Abstract

New measurements of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations in ice from Law Dome, Antarctica reproduce published Law Dome CO 2 and CH 4 records, extend them back to 2000 years BP, and include N 2 O. They have very high air age resolution, data density and measurement precision. Firn air measurements span the past 65 years and overlap with the ice core and direct atmospheric observations. Major increases in CO 2 , CH 4 and N 2 O concentrations during the past 200 years followed a period of relative stability beforehand. Decadal variations during the industrial period include the stabilization of CO 2 and slowing of CH 4 and N 2 O growth in the 1940s and 1950s. Variations of up to 10 ppm CO 2 , 40 ppb CH 4 and 10 ppb N 2 O occurred throughout the preindustrial period. Methane concentrations grew by 100 ppb from AD 0 to 1800, possibly due to early anthropogenic emissions.