#### Sample records for ice cores reveal

1. Ancient Biomolecules from Deep Ice Cores Reveal a Forested Southern Greenland

PubMed Central

Willerslev, Eske; Cappellini, Enrico; Boomsma, Wouter; Nielsen, Rasmus; Hebsgaard, Martin B.; Brand, Tina B.; Hofreiter, Michael; Bunce, Michael; Poinar, Hendrik N.; Dahl-Jensen, Dorthe; Johnsen, Sigfus; Steffensen, Jørgen Peder; Bennike, Ole; Schwenninger, Jean-Luc; Nathan, Roger; Armitage, Simon; de Hoog, Cees-Jan; Alfimov, Vasily; Christl, Marcus; Beer, Juerg; Muscheler, Raimund; Barker, Joel; Sharp, Martin; Penkman, Kirsty E.H.; Haile, James; Taberlet, Pierre; Gilbert, M. Thomas P.; Casoli, Antonella; Campani, Elisa; Collins, Matthew J.

2009-01-01

One of the major difficulties in paleontology is the acquisition of fossil data from the 10% of Earth’s terrestrial surface that is covered by thick glaciers and ice sheets. Here we reveal that DNA and amino acids from buried organisms can be recovered from the basal sections of deep ice cores and allow reconstructions of past flora and fauna. We show that high altitude southern Greenland, currently lying below more than two kilometers of ice, was once inhabited by a diverse array of conifer trees and insects that may date back more than 450 thousand years. The results provide the first direct evidence in support of a forested southern Greenland and suggest that many deep ice cores may contain genetic records of paleoenvironments in their basal sections. PMID:17615355

2. Ice Core Investigations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Krim, Jessica; Brody, Michael

2008-01-01

What can glaciers tell us about volcanoes and atmospheric conditions? How does this information relate to our understanding of climate change? Ice Core Investigations is an original and innovative activity that explores these types of questions. It brings together popular science issues such as research, climate change, ice core drilling, and air

3. Making an Ice Core.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

1995-01-01

Explains an activity in which students construct a simulated ice core. Materials required include only a freezer, food coloring, a bottle, and water. This hands-on exercise demonstrates how a glacier is formed, how ice cores are studied, and the nature of precision and accuracy in measurement. Suitable for grades three through eight. (Author/PVD)

4. Ice Core Investigations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Krim, Jessica; Brody, Michael

2008-01-01

What can glaciers tell us about volcanoes and atmospheric conditions? How does this information relate to our understanding of climate change? Ice Core Investigations is an original and innovative activity that explores these types of questions. It brings together popular science issues such as research, climate change, ice core drilling, and air…

5. Dust deposition events in Caucasus Mountains as revealed by shallow ice cores from Mt Elbrus

Kutuzov, Stanislav; Shahgedanova, Maria; Kemp, Sarah; Lavrentiev, Ivan; Mikhalenko, Vladimir; Popov, Gregory

2013-04-01

Dust aerosol transported to the high mountains and is deposited and stored in snow pack and glacier ice. Present and past records of dust stored in glaciers provide valuable information on frequency of deposition events, source regions and atmospheric pathways of mineral dust. The Caucasus Mountains, located between the Black and the Caspian seas is a glacierized region affected by deposition of desert dust from the Middle East and Sahara. In this study, a combination of ice core analysis, remote sensing and air mass trajectory modelling was used to identify the source regions of dust deposited on the glaciers of Mt Elbrus in the central Greater Caucasus and to characterize atmospheric pathways of dust with high temporal and spatial resolution. Shallow ice cores were extracted at Mt Elbrus in 2009 and 2012. Dust deposition events, recorded as brown layers in the snow, firn and ice were dated to the precision on months using oxygen and deuterium isotopic analyses. Examination of the local meteorological and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and application of HYSPLIT atmospheric trajectory model enabled dating dust deposition events with a precision of days, identification of potential source regions of desert dust and its pathways in the atmosphere. Examination of red-blue green infrared composite imagery from Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infra-Red Imager (SEVIRI) on board the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite enabled further provenancing of desert dust with high temporal (hours) and spatial (c. 100 km) resolution. Seventeen dust layers deposited between May 2009 and July 2012 were detected in the shallow cores. The source regions of the desert dust transported to Mt Elbrus were primarily located in the Middle East, in particular in eastern Syria and in the Syrian Desert at the border between Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Jordan. Northern Sahara, the foothills of the Djebel Akhdar Mountains in eastern Libya and the border region between Libya and Algeria were other important sources of desert dust. Fifteen dust deposition events occurred between March and June and two events occurred in October. The relatively high frequency of dust deposition events on Mt Elbrus may be due to the prolonged 2007-2010 drought in the Middle East resulting in more frequent activation of dust sources. Particle size and shape distributions were analysed for each dust sample using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The volume median diameter of dust particles from dust samples ranged from 3 to 13 microns. Particles with diameter of 1-10 microns accounted for 90±3% of the analysed samples. Detailed characterization of desert dust pathways from the Middle East and Sahara to the Caucasus leads to better understanding of pathways of desert dust in the atmosphere and highlights the importance of the Elbrus deep ice cores for the reconstruction of past environmental conditions in the south-eastern Europe and the Middle East in the future. This study is supported by the Marie Curie FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IIF project DIOGENES; Royal Soc JP100-235; RFBR N 1105-00304-a.

6. Consistently dated records from three Greenland ice cores reveal regional millennial-scale isotope gradients with possible Heinrich Event imprint

Seierstad, Inger K.; Rasmussen, Sune O.

2014-05-01

We here present records from the NGRIP, GRIP and GISP2 ice cores tied to the same chronology for the past 104 ka at an unprecedented time resolution. The three ice cores have been linked by matching distinct peaks in volcanic proxy records and other impurity records from the three ice cores, assuming that these layers of elevated impurity content represent the same, instantaneous event in the past at all three sites. In total there are more than 900 identified marker horizons between the three cores including previously published match points, of which we introduce a minor revision. Our matching is independently confirmed by new and existing volcanic ash layers (tephra). The depth-depth relationship from the detailed matching is used to transfer the most recent and widely used Greenland ice core chronology, the GICC05modelext timescale, to the two Summit cores, GRIP and GISP2. Furthermore, we provide gas chronologies for the Summit cores that are consistent with the GICC05modelext timescale by utilizing both existing and new unpublished gas data. A comparison of the GICC05modelext and the former GISP2 timescale reveals major discrepancies in short time intervals during the glacial section. We detect a pronounced change in the relative annual layer thickness between the two Summit sites and NGRIP across the Last Glacial termination and early-to-mid Holocene, which can be explained by a relative accumulation increase at NGRIP compared to the Summit region as response to the onset of the Holocene and the climatic optimum. Between stadials and interstadials we infer that the accumulation contrast typically was nearly 10% greater at Summit compared to at NGRIP. The δ18O temperature-proxy records from NGRIP, GRIP and GISP2 are generally very similar and display a synchronous behavior at climate transitions, but the δ18O differences between Summit and NGRIP is slowly changing over the last glacial-interglacial cycle superimposed by abrupt millennial-to centennial scale anomalies. We suggest that the latitudinal δ18O gradient during the glacial is result of 1) relatively higher degree of precipitation with a Pacific signature at NGRIP, 2) increased summer bias at Summit, and 3) enhanced Raleigh distillation process due to and increased source-to-site distance, and we conclude that this is governed by North American Ice Sheet (NAIS) volume and North Atlantic sea-ice extent and/or sea-surface temperatures (SST) at orbital timescales, while changing sea-ice extent and SSTs are the driving mechanisms on shorter timescales. We assert that δ18O difference maxima can be linked to Heinrich Events, which is associated with southwards expansion of polar waters and low SSTs in the North Atlantic, and ths propose a direct link between the marine realm and the Greenland ice core records. The work presented is under review for publication in Quaternary Science Reviews. Author team: I.K. Seierstad, P. Abbott, M. Bigler, T. Blunier, A. Bourne, E. Brook, S.L. Buchardt, C. Buizert, H.B. Clausen, E. Cook, D. Dahl-Jensen, S.Davies, M. Guillevic, S.J. Johnsen, D.S. Pedersen, T.J. Popp, S.O. Rasmussen, J. Severinghaus, A. Svensson, B.M. Vinther (deceased).

7. Ice Core Dating Software for Interactive Dating of Ice Cores

Kurbatov, A. V.; Mayewski, P. A.; Abdul Jawad, B. S.

2005-12-01

Scientists involved in ice core dating are well familiar with the problem of identification and recording the depth of annual signals using stable isotopes, glaciochemistry, ECM (electrical conductivity), DEP (dielectric properties) and particle counter data. Traditionally all parameters used for ice core dating were plotted as a function of depth, printed and after years were marked on the paper, converted to depth vs. age time scale. To expedite this tedious and manual process we developed interactive computer software, Ice core Dating (ICD) program. ICD is written in Java programming language, and uses GPL and GPL site licensed graphic libraries. The same 3.5 Mb in size pre-compiled single jar file, that includes all libraries and application code, was successfully tested on WinOS, Mac OSX, Linux, and Solaris operating systems running Java VM version 1.4. We have followed the modular design philosophy in our source code so potential integration with other software modules, data bases and server side distributed computer environments can be easily implemented. We expect to continue development of new suites of tools for easy integration of ice core data with other available time proxies. ICD is thoroughly documented and comes with a technical reference and cookbook that explains the purpose of the software and its many features, and provides examples to help new users quickly become familiar with the operation and philosophy of the software. ICD is available as a free download from the Climate Change Institute web site ( under the terms of GNU GPL public license.

8. Late Cenozoic oscillations of Antarctic ice sheets revealed by provenance of basement clasts and grain detrital modes in ANDRILL core AND-1B

Talarico, F. M.; McKay, R. M.; Powell, R. D.; Sandroni, S.; Naish, T.

2012-10-01

Petrological investigations of the sand fraction and of granule- to cobble-sized clasts in the Plio-Pleistocene sedimentary cycles of the AND-1B drill core at the NW edge of the Ross Ice Shelf (McMurdo Sound) highlight significant down-core modal and compositional variations. These variations provide: (i) direct information about potential source regions during both glacial maxima and minima; and (ii) evidence of an evolving provenance, documented by long-term shifts in compositional patterns that can be interpreted as reflecting variations in ice volume and ice sheet thermal regimes and changes in paleogeography related to the emergence of several volcanic centres during the deposition of the drill core over the past ca. 3.5 Ma. The most significant change in diamictite provenance (identified at 82.7 metre below the sea floor, mbsf), coincides with a change in sedimentary cycle architecture from sequences that are dominated by diamictites (Mid-Late Pleistocene, above 82.7 mbsf) to sequences characterised by cycles of diamictite (subglacial) and diatomite (open-marine) deposition (Pliocene, below 82.7 mbsf). In the Mid-Late Pleistocene glacial/interglacial cycles diamictites show high amounts of Skelton-Mulock sourced clasts, supplied from both basement and overlying Beacon and Ferrar supergroups, and they also include a variable contribution from reworking of glacial sediments that were deposited during earlier glacial activity. In the Pliocene to early Pleistocene diatomite-diamictite cycles basement clast compositions indicate the same provenance (Mulock-Skelton) but the main debris load was picked up from volcanic centres in the McMurdo Sound area. Similarly, associated glacial minima sediments (i.e., diatomite intervals) are dominated by volcanic clasts suggesting calving of glaciers from Ross Island or the Koettlitz Glacier region during interglacials. In agreement with previous glaciological reconstructions and numerical ice sheet models, the provenance of glacially transported material is firmly identified in the region between Ross Island and the Skelton-Mulock glacier area (South Victoria Land). The reconstructed ice directions and ice dynamic model are comparable to the configurations proposed for the grounded ice expansion within the McMurdo Sound during the Last Glacial Maximum, and they are also consistent with ice-flow patterns previously reconstructed for Pliocene and Pleistocene glacial settings in the region.

9. Dielectric stratigraphy of ice: A new technique for determining total ionic concentrations in polar ice cores

SciTech Connect

Moore, J.C.; Mulvaney, R.; Paren, J.G. )

1989-10-01

A 133 m deep Antarctic ice core from Dolleman Island, Antarctic Peninsula, has been profiled by dielectric measurements in the AF-LF (20 Hz - 100 kHz) frequency range. This has revealed large variations in dielectric relaxation and conductivity down the core. A comparison with the chemical stratigraphy along 45 m of the core demonstrates for the first time the decisive role played by acids and salts in determining the electrical behavior of natural ice. The total ionic concentration along the ice core can be deduced from the dielectric response. This technique may be applied rapidly in the field and, as it requires no contact between ice core and electrodes, the core is maintained in pristine condition for later chemical analysis.

10. Siple Dome ice reveals two modes of millennial CO2 change during the last ice age

PubMed Central

Ahn, Jinho; Brook, Edward J.

2014-01-01

Reconstruction of atmospheric CO2 during times of past abrupt climate change may help us better understand climate-carbon cycle feedbacks. Previous ice core studies reveal simultaneous increases in atmospheric CO2 and Antarctic temperature during times when Greenland and the northern hemisphere experienced very long, cold stadial conditions during the last ice age. Whether this relationship extends to all of the numerous stadial events in the Greenland ice core record has not been clear. Here we present a high-resolution record of atmospheric CO2 from the Siple Dome ice core, Antarctica for part of the last ice age. We find that CO2 does not significantly change during the short Greenlandic stadial events, implying that the climate system perturbation that produced the short stadials was not strong enough to substantially alter the carbon cycle. PMID:24781344

11. International ice core community meets to discuss best practices for ice core curation

Hinkley, Todd

Several countries now have national ice core laboratories, or substantial ice core facilities, where these proxy archives of the Earth's past climate and atmosphere are safeguarded, processed, and analyzed. Australia, China, Denmark, Japan, Argentina, and the United States have formal, dedicated ice core repositories with laboratories. India's is under construction, in Goa. France, Germany, Russia, and the U.K. have long had substantial ice core holdings and facilities for analysis of ice cores. Brazil, Chile, Italy, and Switzerland have expanding field acquisition and analytical programs that require favorable storage conditions for ice cores.Representatives of 12 countries gathered in Milan, Italy, in late August for a first meeting, InterICE, of “international ice core establishments,” to compare and discuss ideas about best practices for acquisition, storage, curation, and distribution of the ice cores that have been drilled from the polar and temperate glaciers of the world, representing up to a half-million years of the Earth's most recent past.

12. Ice Chemistry in Starless Molecular Cores

Kalvāns, J.

2015-06-01

Starless molecular cores are natural laboratories for interstellar molecular chemistry research. The chemistry of ices in such objects was investigated with a three-phase (gas, surface, and mantle) model. We considered the center part of five starless cores, with their physical conditions derived from observations. The ice chemistry of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and complex organic molecules (COMs) was analyzed. We found that an ice-depth dimension, measured, e.g., in monolayers, is essential for modeling of chemistry in interstellar ices. Particularly, the H2O:CO:CO2:N2:NH3 ice abundance ratio regulates the production and destruction of minor species. It is suggested that photodesorption during the core-collapse period is responsible for the high abundance of interstellar H2O2 and O2H and other species synthesized on the surface. The calculated abundances of COMs in ice were compared to observed gas-phase values. Smaller activation barriers for CO and H2CO hydrogenation may help explain the production of a number of COMs. The observed abundance of methyl formate HCOOCH3 could be reproduced with a 1 kyr, 20 K temperature spike. Possible desorption mechanisms, relevant for COMs, are gas turbulence (ice exposure to interstellar photons) or a weak shock within the cloud core (grain collisions). To reproduce the observed COM abundances with the present 0D model, 1%-10% of ice mass needs to be sublimated. We estimate that the lifetime for starless cores likely does not exceed 1 Myr. Taurus cores are likely to be younger than their counterparts in most other clouds.

