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Noble Gas Temperature Proxy for Climate Change
Citation:
LATHAM, M. AND W. C. SIDLE. Noble Gas Temperature Proxy for Climate Change. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/F-09/024, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Noble gases in groundwater appear to offer a practical approach for quantitatively determining past surface air temperatures over recharge areas for any watershed. The noble gas temperature (NGT) proxy should then permit a paleothermometry of a region over time. This terrestrial proxy when coupled with groundwater age dating offers a timeline of climate changes. Such a history of regional climate changes can thus aid our understanding of the resultant intensification of the water cycle. Therefore, forecasting changes in runoff and shifts in recharge patterns can be improved to model water quality and stream flow modifications. These nascent applications are occurring on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington, in support of the reestablishment of healthy anadromous fisheries.
URLs/Downloads:
URL.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 24 KB, about PDF)Noble Gas Temperature Proxy for Climate Change