Geochemical and Microbiological Studies of Nitrous Oxide Variations within the New NEEM Greenland Ice Core During the Last Glacial Period

Deep polar ice cores provide atmospheric records of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and other trace gases reflecting climate history along with a parallel archive of microbial cells transported with mineral dust, marine and volcanic aerosols from around the globe. Our interdisciplinary study of 32 samples from different depths of the recently drilled NEEM Greenland ice core addressed the question whether the identified microorganisms were capable of post-depositional biological production of N₂O in situ. We used high-resolution geochemical and microbiological approaches to examine the N₂O concentrations, the quantitative distributions of dust, Ca⁺², NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ ¡ons related to N cycle pathways, the microbial abundance and diversity at specific NEEM core depths from 1758 m to 1867.8 m. Results showed varying concentrations of N₂O (220 –271.5 ppb). Microbial abundance fluctuated between 3.3 x 10⁴ and 3.3 x 10⁶ cells mL⁻¹ in direct correlation with dust and Ca²⁺ concentrations with higher cell numbers deposited during colder periods. The average values of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ indicated that substrates were available for the microorganisms capable of utilizing them. PCR amplification of selected functional genes involved in bacterial and archaeal nitrification and denitrification was not successful. Sanger and Illumina MiSeq sequence analyses of SSU rRNA genes showed variable representation of Alpha-, Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, chloroplasts and fungi. The metabolic potential of the dominant genera of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes as possible N₂O producers suggested that denitrification activity may have led to in-situ production and accumulation of N₂O.

Control techniques for nitrogen oxides from stationary sources.

Includes bibliographies.

Reactions of uranium oxides and liquid nitrogen tetroxide /

Work performed at the Argonne National Laboratory.

A description of the jail distemper as it appeared amongst the Spanish prisoners, at Winchester in the year 1780 : to which is added an appendix containing an account of the experiment ... on board the Union Hospital Ship, in 1795, &c. to determine the effect of the nitrous acid in destroying contagion /

Mode of access: Internet.

Reactivity of certain uranium oxides with aluminum : terminal report /

"Contract No. AT-30-1 Gen-366."

Note on the appearance of nitrous acid during the evaporation of water : A report of experiments made in the Rothamsted laboratory /

Reprinted from the Journal of the Chemical Society, May, 1881.

The total and free energies of formation of the oxides of thirty-two metals,

Bibliographical foot-notes.

Documents scientifiques et administratifs concernant l'emploi des chlorures d'oxides et spécialement du chlorure d'oxide de sodium, ou liqueur de Labarraque, comme moyen d'assainissement des lieux insalubres, de désinfection des mati'eres animales et de traitement de quelques-unes des maladies de l'homme et des animaux /

Mode of access: Internet.