13. Seasonal precipitation timing and ice core records

SciTech Connect

Steig, E.J.; Grootes, P.M.; Stuiver, M. )

1994-12-16

This is a commentary on global circulation model experiments of moisture source changes in Greenland, urging caution in how they are applied because they have important implications for paleoclimate reconstruction from ice cores. The work comes from preliminary find is of a ice core (GISP2) of the authors. The authors conclude that at present anomalies in Greenland ice core records should not be interpreted solely in terms of source region variations. The combined use of oxygen 18, D and ionic species in the new Summit, Greenland cores should make it possible to answer empirically some of the questions raised by the GCM experiments as to the interpretation of oxygen 18 records in terms of temperature. 4 refs., 1 fig.

14. Color Reveals Translucent Seasonal Ice

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2007-01-01

[figure removed for brevity, see original site] Figure 1

In a region near the south pole of Mars translucent carbon dioxide ice covers the ground seasonally. For the first time we can 'see' the translucent ice by the affect it has on the appearance of the surface below.

Dark fans of dust (figure 1) from the surface drape over the top of the seasonal ice. The surface would be the same color as the dust except that the seasonal ice affecting its appearance. Bright bluish streaks are frost that has re-crystallized from the atmosphere.

Sunlight can penetrate through the seasonal layer of translucent ice to warm the ground below. That causes the seasonal ice layer to sublime (evaporate) from the bottom rather than the top.

Observation Geometry Image PSP_002942_0935 was taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft on 13-Mar-2007. The complete image is centered at -86.4 degrees latitude, 99.2 degrees East longitude. The range to the target site was 245.4 km (153.4 miles). At this distance the image scale is 49.1 cm/pixel (with 2 x 2 binning) so objects 147 cm across are resolved. The image shown here has been map-projected to 50 cm/pixel . The image was taken at a local Mars time of 06:41 PM and the scene is illuminated from the west with a solar incidence angle of 82 degrees, thus the sun was about 8 degrees above the horizon. At a solar longitude of 199.6 degrees, the season on Mars is Northern Autumn.

15. Sedimentary record of ice divide migration and ice streams in the Keewatin core region of the Laurentide Ice Sheet

Hodder, Tyler J.; Ross, Martin; Menzies, John

2016-06-01

The Aberdeen Lake region of central mainland Nunavut is a former core region of the Laurentide Ice Sheet that is characterized by streamlined glacial landforms classified into multiple crosscutting flow sets and near continuous till blanket. The presence of widespread till near the centre of the Keewatin Ice Dome raises questions about its origin. Detailed drillcore logging revealed a complex stratigraphy consisting of at least 6 till units, variably preserved across the study area. Till provenance analysis indicates deposition by near opposite-trending ice flow phases, interpreted as evidence of reconfiguration of the Keewatin Ice Divide. At the surface, large north-northwesterly aligned landforms are present across the study area. The till stratigraphy within these landforms indicates the same NNW ice flow phase is responsible for considerable till production. This ice flow phase is also correlated to a long regional dispersal train of erratics toward the Gulf of Boothia. The production of an extensive, thick (~ 12 m), till sheet during the NNW-trending ice flow phase occurred far from the ice margin at a time of extensive ice cover of mainland Nunavut, likely from an east-west oriented ice divide. A deglacial westerly trending ice flow phase formed small drumlins atop the larger NNW streamlined till ridges and deposited a surficial till unit that is too thin to mask the NNW flow set across the study area. It is proposed that the Boothia paleo-ice stream catchment area propagated deep into the Laurentide Ice Sheet and contributed to significant till production in this core region of the Keewatin Sector prior to the westerly ice flow shift. The apparent relationship between till thickness and the size of the associated or correlated drumlins, flow sets, and dispersal trains indicates complex erosion/deposition interplay is involved in the formation of streamlined subglacial landforms.

16. Measurements of ethane in Antarctic ice cores

Verhulst, K. R.; Fosse, E. K.; Aydin, K. M.; Saltzman, E. S.

2011-12-01

Ethane is one of the most abundant hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. The major ethane sources are fossil fuel production and use, biofuel combustion, and biomass-burning emissions and the primary loss pathway is via reaction with OH. A paleoatmospheric ethane record would be useful as a tracer of biomass-burning emissions, providing a constraint on past changes in atmospheric methane and methane isotopes. An independent biomass-burning tracer would improve our understanding of the relationship between biomass burning and climate. The mean annual atmospheric ethane level at high southern latitudes is about 230 parts per trillion (ppt), and Antarctic firn air measurements suggest that atmospheric ethane levels in the early 20th century were considerably lower (Aydin et al., 2011). In this study, we present preliminary measurements of ethane (C2H6) in Antarctic ice core samples with gas ages ranging from 0-1900 C.E. Samples were obtained from dry-drilled ice cores from South Pole and Vostok in East Antarctica, and from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide (WAIS-D). Gases were extracted from the ice by melting under vacuum in a glass vessel sealed by indium wire and were analyzed using high resolution GC/MS with isotope dilution. Ethane levels measured in ice core samples were in the range 100-220 ppt, with a mean of 157 ± 45 ppt (n=12). System blanks contribute roughly half the amount of ethane extracted from a 300 g ice core sample. These preliminary data exhibit a temporal trend, with higher ethane levels from 0-900 C.E., followed by a decline, reaching a minimum between 1600-1700 C.E. These trends are consistent with variations in ice core methane isotopes and carbon monoxide isotopes (Ferretti et al., 2005, Wang et al., 2010), which indicate changes in biomass burning emissions over this time period. These preliminary data suggest that Antarctic ice core bubbles contain paleoatmospheric ethane levels. With further improvement of laboratory techniques it appears likely that a paleoatmospheric ethane record can be obtained from polar ice cores.

17. Antarctic-Wide Array of High-Resolution Ice Core Records Reveals Pervasive Lead Pollution Began in 1889 and Persists Today

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McConnell, J. R.; Maselli, O. J.; Sigl, M.; Vallelonga, P.; Neumann, Thomas Allen; Anschutz, H.; Bales, R. C.; Curran, M. A. J.; Das, S. B.; Edwards, R.; Kipfstuhl, S.; Layman, L.; Thomas, E. R.

2014-01-01

Interior Antarctica is among the most remote places on Earth and was thought to be beyond the reach of human impacts when Amundsen and Scott raced to the South Pole in 1911. Here we show detailed measurements from an extensive array of 16 ice cores quantifying substantial toxic heavy metal lead pollution at South Pole and throughout Antarctica by 1889 - beating polar explorers by more than 22 years. Unlike the Arctic where lead pollution peaked in the 1970s, lead pollution in Antarctica was as high in the early 20th century as at any time since industrialization. The similar timing and magnitude of changes in lead deposition across Antarctica, as well as the characteristic isotopic signature of Broken Hill lead found throughout the continent, suggest that this single emission source in southern Australia was responsible for the introduction of lead pollution into Antarctica at the end of the 19th century and remains a significant source today. An estimated 660 t of industrial lead have been deposited over Antarctica during the past 130 years as a result of mid-latitude industrial emissions, with regional-to-global scale circulation likely modulating aerosol concentrations. Despite abatement efforts, significant lead pollution in Antarctica persists into the 21st century.

18. Antarctic-wide array of high-resolution ice core records reveals pervasive lead pollution began in 1889 and persists today

McConnell, J. R.; Maselli, O. J.; Sigl, M.; Vallelonga, P.; Neumann, T.; Anschütz, H.; Bales, R. C.; Curran, M. A. J.; Das, S. B.; Edwards, R.; Kipfstuhl, S.; Layman, L.; Thomas, E. R.

2014-07-01

Interior Antarctica is among the most remote places on Earth and was thought to be beyond the reach of human impacts when Amundsen and Scott raced to the South Pole in 1911. Here we show detailed measurements from an extensive array of 16 ice cores quantifying substantial toxic heavy metal lead pollution at South Pole and throughout Antarctica by 1889 - beating polar explorers by more than 22 years. Unlike the Arctic where lead pollution peaked in the 1970s, lead pollution in Antarctica was as high in the early 20th century as at any time since industrialization. The similar timing and magnitude of changes in lead deposition across Antarctica, as well as the characteristic isotopic signature of Broken Hill lead found throughout the continent, suggest that this single emission source in southern Australia was responsible for the introduction of lead pollution into Antarctica at the end of the 19th century and remains a significant source today. An estimated 660 t of industrial lead have been deposited over Antarctica during the past 130 years as a result of mid-latitude industrial emissions, with regional-to-global scale circulation likely modulating aerosol concentrations. Despite abatement efforts, significant lead pollution in Antarctica persists into the 21st century.

19. Antarctic-wide array of high-resolution ice core records reveals pervasive lead pollution began in 1889 and persists today.

PubMed

McConnell, J R; Maselli, O J; Sigl, M; Vallelonga, P; Neumann, T; Anschütz, H; Bales, R C; Curran, M A J; Das, S B; Edwards, R; Kipfstuhl, S; Layman, L; Thomas, E R

2014-01-01

Interior Antarctica is among the most remote places on Earth and was thought to be beyond the reach of human impacts when Amundsen and Scott raced to the South Pole in 1911. Here we show detailed measurements from an extensive array of 16 ice cores quantifying substantial toxic heavy metal lead pollution at South Pole and throughout Antarctica by 1889 - beating polar explorers by more than 22 years. Unlike the Arctic where lead pollution peaked in the 1970s, lead pollution in Antarctica was as high in the early 20(th) century as at any time since industrialization. The similar timing and magnitude of changes in lead deposition across Antarctica, as well as the characteristic isotopic signature of Broken Hill lead found throughout the continent, suggest that this single emission source in southern Australia was responsible for the introduction of lead pollution into Antarctica at the end of the 19(th) century and remains a significant source today. An estimated 660 t of industrial lead have been deposited over Antarctica during the past 130 years as a result of mid-latitude industrial emissions, with regional-to-global scale circulation likely modulating aerosol concentrations. Despite abatement efforts, significant lead pollution in Antarctica persists into the 21(st) century. PMID:25068819

20. Fabric measurement along the NEEM ice core, Greenland, and comparison with GRIP and NGRIP ice cores.

Montagnat, Maurine; Azuma, Nobuhiko; Dahl Jensen, Dorthe; Eichler, Jan; Fujita, Shuji; Gillet-Chaulet, Fabien; Kipfstuhl, Sepp; Samyn, Denis; Svensson, Anders; Weikusat, Ilka

2014-05-01

Fabric (distribution of crystallographic orientations) profile along the full NEEM ice core, Greenland, is presented in this work. Data were measured in the field by an Automatic Ice Texture Analyzer every 10 m, from 33 m down to 2461 m depth. The fabric evolves from a slightly anisotropic fabric at the top, toward a strong single maximum at about 2300 m, which is typical of a deformation pattern mostly driven by uniaxial compression and simple shearing. A sharp increase in the fabric strengthening is observed at the Holocene to Wisconsin climatic transition. A similar strengthening, toward an anisotropic single maximum-type fabric, has been observed in several ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica, and can be attributed to a positive feedback between changes in ice viscosity at the climatic transition, and the impact of a shear component of stress. Centimeter scale abrupt texture (fabric and microstructure) variations are observed in the bottom part of the core. Their positions are in good agreement with the folding hypothesis used for a climatic reconstruction by Dahl-Jensen and co authors (2013). Comparison is made to two others ice cores drilled along the same ridge; the GRIP ice core drilled at the summit of the ice sheet, and the NorthGRIP ice core, drilled 325 km to the NNW of the summit along the ridge, and 365 km upstream from NEEM. The fabric profile clearly reflects the increase in shear deformation when moving NW along the ridge from GRIP to NorthGRIP and NEEM. The difference in fabric profiles between NEEM and NorthGRIP also evidences a stronger lateral extension associated with a sharper ridge at NorthGRIP. References: Dahl-Jensen, D. and 120 co-authors. Eemian interglacial reconstructed from a Greenland folded ice core, Nature, 493, 489-493, 2013.

1. Climatic ice core records from the tropical quelccaya ice cap.

PubMed

Thompson, L G; Hastenrath, S; Arnao, B M

1979-03-23

The Quelccaya Ice Cap in the easternmost glaciated mountain chain of the Peruvian Andes has been studied in four recentfield seasons. Ice cores to a depth of 15 meters have been retrieved at the summit dome (elevation, 5650 meters) and two other locations and used for microparticle, isotope, and beta radioactivity measurements. A concurrent study of the present climate and the heat and mass budgets is being made to permit a paleoclimatic interpretation of deep core records. The results indicate the need for a revision of the isotope "thermometry" for application in the tropics. However, the seasonality of the beta radioactivity, microparticle content, and isotope ratios offers the prospect of a mass balance chronology. This is important in that precipitation is believed to be a more indicative paleoclimatic parameter than temperature in the tropics. PMID:17841138

2. Ice-core evidence of abrupt climate changes

PubMed Central

Alley, Richard B.

2000-01-01

Ice-core records show that climate changes in the past have been large, rapid, and synchronous over broad areas extending into low latitudes, with less variability over historical times. These ice-core records come from high mountain glaciers and the polar regions, including small ice caps and the large ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica. PMID:10677460

3. Chemistry of microparticles trapped in last glacial period ice of EPICA-DML deep ice core

Nedelcu, Aneta F.; Faria, Sérgio H.; Kipfstuhl, Sepp; Kuhs, Werner F.

2010-05-01

The EDML ice core, drilled within the framework of the European project for Ice Coring in Antarctica, (EPICA), in the interior of Dronning Maud Land, DML, Antarctica (at 75°S, 0°E), is the first deep ice core in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean region that provides higher-resolution atmosphere and climate records for the last glacial period, when compared with other ice cores retrieved from the East Antarctic plateau [1]. The chemical impurities embedded in the ice matrix of an ice sheet are basic proxies for climate reconstruction, and their concentration and composition usually determine the occurrence of distinct (cloudy or clear) strata in the ice sheet structure. The easiest observable impurities in polar ice are air bubbles. But a considerable amount of the impurities trapped inside ice layers are observed as microscopic deposits of solid (soluble or insoluble) particles, not bigger than a few micra in size, called microinclusions. Layers of ice with a high content of (micro)inclusions are in general called cloudy bands and are considered to have been formed from the precipitations deposited during colder periods. Roughly, we expect that the colder the climate during the time the snow accumulated, the cloudier the ice stratum that forms afterwards [2]. Mainly by means of in-situ micro-Raman spectroscopy, it has been shown that in Antarctic glacial ice the soluble microinclusions occur mostly as sulphate and nitrate salts [3], while in Arctic ice more commonly as carbonate salts [4]. These findings could be explained in terms of different aerosol compositions determined by the specific regional environments and climatic conditions [5]. Regarding the insoluble particles that might exist in natural ice, with higher frequency in ice layers formed during glacial type stages, the general findings classify them in the (alumino)silicate mineralogical class [6]. Microinclusions existent in solid samples taken from clear and cloudy ice layers, corresponding to the Marine Isotope Stage 2 of the EDML deep ice core, were subjected to in-situ Raman scattering measurements. The overall results [7] resemble the observations [8] that a high content of sulphate anions could characterize the chemical composition of the aerosols arriving at the EDML ice core drilling site. Many microparticles provided a Raman signal different from what would be expected if only simple compounds were forming them (and dissimilar with those in [3]). For example, it resulted that in the same microinclusion nonequivalent sulphate groups are present (20% of all), or that sulphate and silicate anions coexist (10% of all). On the one hand, this can be explained by a simple post-depositional aggregation of very small inclusions of simple sulphate salts into microclusters. On the other hand the results might be interpreted in terms of aerosol chemistry, when a mixture of sulphate salts could have been already formed prior to deposition. This work will offer answers for questions related with the existence of a post-depositional alteration of the initial impurities deposited in the LGP ice at the EDML ice core drilling site. [1] EPICA community members (2006). One-to-one coupling of glacial climate variability in Greenland and Antarctica, Nature, 444, 195-198. [2] Faria, S.H., Freitag, J., Kipfstuhl, S. (2010) Polar ice structure and the integrity of ice-core paleoclimate records, Quaternary Sci. Rev., 29, 1-2, 338-351. [3] Ohno H., M. Igarashi, T. Hondoh. 2005. Salt inclusions in polar ice core: Location and chemical form of water-soluble impurities, Earth Planet.Sci. Lett., 232, 171-178. [4] Sakurai T., Iizuka Y., Horikawa S., Johnsen S., Dahl-Jensen D., Steffensen J.P., Hondoh T. (2009). Direct observation of salts as micro-inclusions in the Greenland GRIP ice core. J. Glaciol., 55, 193, 777-783. [5] Iizuka Y., Horikawa S., Sakurai T., Johnson S, Dahl-Jensen D., Steffensen J.P., Hondoh T. (2008). A relationship between ion balance and the chemical compounds of salt inclusions found in the Greenland Ice Core Project and Dome Fuji ice cores. J. Geophys. Res., 113, D7, D07303. [6] Iizuka, Y., Miyake T., Hirabayashi M., Suzuki T., Matoba S., Motoyama H., Fujii Y., Hondoh T. (2009). Constituent elements of insoluble and non-volatile particles during the Last Glacial Maximum exhibited in the Dome Fuji (Antarctica) ice core. J. Glaciol., 55, 191, 552-562. [7] Nedelcu A.F., Kipfstuhl S., Faria S.H., Kuhs W.F. Microinclusions in clear and cloudy (MIS2) EDML ice revealed by Raman spectroscopy. In preparation for J. Glaciol. [8] Weller R., Wagenbach D. (2007) Year-round chemical aerosol records in continental Antarctica obtained by automatic samplings. Tellus 59, 755-765.

