The first ice-core record of historical atmospheric hydrogen levels

• RESEARCH BRIEFINGS

• 25 February 2026

The first ice-core record of historical atmospheric hydrogen levels

An ice-core record of hydrogen reveals that atmospheric levels vary in response to climate change and have increased drastically owing to human activity since the pre-industrial era. The apparent sensitivity of hydrogen cycling to environmental conditions should be considered when projecting the consequences of rising anthropogenic hydrogen emissions in a warming climate.

Access through your institution

Buy or subscribe

This is a summary of: Patterson, J. D. et al. Atmospheric H2 variability over the past 1,100 years. Nature 650, 898–902 (2026).

Access options

Access through your institution

Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals

Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription

27,99 € / 30 days

cancel any time

Receive 51 print issues and online access

199,00 € per year

only 3,90 € per issue

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-00578-w

‘Expert opinion’ is published under a CC BY 4.0 licence.

References

Paulot, F. et al. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 46, 13446–13460 (2021).

Article
Google Scholar

Derwent, R. G. et al. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 45, 9211–9221 (2020).

Article
Google Scholar

Ehhalt, D. H. & Rohrer, F. Tellus B 61, 500–535 (2009).

Article
Google Scholar

Patterson, J. D. et al. Clim. Past 19, 2535–2550 (2023).

Article
Google Scholar

Nicewonger, M. R., Aydin, M., Prather, M. J. & Saltzman, E. S. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. 125, e2020JD032932 (2020).

Article
Google Scholar

Download references

Reprints and permissions

Read the paper: Atmospheric H2 variability over the past 1,100 years

Forty years of ice-core records of CO2

Earth’s atmosphere took two billion years to become fully oxygenated

Subjects

Climate sciences

Geochemistry

History

Latest on:

Climate sciences

Geochemistry

History

[We need a global assessment of avoidable climate-change risks

Comment 25 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00544-6)

[EU leaders should not rush to revamp green-hydrogen rules

Editorial 25 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00560-6)

[Defunding Chile’s climate research will undermine science and the region

Correspondence 24 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00592-y)

[Rising atmospheric CO2 reduces nitrogen availability in boreal forests

Article 18 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-10039-5)

[A universal concept for melting in mantle upwellings

Article 04 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-10065-3)

[Contemporaneous mobile- and stagnant-lid tectonics on the Hadean Earth

Article 04 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-10066-2)

[Treasures of scientific history could be hiding in plain sight

News & Views 24 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00298-1)

[Iron Age mass grave reveals unprecedented violence against women and children

News 23 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00535-7)

[Student dilemma: physical science or physical education?

News & Views 17 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00297-2)

###

####
Jobs

Faculty Positions at Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake University

Seeking scientists in pathobiology, immunology, vaccinology, epidemiology, drug discovery, focusing on microbial infections and inflammations.

Hangzhou, Zhejiang (CN)

Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake University

Faculty Positions at Institute of Physics (IOP), Chinese Academy of Sciences

IOP is China's premier research institution in condensed matter physics and related fields.

Beijing (CN)

Institute of Physics (IOP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)

Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Catalysis)

Title: Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Catalysis) Location: Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Pune or Delhi Application Deadline: Marc...

Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Pune or Delhi

Springer Nature Ltd

Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Computational Science

Title: Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Computational Science  Organization: Nature Portfolio  Location: Shanghai, Beijing, Berlin or Pune - Hybr...

Shanghai, Beijing, Berlin or Pune - Hybrid Working Model

Springer Nature Ltd

2026 Overseas Outstanding Young Scholars: NKU Invites Talents From Around the World

Nankai University sincerely invite outstanding talents at home and abroad to apply for the 2026 Overseas Outstanding Young Scholars Fund.

Tianjin, CN

Nankai University

Original source