20th century, the δ15N value substantially decreased, which we attribute to the increasing emissions from oil combustion. Lastly, the ice core signal highlights the success of mitigation policies in reducing fossil fuel-induced NOx emissions, albeit 20 years later than anticipated.
29 May 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
08 Jun 2024Published in ESS Open Archive