4. Fabric measurement along the NEEM ice core, Greenland, and comparison with GRIP and NGRIP ice cores

Montagnat, M.; Azuma, N.; Dahl-Jensen, D.; Eichler, J.; Fujita, S.; Gillet-Chaulet, F.; Kipfstuhl, S.; Samyn, D.; Svensson, A.; Weikusat, I.

2014-01-01

Fabric (distribution of crystallographic orientations) profile along the full NEEM ice core, Greenland, is presented in this work. Data were measured in the field by an Automatic Ice Texture Analyzer every 10 m, from 33 m down to 2461 m depth. The fabric evolves from a slightly anisotropic fabric at the top, toward a strong single maximum at about 2300 m, which is typical of a deformation pattern mostly driven by uniaxial compression and simple shearing. A sharp increase in the fabric strengthening is observed at the Holocene to Wisconsin climatic transition. A similar strengthening, toward an anisotropic single maximum-type fabric, has been observed in several ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica, and can be attributed to a positive feedback between changes in ice viscosity at the climatic transition, and the impact of a shear component of stress. Centimeter scale abrupt texture (fabric and microstructure) variations are observed in the bottom part of the core. Their positions are in good agreement with the folding hypothesis used for a climatic reconstruction by Dahl-Jensen et al. (2013). Comparison is made to two others ice cores drilled along the same ridge; the GRIP ice core drilled at the summit of the ice sheet, and the NorthGRIP ice core, drilled 325 km to the NNW of the summit along the ridge, and 365 km upstream from NEEM. The fabric profile clearly reflects the increase in shear deformation when moving NW along the ridge from GRIP to NorthGRIP and NEEM. The difference in fabric profiles between NEEM and NorthGRIP also evidences a stronger lateral extension associated with a sharper ridge at NorthGRIP.

5. Biological proxies recorded in a Belukha ice core, Russian Altai

Papina, T.; Blyacharchyuk, T.; Eichler, A.; Malygina, N.; Mitrofanova, E.; Schwikowski, M.

2013-05-01

Different biological proxies such as pollen, cysts, and diatoms were identified and quantified in the upper part of a Belukha ice core from the Russian Altai. The ice core from the Belukha glacier collected in 2001 (4062 m a.s.l., 49°48' N, 86° 34' E) was analyzed with annual resolution in the period 1964-2000. We used daily data of the frequency of synoptic patterns observed in the Northern Hemisphere along with daily data of precipitation to identify the main modern sources of biological proxies deposited at the Belukha glacier. Our analyses revealed that main sources of diatoms in the Belukha ice core are water bodies of the Aral, Caspian, and North Kazakhstan basins. Coniferous trees pollen originated from the taiga forest of the boreal zone of West Siberia and pollen of hardwoods and herbs from steppe and forest steppe vegetation in the Northern Altai and East Kazakhstan. Cysts of algae and spores of inferior plants were transported from local water bodies and forests. The identified source regions of the biological species are supported by back trajectory analyses and are in good agreement with emission source regions of the trace species in the ice core.

6. Fabric along the NEEM ice core, Greenland, and its comparison with GRIP and NGRIP ice cores

Montagnat, M.; Azuma, N.; Dahl-Jensen, D.; Eichler, J.; Fujita, S.; Gillet-Chaulet, F.; Kipfstuhl, S.; Samyn, D.; Svensson, A.; Weikusat, I.

2014-07-01

Fabric (distribution of crystallographic orientations) along the full NEEM ice core, Greenland was measured in the field by an automatic ice texture analyzer every 10 m, from 33 m down to 2461 m depth. The fabric evolves from a slightly anisotropic fabric at the top, toward a strong single maximum at about 2300 m, which is typical of a deformation pattern mostly driven by uniaxial compression and simple shearing. A sharp increase in the fabric strengthening rate is observed at the Holocene to Wisconsin (HW) climatic transition. From a simple model we estimate that this depth is located at a transition from a state dominated by vertical compression to a state dominated by vertical shear. Comparisons are made to two others ice cores drilled along the same ridge; the GRIP ice core, drilled at the summit of the ice sheet, and the NGRIP ice core, drilled 325 km to the NNW of the summit along the ridge, and 365 km upstream from NEEM. This comparison tends to demonstrate that the ice viscosity change with the HW climatic transition must be associated with the shear-dominated state to induce the abrupt fabric strengthening observed at NEEM. This comparison therefore reflects the increasing role of shear deformation on the coring site when moving NW along the ridge from GRIP to NGRIP and NEEM. The difference in fabric profiles between NEEM and NGRIP also evidences a stronger lateral extension associated with a sharper ridge at NGRIP. Further along the core, centimeter scale abrupt texture (fabric and microstructure) variations are observed in the bottom part of the core. Their positions are in good agreement with the observed folding layers in Dahl-Jensen et al. (2013).

7. Antarctic ice core samples: culturable bacterial diversity.

PubMed

Shivaji, Sisinthy; Begum, Zareena; Shiva Nageswara Rao, Singireesu Soma; Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Puram V; Manasa, Poorna; Sailaja, Buddi; Prathiba, Mambatta S; Thamban, Meloth; Krishnan, Kottekkatu P; Singh, Shiv M; Srinivas, Tanuku N R

2013-01-01

Culturable bacterial abundance at 11 different depths of a 50.26 m ice core from the Tallaksenvarden Nunatak, Antarctica, varied from 0.02 to 5.8 × 10(3) CFU ml(-1) of the melt water. A total of 138 bacterial strains were recovered from the 11 different depths of the ice core. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, the 138 isolates could be categorized into 25 phylotypes belonging to phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. All isolates had 16S rRNA sequences similar to previously determined sequences (97.2-100%). No correlation was observed in the distribution of the isolates at the various depths either at the phylum, genus or species level. The 25 phylotypes varied in growth temperature range, tolerance to NaCl, growth pH range and ability to produce eight different extracellular enzymes at either 4 or 18 °C. Iso-, anteiso-, unsaturated and saturated fatty acids together constituted a significant proportion of the total fatty acid composition. PMID:23041141

8. Microorganisms in the Malan ice core and their relation to climatic and environmental changes

Yao, Tandong; Xiang, Shurong; Zhang, Xiaojun; Wang, Ninglian; Wang, Youqing

2006-03-01

A 102-m-long ice core retrieved from the Malan Ice Cap on the Tibetan Plateau provides us with a historical record of the microorganisms trapped in the ice. The microorganisms in the Malan ice core are identified as α, β, and γ-Proteobacteia, and the LGC, HGC, and CFB group by means of the results of 16S rRNA sequence analysis and physiological characteristics, while the eukaryotes in the ice core are mainly composed of Chlamydomonas sp. and Pseudochlorella sp. based on the phylogenetic examination of the 18S rRNA gene. The microbial populations show observable differences at different depths in the ice core, reflecting the effects of climatic and environmental changes on the distribution of the microorganisms in the glacier. Examination of the Malan ice core shows four general periods of microbial concentration, which correspond to four phases of temperature revealed by δ18O values in the core. Observations also indicate that microorganism concentrations tend to be negatively correlated with the temperature at a relatively long timescale and, to some extent, positively correlated with mineral concentrations. The present study demonstrates that more microorganisms are associated with colder periods while fewer microorganisms are associated with warm periods, which provides us with a new proxy for the reconstruction of past climatic and environmental changes by means of ice core analysis.

9. Interpreting ancient ice in a shallow ice core from the South Yamato (Antarctica) blue ice area using flow modeling and compositional matching to deep ice cores

Moore, John C.; Nishio, Fumihiko; Fujita, Shuji; Narita, Hideki; Pasteur, Elizabeth; Grinsted, Aslak; Sinisalo, Anna; Maeno, Norikazu

2006-08-01

We explore methods of dating a 101 m ice core from a bare ice ablation area in the Yamato Mountains, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica. There are two unknowns, the age of the ice at the surface and the age spanned by the core. The ice crystal growth rate was used to estimate the age span of the core at about 5 kyr. CO2, CH4 and N2O data on the core were compared with well-dated records from deep cores, leading to two plausible matches, both within isotope stage C. Detailed comparison of high-resolution DEP records from this core and the Dome Fuji core support the 55-61 kyr BP fit best. Oxygen isotope values in the core were then used to constrain the source elevation of the snow in the core, and hence the velocities in a simple flow line model. We inverted the ice core surface age, age span and origin site and their confidence intervals in a sensitivity study of flow model parameter space. The flow line model predicts good matches to the core by reducing glacial flow rates to 70% of present-day, accumulation rates by 45% with 10% confidence intervals. The modeled surface age for the whole meteorite field yields maximum surface ages of about 90 kyr, which is consistent with known, but poorly constrained, tephra dating, meteorite terrestrial ages and the frequency of meteorite discoveries. This approach can be used quite generally to link deep ice cores to surface outcrops on blue ice fields.

10. Devon island ice cap: core stratigraphy and paleoclimate.

PubMed

Koerner, R M

1977-04-01

Valuable paleoclimatic information can be gained by studying the distribution of melt layers in deep ice cores. A profile representing the percentage of ice in melt layers in a core drilled from the Devon Island ice cap plotted against both time and depth shows that the ice cap has experienced a period of very warm summers since 1925, following a period of colder summers between about 1600 and 1925. The earlier period was coldest between 1680 and 1730. There is a high correlation between the melt-layer ice percentage and the mass balance of the ice cap. The relation between them suggests that the ice cap mass balance was zero (accumulation equaled ablation) during the colder period but is negative in the present warmer one. There is no firm evidence of a present cooling trend in the summer conditions on the ice cap. A comparison with the melt-layer ice percentage in cores from the other major Canadian Arctic ice caps shows that the variation of summer conditions found for the Devon Island ice cap is representative for all the large ice caps for about 90 percent of the time. There is also a good correlation between melt-layer percentage and summer sea-ice conditions in the archipelago. This suggests that the search for the northwest passage was influenced by changing climate, with the 19th-century peak of the often tragic exploration coinciding with a period of very cold summers. PMID:17733504

11. On the nature of the dirty ice at the bottom of the GISP2 ice core

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bender, Michael L.; Burgess, Edward; Alley, Richard B.; Barnett, Bruce; Clow, Gary D.

2010-01-01

We present data on the triple Ar isotope composition in trapped gas from clean, stratigraphically disturbed ice between 2800 and 3040m depth in the GISP2 ice core, and from basal dirty ice from 3040 to 3053m depth. We also present data for the abundance and isotopic composition of O2 and N2, and abundance of Ar, in the basal dirty ice. The Ar/N2 ratio of dirty basal ice, the heavy isotope enrichment (reflecting gravitational fractionation), and the total gas content all indicate that the gases in basal dirty ice originate from the assimilation of clean ice of the overlying glacier, which comprises most of the ice in the dirty bottom layer. O2 is partly to completely depleted in basal ice, reflecting active metabolism. The gravitationally corrected ratio of 40Ar/38Ar, which decreases with age in the global atmosphere, is compatible with an age of 100-250ka for clean disturbed ice. In basal ice, 40Ar is present in excess due to injection of radiogenic 40Ar produced in the underlying continental crust. The weak depth gradient of 40Ar in the dirty basal ice, and the distribution of dirt, indicate mixing within the basal ice, while various published lines of evidence indicate mixing within the overlying clean, disturbed ice. Excess CH4, which reaches thousands of ppm in basal dirty ice at GRIP, is virtually absent in overlying clean disturbed ice, demonstrating that mixing of dirty basal ice into the overlying clean ice, if it occurs at all, is very slow. Order-of-magnitude estimates indicate that the mixing rate of clean ice into dirty ice is sufficient to maintain a steady thickness of dirty ice against thinning from the mean ice flow. The dirty ice appears to consist of two or more basal components in addition to clean glacial ice. A small amount of soil or permafrost, plus preglacial snow, lake or ground ice could explain the observations.

12. Implementation of counted layers for coherent ice core chronology

Lemieux-Dudon, B.; Bazin, L.; Landais, A.; Toyé Mahamadou Kele, H.; Guillevic, M.; Kindler, P.; Parrenin, F.; Martinerie, P.

2015-06-01

A recent coherent chronology has been built for four Antarctic ice cores and the NorthGRIP (NGRIP) Greenland ice core (Antarctic Ice Core Chronology 2012, AICC2012) using a Bayesian approach for ice core dating (Datice). When building the AICC2012 chronology, and in order to prevent any confusion with official ice core chronology, the AICC2012 chronology for NGRIP was forced to fit exactly the GICC05 chronology based on layer counting. However, such a strong tuning did not satisfy the hypothesis of independence of background parameters and observations for the NGRIP core, as required by Datice. We present here the implementation in Datice of a new type of markers that is better suited for constraints deduced from layer counting: the duration constraints. Estimating the global error on chronology due to such markers is not straightforward and implies some assumption on the correlation between individual counting errors for each interval of duration. We validate this new methodological implementation by conducting twin experiments and a posteriori diagnostics on the NGRIP ice core. Several sensitivity tests on marker sampling and correlation between counting errors were performed to provide some guidelines when using such a method for future dating experiments. Finally, using these markers for NGRIP in a five-core dating exercise with Datice leads to new chronologies that do not differ by more than 410 years from AICC2012 for Antarctic ice cores and 150 years from GICC05 for NGRIP over the last 60 000 years.

13. Ice core evidence for extensive melting of the greenland ice sheet in the last interglacial.

PubMed

Koerner, R M

1989-05-26

Evidence from ice at the bottom of ice cores from the Canadian Arctic Islands and Camp Century and Dye-3 in Greenland suggests that the Greenland ice sheet melted extensively or completely during the last interglacial period more than 100 ka (thousand years ago), in contrast to earlier interpretations. The presence of dirt particles in the basal ice has previously been thought to indicate that the base of the ice sheets had melted and that the evidence for the time of original growth of these ice masses had been destroyed. However, the particles most likely blew onto the ice when the dimensions of the ice caps and ice sheets were much smaller. Ice texture, gas content, and other evidence also suggest that the basal ice at each drill site is superimposed ice, a type of ice typical of the early growth stages of an ice cap or ice sheet. If the present-day ice masses began their growth during the last interglacial, the ice sheet from the earlier (Illinoian) glacial period must have competely or largely melted during the early part of the same interglacial period. If such melting did occur, the 6-meter higher-than-present sea level during the Sangamon cannot be attributed to disintegration of the West Antarctic ice sheet, as has been suggested. PMID:17731883

14. Consistently dated records from the Greenland GRIP, GISP2 and NGRIP ice cores for the past 104 ka reveal regional millennial-scale δ18O gradients with possible Heinrich event imprint

Seierstad, Inger K.; Abbott, Peter M.; Bigler, Matthias; Blunier, Thomas; Bourne, Anna J.; Brook, Edward; Buchardt, Susanne L.; Buizert, Christo; Clausen, Henrik B.; Cook, Eliza; Dahl-Jensen, Dorthe; Davies, Siwan M.; Guillevic, Myriam; Johnsen, Sigfús J.; Pedersen, Desirée S.; Popp, Trevor J.; Rasmussen, Sune O.; Severinghaus, Jeffrey P.; Svensson, Anders; Vinther, Bo M.

2014-12-01

We present a synchronization of the NGRIP, GRIP and GISP2 ice cores onto a master chronology extending back to 104 ka before present, providing a consistent chronological framework for these three Greenland records. The synchronization aligns distinct peaks in volcanic proxy records and other impurity records (chemo-stratigraphic matching) and assumes that these layers of elevated impurity content represent the same, instantaneous event in the past at all three sites. More than 900 marker horizons between the three cores have been identified and our matching is independently confirmed by 24 new and previously identified volcanic ash (tephra) tie-points. Using the reference horizons, we transfer the widely used Greenland ice-core chronology, GICC05modelext, to the two Summit cores, GRIP and GISP2. Furthermore, we provide gas chronologies for the Summit cores that are consistent with the GICC05modelext timescale by utilizing both existing and new gas data (CH4 concentration and δ15N of N2). We infer that the accumulation contrast between the stadial and interstadial phases of the glacial period was ˜10% greater at Summit compared to at NGRIP. The δ18O temperature-proxy records from NGRIP, GRIP, and GISP2 are generally very similar and display synchronous behaviour at climate transitions. The δ18O differences between Summit and NGRIP, however, changed slowly over the Last Glacial-Interglacial cycle and also underwent abrupt millennial-to-centennial-scale variations. We suggest that this observed latitudinal δ18O gradient in Greenland during the glacial period is the result of 1) relatively higher degree of precipitation with a Pacific signature at NGRIP, 2) increased summer bias in precipitation at Summit, and 3) enhanced Rayleigh distillation due to an increased source-to-site distance and a potentially larger source-to-site temperature gradient. We propose that these processes are governed by changes in the North American Ice Sheet (NAIS) volume and North Atlantic sea-ice extent and/or sea-surface temperatures (SST) on orbital timescales, and that changing sea-ice extent and SSTs are the driving mechanisms on shorter timescales. Finally, we observe that maxima in the Summit-NGRIP δ18O difference are roughly coincident with prominent Heinrich events. This suggests that the climatic reorganization that takes place during stadials with Heinrich events, possibly driven by a southward expansion of sea ice and low SSTs in the North Atlantic, are recorded in the ice-core records.

15. Snow algae in an ice core drilled on Grigoriev Ice cap in the Kyrgyz Tien Shen Mountains

Honda, M.; Takeuchi, N.; Sera, S.; Fujita, K.; Okamoto, S.; Naoki, K.; Aizen, V. B.

2012-12-01

Snow algae are photosynthetic microorganisms and are living on the surfase of glaciers. They grow on melting surface from spring to summer and their biomass and community structure are changed with physical and chemical conditions on glaciers. Ice cores drilled from glaciers also contain snow algae that grew in the past. Studying biomass and community structure of snow algae in ice cores could reveal the temporal variation in snow algae in the past, and also environmental conditions relating propagation of snow algae. In this study, we anlalyzed snow algae preserved in an ice core of Grigoriev Ice cap located in eastern Kyrgyzstan of the central Asia, and to describe their temporal variations for the last 200 years. The ice core drilling was carried out on September in 2007 on the Grigoriev Ice cap in the Kyrgyz Tien Shen Mountains. A 87 m long ice core from the surface to the bedrock was recovered at the top of the ice cap. The core was horizontally cut every 5 cm (total 1212 samples). The samples were melted and preserved as a 3% formalin solution. After the sample water was filtered through a hydrophilized PTFE membrane filter, observed by microscope. Snow algae in the sample water were counting. The algal biomass was represented by the cell number per unit water volume. Here, we showed the results between the surface to the 64 m in depth. We also analyzed the snow algal communities on the surface of the ice cap collected from five different sites from the top down to the terminus. Microscopy revealed that the ice core contained three taxa of filamentous cyanobacteria, an unicellular cyanobacterium, and two green algae. They were also found on the ice or snow surface of the i Ice cap. The quantitative analyses of the algae in the part of upper 64 m deep of the ice core samples revealed that the algal biomass varied significantly and showed many peaks. Furthermore, the biomass profile differed among the taxa. The filamentous cyanobacterium varied from 0.0 to 4.6 x 103μm3 mL-1 (mean: 56μm3 mL-1 ), the unicellular cyanobacterium varied from 0.0 to 3.0 x 104μm3 mL-1 (mean: 1.2 x 103μm3 mL-1 ), and Green algae varied from 0.0 to 2.3 x 104μm3 mL-1 (mean: 2.2 x 103μm3 mL-1 ). Based on the dating by pollen grains, the 64 m core covers 237 years. The results suggest that the snow algae did not grow every year on the top of the ice cap, and their biomass and community structure varied greatly from year to year. The total biomass after the 1960s was significantly higher than those before the 1950s. This suggested suggests that the surface conditions changed more favorable to the growth of algae in the 1960s. Annal variation of the algal biomass was found to be significantly correlated with air temperature at the nearest observing station from Grigoriev the iIce cap and hydrogen stable isotope (δD) in the ice core. The results suggest that the algal growth is more preferable in warmer year.

16. Continuous flow analysis of labile iron in ice-cores.

PubMed

Hiscock, William T; Fischer, Hubertus; Bigler, Matthias; Gfeller, Gideon; Leuenberger, Daiana; Mini, Olivia

2013-05-01

The important active and passive role of mineral dust aerosol in the climate and the global carbon cycle over the last glacial/interglacial cycles has been recognized. However, little data on the most important aeolian dust-derived biological micronutrient, iron (Fe), has so far been available from ice-cores from Greenland or Antarctica. Furthermore, Fe deposition reconstructions derived from the palaeoproxies particulate dust and calcium differ significantly from the Fe flux data available. The ability to measure high temporal resolution Fe data in polar ice-cores is crucial for the study of the timing and magnitude of relationships between geochemical events and biological responses in the open ocean. This work adapts an existing flow injection analysis (FIA) methodology for low-level trace Fe determinations with an existing glaciochemical analysis system, continuous flow analysis (CFA) of ice-cores. Fe-induced oxidation of N,N'-dimethyl-p-pheylenediamine (DPD) is used to quantify the biologically more important and easily leachable Fe fraction released in a controlled digestion step at pH ~1.0. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of labile Fe in ice-core samples collected from the Antarctic Byrd ice-core and the Greenland Ice-Core Project (GRIP) ice-core. PMID:23594184

17. The microstructure of polar ice. Part I: Highlights from ice core research

Faria, Sérgio H.; Weikusat, Ilka; Azuma, Nobuhiko

2014-04-01

Polar ice sheets play a fundamental role in Earth's climate system, by interacting actively and passively with the environment. Active interactions include the creeping flow of ice and its effects on polar geomorphology, global sea level, ocean and atmospheric circulation, and so on. Passive interactions are mainly established by the formation of climate records within the ice, in form of air bubbles, dust particles, salt microinclusions and other derivatives of airborne impurities buried by recurrent snowfalls. For a half-century scientists have been drilling deep ice cores in Antarctica and Greenland for studying such records, which can go back to around a million years. Experience shows, however, that the ice-sheet flow generally disrupts the stratigraphy of the bottom part of deep ice cores, destroying the integrity of the oldest records. For all these reasons glaciologists have been studying the microstructure of polar ice cores for decades, in order to understand the genesis and fate of ice-core climate records, as well as to learn more about the physical properties of polar ice, aiming at better climate-record interpretations and ever more precise models of ice-sheet dynamics. In this Part I we review the main difficulties and advances in deep ice core drilling in Antarctica and Greenland, together with the major contributions of deep ice coring to the research on natural ice microstructures. In particular, we discuss in detail the microstructural findings from Camp Century, Byrd, Dye 3, GRIP, GISP2, NorthGRIP, Vostok, Dome C, EDML, and Dome Fuji, besides commenting also on the earlier results of some pioneering ventures, like the Jungfraujoch Expedition and the Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic Expedition, among others. In the companion Part II of this work (Faria et al., 2014), the review proceeds with a survey of the state-of-the-art understanding of natural ice microstructures and some exciting prospects in this field of research.

18. Ice Core Records of Recent Northwest Greenland Climate

Osterberg, E. C.; Wong, G. J.; Ferris, D.; Lutz, E.; Howley, J. A.; Kelly, M. A.; Axford, Y.; Hawley, R. L.

2014-12-01

Meteorological station data from NW Greenland indicate a 3oC temperature rise since 1990, with most of the warming occurring in fall and winter. According to remote sensing data, the NW Greenland ice sheet (GIS) and coastal ice caps are responding with ice mass loss and margin retreat, but the cryosphere's response to previous climate variability is poorly constrained in this region. We are developing multi-proxy records (lake sediment cores, ice cores, glacial geologic data, glaciological models) of Holocene climate change and cryospheric response in NW Greenland to improve projections of future ice loss and sea level rise in a warming climate. As part of our efforts to develop a millennial-length ice core paleoclimate record from the Thule region, we collected and analyzed snow pit samples and short firn cores (up to 21 m) from the coastal region of the GIS (2Barrel site; 76.9317o N, 63.1467o W, 1685 m el.) and the summit of North Ice Cap (76.938o N, 67.671o W, 1273 m el.) in 2011, 2012 and 2014. The 2Barrel ice core record has statistically significant relationships with regional spring and fall Baffin Bay sea ice extent, summertime temperature, and annual precipitation. Here we evaluate relationships between the 2014 North Ice Cap firn core glaciochemical record and climate variability from regional instrumental stations and reanalysis datasets. We compare the coastal North Ice Cap record to more inland records from 2Barrel, Camp Century and NEEM to evaluate spatial and elevational gradients in recent NW Greenland climate change.

19. Statistical extraction of volcanic sulphate from nonpolar ice cores

Moore, J. C.; Beaudon, E.; Kang, Shichang; Divine, D.; Isaksson, E.; Pohjola, V. A.; van de Wal, R. S. W.

2012-02-01

Ice cores from outside the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are difficult to date because of seasonal melting and multiple sources (terrestrial, marine, biogenic and anthropogenic) of sulfates deposited onto the ice. Here we present a method of volcanic sulfate extraction that relies on fitting sulfate profiles to other ion species measured along the cores in moving windows in log space. We verify the method with a well dated section of the Belukha ice core from central Eurasia. There are excellent matches to volcanoes in the preindustrial, and clear extraction of volcanic peaks in the post-1940 period when a simple method based on calcium as a proxy for terrestrial sulfate fails due to anthropogenic sulfate deposition. We then attempt to use the same statistical scheme to locate volcanic sulfate horizons within three ice cores from Svalbard and a core from Mount Everest. Volcanic sulfate is <5% of the sulfate budget in every core, and differences in eruption signals extracted reflect the large differences in environment between western, northern and central regions of Svalbard. The Lomonosovfonna and Vestfonna cores span about the last 1000 years, with good extraction of volcanic signals, while Holtedahlfonna which extends to about AD1700 appears to lack a clear record. The Mount Everest core allows clean volcanic signal extraction and the core extends back to about AD700, slightly older than a previous flow model has suggested. The method may thus be used to extract historical volcanic records from a more diverse geographical range than hitherto.

20. WD2014: A new reference chronology for ice cores from Antarctica?

Sigl, Michael; McConnell, Joseph R.; Winstrup, Mai; Fudge, Taylor J.; Cole-Dai, Jihong; Ferris, David; Taylor, Kendrick; Buizert, Christo; Rhodes, Rachael; McGwire, Ken; Welten, Kees C.; Woodruff, Thomas E.; Dunbar, Nelia; Iverson, Nels; Maselli, Olivia J.; Pasteris, Daniel R.; Muscheler, Raimund

2015-04-01

Here we present a chronology (WD2014) for the upper part (0-2850 m, 31.2 ka BP) of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS)-Divide ice core which is based on layer counting of distinctive annual cycles preserved in the elemental, chemical and electrical conductivity records. These cycles are caused by the seasonally varying impurity concentrations in snowfall reflecting source strength of emissions, transport and deposition efficiency. A new ice core chronology has been developed using manual interpretation as well as by using a layer detection algorithm based on Hidden Markov Models taking advantage of the large suite of sub-annually resolved and co-registered aerosol records from high-resolution continuous measurements. The age model is validated against the absolute dated radiocarbon calibration curve IntCal13 using ice-core Be-10 measurements for proxy synchronization. These records reveal an unprecedented accuracy of the new ice core chronology since the Last Glacial Maximum. The new chronology can become a reference chronology for ice cores with synchronization to other ice cores achievable through the unique high-resolution sulfur record indicating hundreds of volcanic signals common to many other deep ice cores in Antarctica. A developing tephra framework for ice cores from West Antarctica will allow to better integrating Antarctic ice cores and the marine and terrestrial records from the southern hemisphere in the future, thus gaining a detailed chronologic picture of climatic changes and environmental consequences for the region over the past 31,000 years. This southern hemisphere perspective is a fundamental step in developing a detailed global understanding of the effects of past climate changes, and its implications for the future. Due to a small ice-age gas-age difference (delta-age) at WAIS Divide - because of high annual snowfall rates at this site - and a new high-resolution WAIS CH4 record, this new ice core chronology provides also independent, precise ages for abrupt climate transitions in the northern hemisphere (e.g., GS1-GI1 warming; 14,580 ± 50 years) during the last deglaciation. Thus, WD2014 provides a new perspective on the variability of global sea-level, climate and ice-sheet histories.

1. Greenland ice core evidence of the 79 AD Vesuvius eruption

Barbante, C.; Kehrwald, N. M.; Marianelli, P.; Vinther, B. M.; Steffensen, J. P.; Cozzi, G.; Hammer, C. U.; Clausen, H. B.; Siggaard-Andersen, M.-L.

2013-06-01

Volcanic tephra are independent age horizons and can synchronize strata of various paleoclimate records including ice and sediment cores. The Holocene section of the Greenland Ice Core Project (GRIP) ice core is dated by multi-parameter annual layer counting, and contains peaks in acidity, SO42- and microparticle concentrations at a depth of 429.1 to 429.3 m, which have not previously been definitively ascribed to a volcanic eruption. Here, we identify tephra particles and determine that volcanic shards extracted from a depth of 429.3 m in the GRIP ice core are likely due to the 79 AD Vesuvius eruption. The chemical composition of the tephra particles is consistent with the K-phonolitic composition of the Vesuvius juvenile ejecta and differs from the chemical composition of other major eruptions (≥ VEI 4) between 50-100 AD.

2. Ice Core Records of Past Climate: Thunder, Lightning and a Key to the Future?

White, J. W. C.

2003-04-01

This talk will present an overview of ice core climate records. Ice cores record not only the basic climate (temperature and precipitation amount) at the ice core site, but also the composition of the atmosphere, both gases and dust, as well as a number of proxies that reflect conditions outside of the ice sheet, including ocean conditions and sea ice extents. Accumulation rates determine the temporal resolution of the information, with low accumulation sites yielding records approaching 1,000,000 years in length, and high accumulation records yielding year-by-year information about environmental change for tens of thousands of years. Highlights of ice core contributions to our understanding of past climates will be discussed, including: the remarkably tight relationship between CO2 and climate over the past several hundred thousand years, the flickering nature of climate during glacial periods, the synchronous changes in climate between the hemispheres on Milankovitch time scales and the asynchronous climate between the hemispheres on, millennial time scales, and the unstable and quantum nature of climate as reflected by abrupt climate changes. This last example has direct bearing on future climate change, as the ice core record reveals that abrupt climate changes are very large as much as 10 degrees C change in man annual temperature in less than a human lifetime, as well as very fast atmospheric pressure patterns controlling winds and snowfall rates appear to have shifted in a few years or less, and those shifts were effectively permanent on the time scale of human interest.

3. Late Holocene fire activity recorded in a Greenland ice core

Zennaro, P.; Barbante, C.; Kehrwald, N.; Zangrando, R.; Gambaro, A.; Gabrieli, J.

2012-04-01

The pyrolysis compounds from the thermal decomposition of cellulose during burning events are the dominant smoke tracers in continental airsheds. Important compounds from biomass burning include monosaccharide anhydrides (MAs). Levoglucosan is a MA produced by combusing cellulose at a temperatures of 300C or greater. Ice cores contain these specific molecular markers and other pyrochemical evidence that provides much-needed information on the role of fire in regions with no existing data of past fire activity. Here, we use atmospheric and snow levoglucosan concentrations to trace fire emissions from a boreal forest fire source in the Canadian Shield through transport and deposition at Summit, Greenland (7235'N 3825' W, 3048 masl). Atmospheric and surface samples suggest that levoglucosan in snow can record biomass burning events up to 1000s of kilometers away. Levoglucosan does degrade by interacting with hydroxyl radicals in the atmosphere, but it is emitted in large quantities, allowing the use as a biomass burning tracer. These quantified atmospheric biomass burning emissions and associated parallel oxalate and levoglucosan peaks in snow pit samples validates levoglucosan as a proxy for past biomass burning in snow records and by extension in ice cores. The temporal and spatial resolution of chemical markers in ice cores matches the core in which they are measured. The spatial resolution of chemical markers in ice cores depends on the core location where low-latitude ice cores primarily reflect regional climate parameters, and polar ice cores integrate hemispheric signals. We present levoglucosan flux, and hence past fire activity, measured during the late Holocene in the NEEM, Greenland (7727' N; 513'W, 2454 masl) ice core. We compare the NEEM results with multiple major Northern Hemisphere climate and cultural parameters.

4. Tributaries of West Antarctic Ice Streams Revealed by RADARSAT Interferometry.

PubMed

Joughin; Gray; Bindschadler; Price; Morse; Hulbe; Mattar; Werner

1999-10-01

Interferometric RADARSAT data are used to map ice motion in the source areas of four West Antarctic ice streams. The data reveal that tributaries, coincident with subglacial valleys, provide a spatially extensive transition between slow inland flow and rapid ice stream flow and that adjacent ice streams draw from shared source regions. Two tributaries flow into the stagnant ice stream C, creating an extensive region that is thickening at an average rate of 0.49 meters per year. This is one of the largest rates of thickening ever reported in Antarctica. PMID:10514370

5. Eemian interglacial reconstructed from a Greenland folded ice core.

PubMed

2013-01-24

Efforts to extract a Greenland ice core with a complete record of the Eemian interglacial (130,000 to 115,000 years ago) have until now been unsuccessful. The response of the Greenland ice sheet to the warmer-than-present climate of the Eemian has thus remained unclear. Here we present the new North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling ('NEEM') ice core and show only a modest ice-sheet response to the strong warming in the early Eemian. We reconstructed the Eemian record from folded ice using globally homogeneous parameters known from dated Greenland and Antarctic ice-core records. On the basis of water stable isotopes, NEEM surface temperatures after the onset of the Eemian (126,000 years ago) peaked at 8 ± 4 degrees Celsius above the mean of the past millennium, followed by a gradual cooling that was probably driven by the decreasing summer insolation. Between 128,000 and 122,000 years ago, the thickness of the northwest Greenland ice sheet decreased by 400 ± 250 metres, reaching surface elevations 122,000 years ago of 130 ± 300 metres lower than the present. Extensive surface melt occurred at the NEEM site during the Eemian, a phenomenon witnessed when melt layers formed again at NEEM during the exceptional heat of July 2012. With additional warming, surface melt might become more common in the future. PMID:23344358

6. Is sea salt in ice cores a proxy of past sea ice extent?

Levine, James; Wolff, Eric; Frey, Markus; Jenkins, Hazel; Jones, Anna; Yang, Xin

2014-05-01

A number of marine, coastal and ice core proxies have been used to try to assess the past extent of sea ice. Sea salt has been proposed as a proxy for past ice extent, at least in the Southern Ocean. The idea is that the sea ice surface itself holds a source of sea salt, that is stronger than the source from the open ocean it replaces. That a sea ice source exists is apparent from observations of the ratio of sulphate to sodium in coastal aerosol and snow samples. While the idea behind using sea salt as a proxy is attractive, and leads to sensible inferences, many doubts remain. Firstly the exact nature of the source remains uncertain, and secondly it is not clear if ice extent, as opposed to changes in atmospheric transport and lifetime, would dominate variability in the ice core record of sea salt. Here we use a model of atmospheric transport and chemistry (p-TOMCAT) to assess the consequences of a sea ice source, focussing particularly on a source that has been proposed to arise from the sublimation of salty blowing snow. We will briefly report some new observations from a winter cruise, that will allow us to comment on the likelihood that blowing snow does pose a significant source. We will then present results from the model (implemented using existing parameters). The model has been run with seasonally and interannually varying sea ice extent and meteorology for the Antarctic, tracking, at different ice core sites, the concentration that arises from the open ocean and sea ice sources. We have already shown that the model, after tuning, is able to reproduce the magnitude and seasonal cycle of sea salt at a range of sites globally. By varying each component separately we explore which factors (sea ice presence, wind speed at source, transporting winds) and which source regions control the delivery of sea salt to sites in Antarctica. Such work suggests that sea salt cannot be used as a sea ice proxy on interannual timescales, but may be suitable on longer timescales. By employing much larger sea ice extents, such as at the last glacial maximum (LGM), we find a strong increase in concentration at ice core sites when ice extent increases. The increase in modelled sea salt concentration tails off sharply as ice approaches the LGM extent, so that the sensitivity of the proxy is greater at lower ice extents, for example in interglacials. We will discuss the implications of this work for the proposed use of sea salt as a sea ice proxy.

7. Volcanism and the Greenland ice-cores: the tephra record

Abbott, Peter M.; Davies, Siwan M.

2012-11-01

In recent years, increased awareness of the considerable potential offered by tephrochronology in palaeoclimatic studies has fuelled a renewed interest in the tephra record preserved within the Greenland ice-cores. This renewal has occurred in tandem with the development of continuous flow analysis techniques, which provide high-resolution volcanic aerosol records. These chemical records are of considerable value for identifying tephra horizons composed of glass shards and also provide the basis for a new high-precision ice-core timescale, thus allowing ages to be assigned to volcanic events. Tephra horizons of glass shards in the ice-cores play a critical role for (1) testing and building chronological frameworks for the ice-cores and other sequences, (2) synchronising disparate palaeoclimatic sequences and testing phase relationships, (3) atmospheric pathway reconstruction, and (4) verifying the source of volcanic aerosol peaks. Here we review the results of over 25 years of research into tephra horizons in the GRIP, GISP2 and NGRIP cores. We provide high-precision ages for horizons based on recently developed timescales and draw together geochemical characterisations of the products of 45 volcanic events deposited on the Greenland ice sheet and identified in the cores. There is a clear disparity between the number of volcanic aerosol peaks and the number of tephra horizons of glass shards identified thus far. However, this synthesis highlights the critical role of the Greenland ice-cores, firstly in the reconstruction of the history of Icelandic volcanic eruptions, and secondly the considerable value of some tephra horizons in facilitating the correlation of these key climatic archives to North Atlantic marine sequences. Other noteworthy issues include the potential of these cores to preserve tephra horizons from more distal volcanic sources such as North America, to resolve the debate surrounding the Thera eruption, and the observation that some tephra horizons are preserved within the ice without coeval volcanic aerosol signals.

8. Chemical signals of past climate and environment from polar ice cores and firn air.

PubMed

Wolff, Eric W

2012-10-01

Chemical and isotopic records obtained from polar ice cores have provided some of the most iconic datasets in Earth system science. Here, I discuss how the different records are formed in the ice sheets, emphasising in particular the contrast between chemistry held in the snow/ice phase, and that which is trapped in air bubbles. Air diffusing slowly through the upper firn layers of the ice sheet can also be sampled in large volumes to give more recent historical information on atmospheric composition. The chemical and geophysical issues that have to be solved to interpret ice core data in terms of atmospheric composition and emission changes are also highlighted. Ice cores and firn air have provided particularly strong evidence about recent changes (last few decades to centuries), including otherwise inaccessible data on increases in compounds that are active as greenhouse gases or as agents of stratospheric depletion. On longer timescales (up to 800,000 years in Antarctica), ice cores reveal major changes in biogeochemical cycling, which acted as feedbacks on the very major changes in climate between glacial and interglacial periods. PMID:22930179

9. The isotopic composition of methane in polar ice cores

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Craig, H.; Chou, C. C.; Welhan, J. A.; Stevens, C. M.; Engelkemeir, A.

1988-01-01

Air bubbles in polar ice cores indicate that about 300 years ago the atmospheric mixing ratio of methane began to increase rapidly. Today the mixing ratio is about 1.7 parts per million by volume, and, having doubled once in the past several hundred years, it will double again in the next 60 years if current rates continue. Carbon isotope ratios in methane up to 350 years in age have been measured with as little as 25 kilograms of polar ice recovered in 4-meter-long ice-core segments. The data show that: (1) in situ microbiology or chemistry has not altered the ice-core methane concentrations, and (2) that the carbon-13 to carbon-12 ratio of atmospheric CH4 in ice from 100 years and 300 years ago was about 2 per mil lower than at present. Atmospheric methane has a rich spectrum of isotopic sources: the ice-core data indicate that anthropogenic burning of the earth's biomass is the principal cause of the recent C-13H4 enrichment, although other factors may also contribute.

10. Greenland ice core evidence of the 79 AD Vesuvius eruption

Barbante, C.; Kehrwald, N. M.; Marianelli, P.; Vinther, B. M.; Steffensen, J. P.; Cozzi, G.; Hammer, C. U.; Clausen, H. B.; Siggaard-Andersen, M.-L.

2012-11-01

Volcanic tephra are indepenent age horizons and can synchronize strata of various paleoclimate records including ice and sediment cores. Before such paleoclimate records can be synchronized, it is essential to first confidently identify individual independent marker horizons. The Greenland Ice Core Project (GRIP) ice core from Central Greenland is often used as a "golden spike" to synchronize Northern Hemisphere paleoclimte records. The Holocene section of the GRIP ice core is dated by multi-parameter annual layer counting, and contains peaks in acidity, SO42- and microparticle concentrations at a depth of 428.4 to 429.6 m, which have not previously been definitively ascribed to a volcanic eruption. Here, we identify tephra particles and determine that volcanic shards extracted from a depth of 429.2 m in the GRIP ice core are likely due to the 79 AD Vesuvius eruption. The chemical compositon of the tephra particles is consistent with the K-phonolitic composition of the Vesuvius juvinile ejecta and differs from the chemical composition of other major eruptions (≥VEI 4) between 50-100 AD.

11. Seismic anisotropy in ice: numerical modelling, ice core measurements and in-situ observations

Kendall, J. M.; Baird, A. F.; Walker, A.; Wookey, J. M.; Lloyd, G. E.; Stuart, G. W.; Harland, S.; Obbard, R. W.; Smith, A.; Brisbourne, A.

2013-12-01

The stress distribution and style of flow in ice produces elastic and rheological anisotropy, which informs ice flow modelling as to how ice masses respond to external changes such as global warming. Here observations of shear wave splitting from three-component icequake seismograms are used to characterise ice anisotropy in the Rutford ice stream, West Antarctica. Over 110 high quality measurements are made on 41 events recorded at five stations temporarily deployed near the ice stream grounding line. The magnitude of the splitting ranges from 2ms to 80ms and suggest a maximum of 6% shear wave splitting. The fast shear wave polarisation direction is roughly perpendicular to the ice flow direction. Motivated by these observations, we consider mechanisms for seismic anisotropy in ice using numerical modelling of the development of crystal preferred orientation of ice and measurement of crystal alignment in an ice core using electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD). These results suggest transitions in the style of anisotropy both with depth and laterally within an ice stream. Seismic anisotropy is developed with increasing hydrostatic pressure producing a VTI fabric with a vertical alignment of c-axes (so-called cluster fabric). However, convergence in the ice flow and along-flow extension leads to girdles of c-axes (and an HTI fabric). Based on the Rutford shear-wave splitting observations we can rule out a cluster fabric as the sole cause of anisotropy - an HTI component is needed, which may be due extension in the direction of flow forming a girdle fabric or the alignment of cracks or ice-films in the plane perpendicular to the flow direction. Cumulatively, our observations suggest a combination of anisotropy mechanisms are at play in deforming ice sheets. We discuss seismic measurements that can be made to better discriminate between plausible mechanisms for our shear-wave splitting observations and how these different mechanisms may in turn alter ice flow and glacial response to external changes.

12. Thin Section Analysis of the WAIS Divide Deep Ice Core

Fitzpatrick, J. J.; Hong, I.; Laurel, D.; Fegyveresi, J. M.; Spencer, M. K.; Alley, R. B.; Fudge, T. J.

2011-12-01

The WAIS (West Antarctic Ice Sheet) Divide deep ice core offers a new window on the internal structure of the West Antarctic ice sheet. Thin-section analyses using high-resolution digital photography followed by image processing and analysis are yielding interesting results. Grains in the upper portions of the core above 580 m exhibit normal grain growth behaviors (linear increase of mean grain area with time, Fig. 1) with growth being primarily attributable to grain-boundary migration. In this same zone, interactions between bubbles and migrating grain boundaries appear to be quite strong, and frequently exhibit evidence of Zener pinning which possibly produces new grains. Interactions of impurities with grain boundaries also appear to be strong, with grain-size layering beginning about 2600 m in the core apparently delineating annual layers. Grain-size trends with depth and age show considerable structure. Analyses are ongoing, and additional results will be discussed.

13. Pre-cometary ice composition from hot core chemistry.

PubMed

Tornow, Carmen; Kührt, Ekkehard; Motschmann, Uwe

2005-10-01

Pre-cometary ice located around star-forming regions contains molecules that are pre-biotic compounds or pre-biotic precursors. Molecular line surveys of hot cores provide information on the composition of the ice since it sublimates near these sites. We have combined a hydrostatic hot core model with a complex network of chemical reactions to calculate the time-dependent abundances of molecules, ions, and radicals. The model considers the interaction between the ice and gas phase. It is applied to the Orion hot core where high-mass star formation occurs, and to the solar-mass binary protostar system IRAS 16293-2422. Our calculations show that at the end of the hot core phase both star-forming sites produce the same prebiotic CN-bearing molecules. However, in the Orion hot core these molecules are formed in larger abundances. A comparison of the calculated values with the abundances derived from the observed line data requires a chemically unprocessed molecular cloud as the initial state of hot core evolution. Thus, it appears that these objects are formed at a much younger cloud stage than previously thought. This implies that the ice phase of the young clouds does not contain CN-bearing molecules in large abundances before the hot core has been formed. The pre-biotic molecules synthesized in hot cores cause a chemical enrichment in the gas phase and in the pre-cometary ice. This enrichment is thought to be an important extraterrestrial aspect of the formation of life on Earth and elsewhere. PMID:16225436

14. An automated approach for annual layer counting in ice cores

Winstrup, M.; Svensson, A.; Rasmussen, S. O.; Winther, O.; Steig, E.; Axelrod, A.

2012-04-01

The temporal resolution of some ice cores is sufficient to preserve seasonal information in the ice core record. In such cases, annual layer counting represents one of the most accurate methods to produce a chronology for the core. Yet, manual layer counting is a tedious and sometimes ambiguous job. As reliable layer recognition becomes more difficult, a manual approach increasingly relies on human interpretation of the available data. Thus, much may be gained by an automated and therefore objective approach for annual layer identification in ice cores. We have developed a novel method for automated annual layer counting in ice cores, which relies on Bayesian statistics. It uses algorithms from the statistical framework of Hidden Markov Models (HMM), originally developed for use in machine speech recognition. The strength of this layer detection algorithm lies in the way it is able to imitate the manual procedures for annual layer counting, while being based on purely objective criteria for annual layer identification. With this methodology, it is possible to determine the most likely position of multiple layer boundaries in an entire section of ice core data at once. It provides a probabilistic uncertainty estimate of the resulting layer count, hence ensuring a proper treatment of ambiguous layer boundaries in the data. Furthermore multiple data series can be incorporated to be used at once, hence allowing for a full multi-parameter annual layer counting method similar to a manual approach. In this study, the automated layer counting algorithm has been applied to data from the NGRIP ice core, Greenland. The NGRIP ice core has very high temporal resolution with depth, and hence the potential to be dated by annual layer counting far back in time. In previous studies [Andersen et al., 2006; Svensson et al., 2008], manual layer counting has been carried out back to 60 kyr BP. A comparison between the counted annual layers based on the two approaches will be presented and their differences discussed. Within the estimated uncertainties, the two methodologies agree. This shows the potential for a fully automated annual layer counting method to be operational for data sections where the annual layering is unknown.

15. High Resolution Continuous Flow Analysis System for Polar Ice Cores

Dallmayr, Remi; Azuma, Kumiko; Yamada, Hironobu; Kjær, Helle Astrid; Vallelonga, Paul; Azuma, Nobuhiko; Takata, Morimasa

2014-05-01

In the last decades, Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) technology for ice core analyses has been developed to reconstruct the past changes of the climate system 1), 2). Compared with traditional analyses of discrete samples, a CFA system offers much faster and higher depth resolution analyses. It also generates a decontaminated sample stream without time-consuming sample processing procedure by using the inner area of an ice-core sample.. The CFA system that we have been developing is currently able to continuously measure stable water isotopes 3) and electrolytic conductivity, as well as to collect discrete samples for the both inner and outer areas with variable depth resolutions. Chemistry analyses4) and methane-gas analysis 5) are planned to be added using the continuous water stream system 5). In order to optimize the resolution of the current system with minimal sample volumes necessary for different analyses, our CFA system typically melts an ice core at 1.6 cm/min. Instead of using a wire position encoder with typical 1mm positioning resolution 6), we decided to use a high-accuracy CCD Laser displacement sensor (LKG-G505, Keyence). At the 1.6 cm/min melt rate, the positioning resolution was increased to 0.27mm. Also, the mixing volume that occurs in our open split debubbler is regulated using its weight. The overflow pumping rate is smoothly PID controlled to maintain the weight as low as possible, while keeping a safety buffer of water to avoid air bubbles downstream. To evaluate the system's depth-resolution, we will present the preliminary data of electrolytic conductivity obtained by melting 12 bags of the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling (NEEM) ice core. The samples correspond to different climate intervals (Greenland Stadial 21, 22, Greenland Stadial 5, Greenland Interstadial 5, Greenland Interstadial 7, Greenland Stadial 8). We will present results for the Greenland Stadial -8, whose depths and ages are between 1723.7 and 1724.8 meters, and 35.520 to 35.636 kyr b2k 7), respectively. The results show the conductivity measured upstream and downstream of the debubbler. We will calculate the depth resolution of our system and compare it with earlier studies. 1) Bigler at al, "Optimization of High-Resolution Continuous Flow Analysis For Transient Climate Signals in Ice Cores". Environ. Sci. Technol. 2011, 45, 4483-4489 2) Kaufmann et al, "An Improved Continuous Flow Analysis System for High Resolution Field Measurements on Ice Cores". Environmental Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42, 8044-8050 3) Gkinis, V., T. J. Popp, S. J. Johnsen and T, Blunier, 2010: A continuous stream flash evaporator for the calibration of an IR cavity ring down spectrometer for the isotopic analysis of water. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, 46(4), 463-475. 4) McConnell et al, "Continuous ice-core chemical analyses using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2002, 36, 7-11 5) Rhodes et al, "Continuous methane measurements from a late Holocene Greenland ice core : Atmospheric and in-situ signals" Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 2013, 368, 9-19 6) Breton et al, "Quantifying Signal Dispersion in a Hybrid Ice Core Melting System". Environ. Sci. Technol. 2012, 46, 11922-11928 7) Rasmussen et al, " A first chronology for the NEEM ice core". Climate of the Past. 2013, 9, 2967--3013

16. A TEM analysis of nanoparticulates in a Polar ice core

SciTech Connect

Esquivel, E.V.; Murr, L.E

2004-03-15

This paper explores the prospect for analyzing nanoparticulates in age-dated ice cores representing times in antiquity to establish a historical reference for atmospheric particulate regimes. Analytical transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques were utilized to observe representative ice-melt water drops dried down on carbon/formvar or similar coated grids. A 10,000-year-old Greenland ice core was melted, and representative water drops were transferred to coated grids in a clean room environment. Essentially, all particulates observed were aggregates and either crystalline or complex mixtures of nanocrystals. Especially notable was the observation of carbon nanotubes and related fullerene-like nanocrystal forms. These observations are similar with some aspects of contemporary airborne particulates including carbon nanotubes and complex nanocrystal aggregates.

17. Mechanical properties of fresh ice core from Dye 3, Greenland

Shoji, Hitoshi; Langway, Chester C., Jr.

Mechanical property studies were carried out on fresh ice-core samples as they were recovered at Dye 3, Greenland. Experiments were conducted in uniaxial compression tests under constant crosshead speed, simpler shear tests under constant load, and indentation hardness tests with Vickers pyramidal indener. Tests were made within a one-month period after each specimen was recovered to minimize the effect of volume relaxation. Experimental results from uniaxial compression and simple shear tests were analyzed in effective shear stress and effective strain rate space, taking into account the effect of high-pressure air bubbles included in each sample. The strain rate of Wisconsin ice is about one order of magnitude higher than that of randomly oriented laboratory ice at the same stress level, possibly enhanced by the effect of impurities in addition to that of fabrics. Indentation deformation was observed to be attributed to pileup, cracking, and creep of ice material around an indenter with c-axis orientation dependency.

18. Dating of two nearby ice cores from the Illimani, Bolivia

Knsel, S.; Ginot, P.; Schotterer, U.; Schwikowski, M.; GGgeler, H. W.; Francou, B.; Petit, J. R.; Simes, J. C.; Taupin, J. D.

2003-03-01

In order to establish a chronology of two nearby ice cores from a glacier at Illimani (6438 m), Bolivia, a broad dating approach is presented here, which in particular makes use of the fast, simple, and nearly nondestructive electrical conductivity method (ECM) that provides a highly resolved record. Thus, ECM is suited for counting annual layers in the ice, especially for ice cores extracted from high-mountain glaciers with a fast layer thinning. Furthermore, ECM can be used for detecting volcanic signals. Annual signals in the ECM record of the Illimani ice core were identified using the 1964 A.D. tritium reference horizon and were counted along 125 m or 90% of the core, representing the time period from 1200 240 A.D. (estimated accumulated error) to 1999 A.D. The resulting age-depth relationship was supported by counting annual peaks in the microparticle record as well as by nuclear dating using the decay of 210Pb. The identification of volcanic signals originating from eruptions such as Pinatubo (1991 A.D.), El Chichn (1982 A.D.), Agung (1963 A.D.), Krakatoa (1883 A.D.), Tambora (1815 A.D.), and the Unknown 1258 A.D. significantly reduced the uncertainty of annual layer counting (ALC) to 2 years in the vicinity of these events.

19. Earth's Climate History from Glaciers and Ice Cores

Thompson, Lonnie

2013-03-01

Glaciers serve both as recorders and early indicators of climate change. Over the past 35 years our research team has recovered climatic and environmental histories from ice cores drilled in both Polar Regions and from low to mid-latitude, high-elevation ice fields. Those ice core -derived proxy records extending back 25,000 years have made it possible to compare glacial stage conditions in the Tropics with those in the Polar Regions. High-resolution records of δ18O (in part a temperature proxy) demonstrate that the current warming at high elevations in the mid- to lower latitudes is unprecedented for the last two millennia, although at many sites the early Holocene was warmer than today. Remarkable similarities between changes in the highland and coastal cultures of Peru and regional climate variability, especially precipitation, imply a strong connection between prehistoric human activities and regional climate. Ice cores retrieved from shrinking glaciers around the world confirm their continuous existence for periods ranging from hundreds to thousands of years, suggesting that current climatological conditions in those regions today are different from those under which these ice fields originated and have been sustained. The ongoing widespread melting of high-elevation glaciers and ice caps, particularly in low to middle latitudes, provides strong evidence that a large-scale, pervasive and, in some cases, rapid change in Earth's climate system is underway. Observations of glacier shrinkage during the 20th and 21st century girdle the globe from the South American Andes, the Himalayas, Kilimanjaro (Tanzania, Africa) and glaciers near Puncak Jaya, Indonesia (New Guinea). The history and fate of these ice caps, told through the adventure, beauty and the scientific evidence from some of world's most remote mountain tops, provide a global perspective for contemporary climate. NSF Paleoclimate Program

20. Pre-industrial ethane levels inferred from polar ice cores

Verhulst, K. R.; Aydin, M.; Nicewonger, M. R.; Saltzman, E. S.

2014-12-01

Ethane is an abundant hydrocarbon in the atmosphere and it is a precursor to tropospheric ozone formation. Ethane also impacts the atmosphere's oxidative capacity through its reaction with OH, the primary loss pathway. Today, the primary sources of atmospheric ethane are from anthropogenic fossil fuel use, mainly from evaporative emissions associated with the production, processing and transmission of fossil fuels. Ethane also has significant emissions from biomass burning and biofuel use, and minor emissions from oceanic, biogenic, and possibly geologic sources. The mean annual atmospheric lifetime of ethane is about 2 months. Reconstructions from polar firn air and surface flask data show a significant rise in the global levels of atmospheric ethane during the twentieth century, followed by a peak and a decline from 1980-2010. However, to date, no ice core measurements of paleo-atmospheric ethane have been reported. A pre-industrial ethane record would provide information about the magnitude and natural variability of ethane from biomass-burning and geologic emissions and would contribute to our understanding of the variability in atmospheric methane over long timescales. In this study, we discuss analytical methods for the extraction of ethane from polar ice cores. Ethane measurements were made in shallow, dry-drilled ice cores from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide and the South Pole, and in Greenland ice cores from the Greenland Ice Sheet Project. Samples were analyzed by both dry and wet extraction procedures, with analysis by high-resolution mass spectrometry with isotope dilution. The results from both methods will be compared. Preliminary estimates of pre-industrial ethane levels will be discussed, as well as the feasibility of reconstructing long-term records of atmospheric ethane.

1. PIXE analysis as a tool for dating of ice cores from the Greenland ice sheet

Hansson, H.-C.; Swietlicki, E.; Larsson, N. P.-O.; Johnsen, S. J.

1993-04-01

Sections from the 2037 m long Dye 3 ice core drilled in 1979-1981 in the ice sheet of Southern Greenland were analysed with PIXE. The seven selected sections were from depths between 1778 and 1813 m, which corresponds to a time interval between about 8500 and 10 000 years B.C. at the end of the last Ice Age. During this time period, fast climatic changes of several degrees centigrade per century are known to have taken place. The exact time scales of these changes need yet to be verified by renewed measurements using nonconventional stratigraphie dating techniques such as PIXE. The problem is highly relevant for the prediction of climatic changes in our present age. A new sample preparation technique was developed which enables the determination of annual thicknesses of the parts of the ice core representing 10 000-40 000 years before present, where the thickness of the annual ice layers are believed to be less than 2.5 cm. More commonly used techniques of dating, such as measurements of oxygen and hydrogen isotopes δ 18O and δD, nitrate, acidity or conductivity all have difficulties in resolving annual cycles in thicknesses of less than about 2 cm. The new technique involves sublimation of 18 cm long ice sections, after which the material contained in the ice is deposited on a thin backing. In this way, the material to be analysed is preconcentrated through the removal of the H 2O, while still retaining the spatial distribution pattern of the various water soluble and insoluble components along the ice core. The resulting spatial resolution of the sublimation technique is estimated to be ±1 mm. A PIXE analysis was performed in contiguous millimeter steps across the sublimated ice sections. Estimations of annual ice layer thicknesses were based on the patterns of seasonal variation along the ice sections for several major and minor elements quantified with PIXE. For the seven ice sections studied, annual ice layer thicknesses between 1.2 and 2.5 cm were found.

2. Biological proxies recorded in a Belukha ice core, Russian Altai

Papina, T.; Blyakharchuk, T.; Eichler, A.; Malygina, N.; Mitrofanova, E.; Schwikowski, M.

2013-10-01

Different biological proxies such as pollen, cysts, and diatoms were identified and quantified in the upper part of a Belukha ice core from the Russian Altai. The ice core from the Belukha glacier collected in 2001 (4062 m a.s.l., 49°48' N, 86°34' E) was analyzed with annual resolution in the period 1964-2000. Daily data of the frequency of synoptic patterns observed in the Northern Hemisphere along with daily data of precipitation have been used to identify the predominant atmospheric circulations (elementary circulating mechanisms, or ECMs) generating the entry of biological proxies on the glacier surface. It was shown that the high-resolution records of diatoms, cysts, spores, and plant pollen in the Belukha ice core are the biological proxies for the changes in the structure of precipitation in the Altai region since these records can reflect changes in the contribution of different atmospheric circulation to annual or seasonal precipitation. The joint consideration of the transport ability of the biological species and the data of precipitation allowed us to determine the main modern sources of biological proxies deposited at the Belukha glacier. The main sources of diatoms in the Belukha ice core are water bodies of the Aral, Caspian, and northern Kazakhstan basins; coniferous tree pollen originated from the taiga forest of the boreal zone of western Siberia; pollen of deciduous trees and herbs from steppe and forest-steppe vegetation in the northern Altai and eastern Kazakhstan; and cysts and spores of plants were transported from local water bodies and forests. The identified source regions of the biological species are supported by back trajectory analyses and are in good agreement with emission source regions of the trace elements in the ice core.

3. A 1500-year record of tropical precipitation in ice cores from the quelccaya ice cap, peru.

PubMed

Thompson, L G; Mosley-Thompson, E; Bolzan, J F; Koci, B R

1985-09-01

Two ice cores, covering 1500 years of climatic information, from the summit (5670 meters) of the tropical Quelccaya ice cap, in the Andes of southern Peru, provide information on general environmental conditions including droughts, volcanic activity, moisture sources, temperature, and glacier net balance. The net balance record reconstructed from these cores reflects major precipitation trends for the southern Andes of Peru. These records indicate extended dry periods between 1720 and 1860, 1250 and 1310, and 570 and 610; wet conditions prevailed between 1500 and 1720. Establishing a tropical precipitation record may help explain climatic fluctuations since the tropical evaporation-precipitation cycle is a principal mechanism driving the atmospheric circulation. PMID:17782530

4. Coring to the West Antarctic ice sheet bed with a new Deep Ice Sheet Coring (DISC) drill

Bentley, C. R.; Taylor, K. C.; Shturmakov, A. J.; Mason, W. P.; Emmel, G. R.; Lebar, D. A.

2005-05-01

As a contribution to IPY 2007-2008, the U.S. ice core research community, supported by the National Science Foundation, plans to core through the West Antarctic ice sheet (WAIS) at the ice-flow divide between the Ross Sea and Amundsen Sea drainage systems. The aim is to develop a unique series of interrelated climatic, ice-dynamic, and biologic records focused on understanding interactions among global earth systems. There will be approximately 15 separate but synergistic projects to analyze the ice and interpret the records. The most significant expected outcome of the WAIS Divide program will be climate records for the last ~40,000 years with an annually resolved chronology (through layer counting), comparable to the records from central Greenland. The data will also extend, at lower temporal resolution, to approximately 100,000 BP. These records will permit comparison of environmental conditions between the northern and southern hemispheres, and study of greenhouse gas concentrations in the paleoatmosphere, with unprecedented detail. To accomplish the coring, an innovative new Deep Ice Sheet Coring (DISC) drill is being built at the University of Wisconsin. The modular design of the bore-hole assembly (sonde) provides high flexibility for producing a 122 mm diameter ice core to depths of 4,000 m with maximum core lengths of 4 m. The DISC drill has a rotating outer barrel that can be used with or without an inner barrel designed to improve core recovery in brittle ice. Separate and independent motors for the drill and pump allow cutter speeds from 0 to 150 rpm and pump rates from 0 to 140 gpm. The high pumping rate should alleviate problems drilling in warm ice near the bed; it also helps make tripping speeds several times faster than with the old US drill. Other innovations include vibration and acoustic sensors for monitoring the drilling process, a segmented core barrel to avoid the formerly persistent problem of bent core barrels, and a high-speed data acquisition system, which allows the real-time monitoring of 30 parameters for operational and scientific use. Data are transmitted from the sonde to the surface through optical fibers contained in the drill cable, which also provides power to the sonde. The entire drilling process utilizes a user-friendly "expert" control system. Quick connectors allow for fast core removal and sonde servicing. The drill tower is a tilting tower utilizing modular truss construction for flexibility and portability. We expect higher quality cores than produced by the old drill, because of a straighter barrel, the independently controlled drill and pump motors, and better monitoring and control of the drilling process. The drill is scheduled for testing in Greenland in the summer of 2006 and for first drilling at the WAIS Divide site late in the 2006-07 austral field season.

5. Low-latitude ice cores and freshwater availability

Kehrwald, Natalie Marie

2009-12-01

6. Critical Fracture Toughness Measurements of an Antarctic Ice Core

Christmann, Julia; Müller, Ralf; Webber, Kyle; Isaia, Daniel; Schader, Florian; Kippstuhl, Sepp; Freitag, Johannes; Humbert, Angelika

2014-05-01

Fracture toughness is a material parameter describing the resistance of a pre-existing defect in a body to further crack extension. The fracture toughness of glacial ice as a function of density is important for modeling efforts aspire to predict calving behavior. In the presented experiments this fracture toughness is measured using an ice core from Kohnen Station, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. The samples were sawed in an ice lab at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven at -20°C and had the dimensions of standard test samples with thickness 14 mm, width 28 mm and length 126 mm. The samples originate from a depth of 94.6 m to 96 m. The grain size of the samples was also identified. The grain size was found to be rather uniform. The critical fracture toughness is determined in a four-point bending approach using single edge V-notch beam samples. The initial notch length was around 2.5 mm and was prepared using a drilling machine. The experimental setup was designed at the Institute of Materials Science at Darmstadt. In this setup the force increases linearly, until the maximum force is reached, where the specific sample fractures. This procedure was done in an ice lab with a temperature of -15°C. The equations to calculate the fracture toughness for pure bending are derived from an elastic stress analysis and are given as a standard test method to detect the fracture toughness. An X-ray computer tomography (CT scanner) was used to determine the ice core densities. The tests cover densities from 843 kg m-3 to 871 kg m-3. Thereby the influence of the fracture toughness on the density was analyzed and compared to previous investigations of this material parameter. Finally the dependence of the measured toughness on thickness, width, and position in the core cross-section was investigated.

7. Bipolar ice core records of millennial scale climate variability : an overview of recent findings (Invited)

Masson-Delmotte, V.; Landais, A.

2013-12-01

Greenland and Antarctic ice cores offer high resolution records of the imprints of millennial scale climate variability on polar climate, aerosol deposition, and atmospheric composition (Wolff et al, QSR, 2010). Improved chronologies and spatial coverage provide new data against which the mechanisms involved in millennial variability and simulated by climate models can be tested. We will first discuss the bipolar sequence of events based on the new AICC2012 chronology, during the last climatic cycle (Veres et al, Clim. Past, 2013; Bazin et al, Clim. Past, 2013). The matrix of ice cores allows to investigate regional differences in the cross-Greenland fingerprints of Dansgaard-Oeschger events (Guillevic et al, Clim. Past, 2013) and the circum-Antarctic signature of their Antarctic Isotopic Maxima counterpart (Buiron et al, QSR, 2012). While Heinrich events have long remained difficult to identify in ice core records, a step change in atmospheric CO2 concentrations has been identified during Heinrich 4 (Ahn et al, GRL, 2012), challenging the gradual CO2 emissions expected from the classical bipolar see-saw explanation. High resolution Antarctic data also reveal centennial to millennial variability during interglacial periods and glacial inceptions which bears similarities with glacial Antarctic Isotopic Maxima, questioning the source and amplifiers of glacial millennial variability. New investigations of the magnitude and recurrence of millennial variability based on multiple long Antarctic ice core records are expected to provide further hints on the interplay between mean climatic states and this millennial variability.

8. Beryllium-10 in the Taylor Dome ice core: Applications to Antarctic glaciology and paleoclimatology

SciTech Connect

Steig, E.J.

1996-12-31

An ice core was drilled at Taylor dome, East Antarctica, reaching to bedrock at 554 meters. Oxygen-isotope measurements reveal climatic fluctuations through the last interglacial period. To facilitate comparison of the Taylor Dome paleoclimate record with geologic data and results from other deep ice cores, several glaciological issues need to be addressed. In particular, accumulation data are necessary as input for numerical ice-flow-models, for determining the flux of chemical constituents from measured concentrations, and for calculation of the offset in age between ice and trapped air in the core. The analysis of cosmogenic beryllium-10 provides a geochemical method for constraining the accumulation-rate history at Taylor Dome. High-resolution measurements were made in shallow firn cores and snow pits to determine the relationship among beryllium-10 concentrations, wet and dry deposition mechanisms, and snow-accumulation rates. Comparison between theoretical and measured variations in deposition over the last 75 years constrains the relationship between beryllium-10 deposition and global average production rates. The results indicate that variations in geomagnetically-modulated production-rate do not strongly influence beryllium-10 deposition at Taylor Dome. Although solar modulation of production rate is important for time scales of years to centuries, snow-accumulation rate is the dominant control on ice-core beryllium-10 concentrations for longer periods. Results show that the Taylor Dome core can be used to provide new constraints on regional climate over the last 130,000 years, complementing the terrestrial and marine geological record from the Dry Valley, Transantarctic Mountains and western Ross Sea.

9. An automated approach for annual layer counting in ice cores

Winstrup, M.; Svensson, A. M.; Rasmussen, S. O.; Winther, O.; Steig, E. J.; Axelrod, A. E.

2012-07-01

A novel method for automated annual layer counting in seasonally-resolved paleoclimate records has been developed. It relies on algorithms from the statistical framework of Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), which originally was developed for use in machine speech-recognition. The strength of the layer detection algorithm lies in the way it is able to imitate the manual procedures for annual layer counting, while being based on statistical criteria for annual layer identification. The most likely positions of multiple layer boundaries in a section of ice core data are determined simultaneously, and a probabilistic uncertainty estimate of the resulting layer count is provided, ensuring an objective treatment of ambiguous layers in the data. Furthermore, multiple data series can be incorporated and used simultaneously. In this study, the automated layer counting algorithm has been applied to an ice core record from Greenland. The algorithm shows high skill in reproducing the results from manual layer counts.

10. IceChrono v1: a probabilistic model to compute a common and optimal chronology for several ice cores

Parrenin, Frédéric

2015-04-01

Polar ice cores provide exceptional archives of past environmental conditions. The dating of ice cores is essential to interpret the paleo records that they contain, but it is a complicated problem since it involves different dating methods. Here I present IceChrono v1, a new probabilistic model to combine different kinds of chronological information to obtain a common and optimized chronology for several ice cores, as well as its uncertainty. It is based on the inversion of three quantities: the surface accumulation rate, the Lock-In Depth (LID) of air bubbles and the vertical thinning function. The chronological information used are: models of the sedimentation process (accumulation of snow, densification of snow into ice and air trapping, ice flow), ice and gas dated horizons, ice and gas dated depth intervals, Δdepth observations (depth shift between synchronous events recorded in the ice and in the air), stratigraphic links in between ice cores (ice-ice, air-air or mix ice-air and air-ice links). The optimization problem is formulated as a least squares problems, that is, all densities of probabilities are assumed gaussian. It is numerically solved using the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm and a numerical evaluation of the model's Jacobian. IceChrono is similar in scope to the Datice model, but has differences from the mathematical, numerical and programming point of views. I apply IceChrono on an AICC2012-like experiment and I find similar results than Datice within a few centuries, which is a confirmation of both IceChrono and Datice codes. IceChrono v1 is freely available under the GPL v3 open source license.

11. MIF in Volcanic Sulfate: Preliminary Results From Greenland Ice Cores

Lanciki, A. L.; Cole-Dai, J.; Savarino, J.; Thiemens, M.

2008-12-01

Sulfur dioxide from natural and anthropogenic sources is oxidized in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid aerosols. These aerosols contribute to acid rain, global climate variations, and are a health hazard to humans. Sulfuric acid aerosols in the stratosphere may also affect ozone levels. Volcanic eruptions are a natural source of sulfur dioxide, but depending on the height of the eruption plume, an eruption can be either tropospheric or stratospheric. It has been found in Antarctic ice cores that sulfate from a stratospheric eruption contains sulfur-33 MIF anomaly, while there is no anomaly when sulfur dioxide is oxidized in the troposphere. The unique sulfur MIF signature for stratospheric eruptions could be a valuable tool to identify large, climate-impacting stratospheric eruptions in ice core records. Modeling studies suggest that the main cause of this sulfur MIF is photochemical reactions induced by high-energy UV light below 310 nm. This is consistent with the Antarctica ice core results that the sulfur anomaly is found only in eruptions that emitted sulfur dioxide directly into the stratosphere, where substantial UV radiation is available. In this work, volcanic sulfate from a few volcanic eruptions has been extracted from a number of Greenland ice cores and analyzed for sulfur anomaly. For the first time, MIF anomaly has been found in the sulfate of a known stratospheric eruption (the 1815 Tambora eruption) preserved in the Northern Hemisphere. These latest data show that the pattern of sulfur anomaly evolution during the deposition of volcanic sulfate is similar at both polar regions. This provides further evidence that sulfur MIF anomaly is generated by photochemical reactions and dynamic processes in the global stratosphere.

12. Spatial and temporal characteristics of the Little Ice Age: The Antarctic ice-core record

SciTech Connect

Mosley-Thompson, E.; Thompson, L.G.

1992-03-01

Recently, ice core records from both hemispheres, in conjunction with other proxy records (e.g., tree rings, speleothems and corals), have shown that the Little Ice Age (LIA) was spatially extensive, extending to the Antarctic. This paper examines the temporal and spatial characteristics of the dust and delta 18O information from Antarctic ice cores. Substantial differences exist in the records. For example, a 550-year record of delta 18O and dust concentrations from Siple Station, Antarctica suggests that, less dusty conditions prevailed from A.D. 1600 to 1830. Alternately, dust and delta 18O data from South Pole Station indicate that opposite conditions (e.g., cooler and more dusty) were prevalent during the LIA. Three additional Antarctic delta 18O records are integrated with the Siple and South Pole histories for a more comprehensive picture of LIA conditions. The records provide additional support for the LIA temperature opposition between the Antarctic Peninsula region and East Antarctica. In addition, periods of strongest LIA cooling are not temporally synchronous over East Antarctica. These strong regional differences demonstrate that a suite of spatially distributed, high resolution ice core records will be necessary to characterize the LIA in Antarctica.

13. Revised estimates of Greenland ice sheet thinning histories based on ice-core records

Lecavalier, Benoit S.; Milne, Glenn A.; Vinther, Bo M.; Fisher, David A.; Dyke, Arthur S.; Simpson, Matthew J. R.

2013-03-01

Ice core records were recently used to infer elevation changes of the Greenland ice sheet throughout the Holocene. The inferred elevation changes show a significantly greater elevation reduction than those output from numerical models, bringing into question the accuracy of the model-based reconstructions and, to some extent, the estimated elevation histories. A key component of the ice core analysis involved removing the influence of vertical surface motion on the δ18O signal measured from the Agassiz and Renland ice caps. We re-visit the original analysis with the intent to determine if the use of more accurate land uplift curves can account for some of the above noted discrepancy. To improve on the original analysis, we apply a geophysical model of glacial isostatic adjustment calibrated to sea-level records from the Queen Elizabeth Islands and Greenland to calculate the influence of land height changes on the δ18O signal from the two ice cores. This procedure is complicated by the fact that δ18O contained in Agassiz ice is influenced by land height changes distant from the ice cap and so selecting a single location at which to compute the land height signal is not possible. Uncertainty in this selection is further complicated by the possible influence of Innuitian ice during the early Holocene (12-8 ka BP). Our results indicate that a more accurate treatment of the uplift correction leads to elevation histories that are, in general, shifted down relative to the original curves at GRIP, NGRIP, DYE-3 and Camp Century. In addition, compared to the original analysis, the 1-σ uncertainty is considerably larger at GRIP and NGRIP. These changes reduce the data-model discrepancy reported by Vinther et al. (2009) at GRIP, NGRIP, DYE-3 and Camp Century. A more accurate treatment of isostasy and surface loading also acts to improve the data-model fits such that the residuals at all four sites for the period 8 ka BP to present are significantly reduced compared to the original analysis. Prior to 8 ka BP, the possible influence of Innuitian ice on the inferred elevation histories prevents a meaningful comparison.

14. Penny ice cap cores, baffin island, canada, and the wisconsinan foxe dome connection: two states of hudson bay ice cover

PubMed

Fisher; Koerner; Bourgeois; Zielinski; Wake; Hammer; Clausen; Gundestrup; Johnsen; Goto-Azuma; Hondoh; Blake; Gerasimoff

1998-01-30

Ice cores from Penny Ice Cap, Baffin Island, Canada, provide continuous Holocene records of oxygen isotopic composition (delta18O, proxy for temperature) and atmospheric impurities. A time scale was established with the use of altered seasonal variations, some volcanic horizons, and the age for the end of the Wisconsin ice age determined from the GRIP and GISP2 ice cores. There is pre-Holocene ice near the bed. The change in delta18O since the last glacial maximum (LGM) is at least 12.5 per mil, compared with an expected value of 7 per mil, suggesting that LGM ice originated at the much higher elevations of the then existing Foxe Dome and Foxe Ridge of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. The LGM delta18O values suggest thick ice frozen to the bed of Hudson Bay. PMID:9445472

15. What can ice core data tell us about global-scale biomass burning rates?

van der Werf, G.; Peters, W.; Van Leeuwen, T. T.; Giglio, L.

2012-12-01

Over the past decade, ice core records have revealed a wealth of information about concentrations of fire-emitted species. This information is crucial to understand how fires have varied in the past, and complements other data sources such as charcoal records. While relatively long-lived species such as CH4 may provide a proxy for global-scale fire activity, other species like carbon monoxide, leviglucosan, and black carbon are shorter lived and the representativeness of these species in ice cores for large-scale fire activity rate assessments is not well studied. We used a contemporary biomass burning emissions assessment derived from satellite data in combination with an atmospheric transport model to assess what local ice core records mean for large-scale fire reconstructions. We focus on a recent ice core record of CO on the South Pole and show how variability in emission factors and atmospheric transport influences the relative roles of various fire sources and regions in impacting South Pole CO concentrations. We found, for example, that South America and Australia are twice as efficient in influencing CO concentrations at the South Pole as Africa is. We show that savannas are a crucial source category for explaining fire emissions variability in the Southern hemisphere; savannas have the potential to yield higher-than-present emissions due to larger areas available for burning and more continuous fuel beds in the past. However, we also show that to fully explain the quadrupled CO concentrations from fires found in the South Pole ice core all of the savannas had to burn annually or bi-annually in the past, in combination with deforestation fire emissions comparable to present day. Both are unlikely but not impossible. We end with identifying which information is required to make solid conclusions about the strength of pre-industrial global fire emissions compared to present-day rates.

16. Marine sediments in Disko Trough reveal meltwater-influenced sedimentation during ice-stream retreat

Hogan, Kelly A.; Cofaigh, Colm Ó.; Jennings, Anne E.; Dowdeswell, Julian A.

2015-04-01

Marine geophysical data from middle and outer Disko Trough, West Greenland reveal thick (more than ten metres) acoustically-laminated, fine-grained sediments between subglacial tills at their base and post-glacial marine sediments at the seafloor. These sediments are interpreted as a transitional facies deposited as ice retreated from the trough during deglaciation. New sediment-core records indicate that these units were likely deposited by meltwater plumes emanating from a nearby grounded-ice margin, probably during stillstands in ice retreat. The retreat of ice in the trough may have been stabilised at a narrowing in DiskoTrough on the mid-shelf, as well as at the basalt escarpment south of Disko Island. Such thicknesses of deglacial or "transitional" glacimarine sediments are relatively unusual on high-latitude continental shelves and indicate a significant meltwater production in central West Greenland during deglaciation. This is consistent with the seafloor landforms in the inner and middle parts of the trough that include channels and moats around bedrock protrusions that look to have been eroded by water. IRD counts from the cores indicate that iceberg rafting also occurred during this transitional phase but that this signal was diluted by the fine-grained transitional sediments. Once ice had withdrawn from the area and sedimentation was hemipelagic in nature the IRD signal was less diluted.

17. The Late Holocene Atmospheric Methane Budget Reconstructed from Ice Cores

Mitchell, Logan E.

In this thesis I used a newly developed methane measurement line to make high-resolution, high-precision measurements of methane during the late Holocene (2800 years BP to present). This new measurement line is capable of an analytical precision of < 3 ppb using ˜120 g samples. The reduced sample size requirements as well as automation of a significant portion of the analysis process have enabled me to make >1500 discrete ice core methane measurements and construct the highest resolution records of methane available over the late Holocene. I first used a shallow ice core from WAIS Divide (WDC05A) to produce a 1000 year long methane record with a ˜9 year temporal resolution. This record confirmed the existence of multidecadal scale variations that were first observed in the Law Dome, Antarctica ice core. I then explored a range of paleoclimate archives for possible mechanistic connections with methane concentrations on multidecadal timescales. In addition, I present a detailed description of the analytical methods used to obtain high-precision measurements of methane including the effects of solubility and a new chronology for the WDC05A ice core. I found that, in general, the correlations with paleoclimate proxies for temperature and precipitation were low over a range of geographic regions. Of these, the highest correlations were found from 1400-1600 C.E. during the onset of the Little Ice Age and with a drought index in the headwater region of the major East Asian rivers. Large population losses in Asia and the Americas are also coincident with methane concentration decreases indicating that anthropogenic activities may have been impacting multidecadal scale methane variability. In the second component I extended the WAIS Divide record back to 2800 years B.P. and also measured methane from GISP2D over this time interval. These records allowed me to examine the methane Inter-Polar Difference (IPD) which is created by greater northern hemispheric sources. The IPD provides an important constraint on changes in the latitudinal distribution of sources. We used this constraint and an 8-box global methane chemical transport model to examine the Early Anthropogenic Hypothesis which posits that humans began influencing climate thousands of years ago by increasing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing the onset of the next ice age. I found that most of the increase in methane sources over this time came from tropical regions with a smaller contribution coming from the extratropical northern hemisphere. Based on previous modeling estimates of natural methane source changes, I found that the increase in the southern hemisphere tropical methane emissions was likely natural and that the northern hemispheric increase in methane emissions was likely due to anthropogenic activities. These results also provide new constraints on the total magnitude of pre-industrial anthropogenic methane emissions, which I found to be between the high and low estimates that have been previously published in the literature. For the final component of my thesis I assembled a coalition of scientists to investigate the effects of layering on the process of air enclosure in ice at WAIS Divide. Air bubbles are trapped in ice 60-100m below the surface of an ice sheet as snow compacts into solid ice in a region that is known as the Lock-In Zone (LIZ). The details of this process are not known and in the absence of direct measurements previous researchers have assumed it to be a smooth process. This project utilized high-resolution methane and air content measurements as well as density of ice, delta15N of N2, and bubble number density measurements to show that air entrapment is affected by high frequency (mm scale) layering in the density of ice within the LIZ. I show that previous parameterizations of the bubble closure process in firn models have not accounted for this variability and present a new parameterization which does. This has implications for interpreting rapid changes in trace gases measured in ice cores since variable bubble closure will impact the smoothing of those records. In particular it is essential to understand the details of this process as new high resolution ice core records from Antarctica and Greenland examine the relative timing between greenhouse gases and rapid climate changes. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

18. THE TROPICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ATLANTIC SECTOR ICE CORES AND THE NORTH PACIFIC MT LOGAN ICE CORE

Fisher, D. A.

2009-12-01

The stable isotope record from the Mt Logan, Yukon, Canada ice core spans the late Glacial to present and shows very large and sudden variations in O18 during the Holocene . It is hypothesized that they are driven by changes in the water sources ,which in turn, are determined by the state of ENSO. There seems to be no correlations between the Logan ice core isotope record and those from the North Atlantic (Greenland and Eastern Canadian Arctic). Using the stacked and co-dated Greenland and Eastern Canadian Arctic ice core records from the Holocene, it is possible to reproduce the Logan isotope record by subtracting the stacked Atlantic record from itself with an 1100 year lag. The correlations obtainable are -0.43 for 50 year average series. This correlation is significant at the 99.8 % level . The 1100 lag has also been found in previous studies comparing the Greenland to Antarctic ice cores (Stocker and Johnsen,2003). It is argued that such a lagged difference series is a proxy for the difference between the ocean water surface and deep temperatures in the tropical Pacific . ENSO’s amplitude is driven by this temperature difference, (Sun 2000). When the deep water is too warm, then the difference is too small to produce ENSO oscillations and strong tropical easterly winds persist (ie strong and constant La Nina). The ice core records from Mt Logan , Greenland and Eastern Arctic Canada all point to a similar history of ENSO oscillation strength. Prior to ~ 4200 BP the strong and constant La Nina tended to drive the tropical Pacific winds and moisture across to produce strong and reliable monsoons. Since 4200 BP the “modern” and variable pattern has been in place. There was a smaller scale shift about 1840 AD . For about a couple of centuries prior to 1840 AD , La Nina was in charge and after there were the oscillations that are thought of as normal. If the 1100 year lag between surface and bottom temperatures is true and if the bottom temperatures are echoes those from the N Atlantic 1100 years ago, there are implications for what we could expect from the tropical Pacific oscillations (ENSO) in the future. Sun D. 2000. Global climate change and El Nino: a theoretical framework. in "El Nino and The Southern Oscillation", editors H. F. Diaz and V. Markgraf. Cambridge UP. Stocker T.F. and S.J. Johnsen. 2003. A minimum thermodynamic model for the bipolar seesaw.. Paleoceanography vol 18, No 4 , pp11-19.

19. The contribution of ice core studies to the understanding of environmental processes

Oeschger, H.

Data obtained from the studies of polar ice cores supplement the records available from tree rings, peat bogs, lake and ocean sediments, and provide a relatively new data source to understand processes of the complex climatic and global cycles. The main sources of ice core data are stable and radioactive isotopes, soluble and particulate matter, and the composition of the gases occluded in the ice. Such information can be used to investigate the history and the variability of carbon dioxide and the climate system. Temperature and other climatic data obtained from δ18O measurements of polar ice cores can be correlated with similar information obtained from carbonate lake sediments. Comparison of the δ18O profiles of the Dye 3 ice core and central European lake sediments show distinct similarities such as the identification of the Older Dryas-Bolling/Allerød-Younger Dryas-Preboreal sequence. Measurements of the cosmic ray produced isotope 10Be on only 1 kg polar ice samples are possible by accelerator mass spectrometry. The resulting data reveals the 11-year solar modulation cycle and the Maunder Minimum of solar activity from 1645 to 1745 AD. The 10Be concentration values for the Maunder Minimum are a factor 1.6 higher than the average for the past 800 years. Using a carbon cycle model these 10Be variations can be compared to the 14C variations found in tree rings. The relatively good correlation suggests a common origin of the 10Be and 14C fluctuations and serves as a check of carbon cycle models. During the Wisconsin stage all of the Dye 3 ice core parameters measured to date (δ18O, CO2/air, SO4-, NO3-, Cl-, dust) show values fluctuating between two different boundary conditions. This suggests that the climate system existing at that time oscillated between a cold and a warm state, probably strongly influenced by different ocean circulations and ice cover. During the Wisconsin stage a cold system dominated; the transition to the Holocene is considered as the final transition to a warm state. Thereafter the boundary conditions did not allow the systems to switch back to a cold state.

20. Halogen-based reconstruction of Russian Arctic sea ice area from the Akademii Nauk ice core (Severnaya Zemlya)

Spolaor, A.; Opel, T.; McConnell, J. R.; Maselli, O. J.; Spreen, G.; Varin, C.; Kirchgeorg, T.; Fritzsche, D.; Vallelonga, P.

2015-08-01

The role of sea ice in the Earth climate system is still under debate, although it is known to influence albedo, ocean circulation, and atmosphere-ocean heat and gas exchange. Here we present a reconstruction of AD 1950 to 1998 sea ice in the Laptev Sea based on the Akademii Nauk ice core (Severnaya Zemlya, Russian Arctic). The halogens bromine (Br) and iodine (I) are strongly influenced by sea ice processes. Bromine reacts with the sea ice surface in auto-catalyzing "Bromine explosion" events causing an enrichment of the Br / Na ratio and the bromine excess (Brexc) in snow compared to that in seawater. Iodine is emitted from algal communities growing under sea ice. The results suggest a connection between Brexc and spring sea ice area, as well as a connection between iodine concentration and summer sea ice area. These two halogens are therefore good candidates for extended reconstructions of past sea ice changes in the Arctic.

1. The Incomplete Impact Record and Implications for Ice Core Studies

Bay, R. C.; Rohde, R. A.; Price, P. B.

2007-12-01

The impact risk is extremely uncertain for objects of order 0.1-1 km diameter, with kinetic energies in the range 100 to 1 million Mt (megaton TNT ~ 4×1015 J) and recurrence times estimated in thousands to many tens of thousands of years. Millennial timescales are especially interesting, since the character of explosions (e.g. impacts, large volcanic eruptions) that only occur every 103 to 104 years lies just beyond the reckoning of modern cultural history. The impact rate predicted for the Earth based on observing nearby objects is much higher than the endemic rate estimated by counting known craters on Earth's surface. We have examined the latest account of confirmed craters from the Earth Impact Database (http://www.unb.ca/passc/ImpactDatabase/) over the last 100 Ma. The cratering record contains a large gap between 35 and 5 Ma, during which the apparent impact rate drops by an order of magnitude. The gap occurs during a period of substantial climate change, notably the initiation of large scale permanent glaciers, based on climate proxies from deep-sea sediment cores. A likely partial explanation is that climate change eroded or precluded crater formation in the recent geologic past. Taken together with constraints from inner solar system cratering and observations of near earth objects, the apparent gap in crater formation suggests that the terrestrial impact record is grossly incomplete over timescales much shorter than 100 Ma. If the true impact rate is more commensurate with the higher rates inferred from the local planetary environment, then some of the explosive fallout layers now observed in ice cores may actually be the result of recent impacts rather than volcanic eruptions. Like very large eruptions, impact ejecta are likely to be widely distributed, since impactors disrupt all levels of the atmosphere and generate ballistic debris and vapor plumes that can rise above the stratosphere. Polar ice core records of the last ~50-100 ka have become sufficiently extensive and synchronized to suggest an emerging pattern between explosive volcanic layers and abrupt climate change, although atmospheric focusing and preservation of deposits complicate analysis. By comparing ice core ash and acid signals of explosive volcanic fallout in Antarctica and Greenland, we have identified a number of common horizons which likely resulted from "eruptions" that dispersed material world-wide. These events appear to have preferentially occurred during onsets or intensifications of cooling phases, contributing to long-standing debates over possible feedbacks between climatic and geologic phenomena. The correlation may be evidence that abrupt climate change and associated changes in sea level and ice sheets can trigger volcanism. An intriguing and conspicuous alternative possibility is that catastrophic explosions force long term cooling. A relatively high rate for small impact events (objects hundreds of meters in size) could imply that impacts (instead of volcanism) are a causal factor in some of the climate variations observed during the last million years. Our method of optically probing outward from the boreholes created by ice coring missions is capable of detecting particulate layers which are invisible or largely missing in the cores, identifying candidate horizons for chemical analyses. Deliberate and discriminative analysis of the "ash" layers in ice cores could shed light on the recent impact rate. This research was supported by grant NSF ANT-0440609.

2. An ice core record of net snow accumulation and seasonal snow chemistry at Mt. Waddington, southwest British Columbia, Canada

Neff, P. D.; Steig, E. J.; Clark, D. H.; McConnell, J. R.; Pettit, E. C.; Menounos, B.

2011-12-01

We recovered a 141 m ice core from Combatant Col (51.39°N, 125.22°W, 3000 m asl) on the flank of Mt. Waddington, southern Coast Mountains, British Columbia, Canada. Aerosols and other impurities in the ice show unambiguous seasonal variations, allowing for annual dating of the core. Clustered melt layers, originating from summer surface heating, also aid in the dating of the core. Seasonality in water stable isotopes is preserved throughout the record, showing little evidence of diffusion at depth, and serves as an independent verification of the timescale. The annual signal of deuterium excess is especially well preserved. The record of lead deposition in the core agrees with those of ice cores from Mt. Logan and from Greenland, with a sharp drop-off in concentration in the 1970s and early 1980s, further validating the timescales. Despite significant summertime melt at this mid-latitude site, these data collectively reveal a continuous and annually resolved 36-year record of snow accumulation. We derived an accumulation time series from the Mt. Waddington ice core, after correcting for ice flow. Years of anomalously high or low snow accumulation in the core correspond with extremes in precipitation data and geopotential height anomalies from reanalysis data that make physical sense. Specifically, anomalously high accumulation years at Mt. Waddington correlate with years where "Pineapple Express" atmospheric river events bring large amounts of moisture from the tropical Pacific to western North America. The Mt. Waddington accumulation record thus reflects regional-scale climate. These results demonstrate the potential of ice core records from temperate glaciers to provide meaningful paleoclimate information. A longer core to bedrock (250-300 m) at the Mt. Waddington site could yield ice with an age of several hundred to 1000 years.

3. Physical properties of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide deep core: Development, evolution, and interpretation

Fegyveresi, John M.

The physical properties of the WAIS Divide deep ice core record meteorological conditions during and shortly after deposition, mean temperature during transformation to ice, deformation within the ice, and may retain information on past surface elevations. The WAIS Divide (WDC06A) core was recovered from West Antarctica (79°28.058' S, 112°05.189' W, ˜1760 m elevation, ˜3450 m ice thickness) on the Ross Sea side of the ice-divide with the Amundsen Sea drainage. My observations of the core were supplemented by near-surface studies spanning five consecutive austral summer seasons (2008--2012). Near-surface processes including intense summertime solar heating produce distinct seasonal strata. Prominent "glazed" crusts form very near the surface during times of steep temperature gradients and subsequently develop polygonal cracks, allowing ventilation of deeper firn. The near-surface seasonal contrasts persist to, and beyond the bubble-trapping depth, where they have a weak effect on total trapped air. A new record of total air content also shows that impurities may affect this important parameter, complicating interpretation of past elevation changes. Paleoclimatic interpretation of the number-density of bubbles is extended successfully here through the "brittle ice" zone, providing a record of surface temperature spanning ˜5500 years. This new record reveals relatively stable values through the first half of the interval, with a very-slight warming early, followed by a slight cooling over the most recent two millennia. Bubbles were found to be preferentially elongated parallel to the basal planes of enclosing grains, with less overall elongation of bubbles in grains with lower resolved shear stresses on their basal planes, as expected if grain deformation occurs primarily on basal planes and proportional to the stress.

4. Multi-proxy fingerprint of Heinrich event 4 in Greenland ice core records

Guillevic, M.; Bazin, L.; Landais, A.; Stowasser, C.; Masson-Delmotte, V.; Blunier, T.; Eynaud, F.; Falourd, S.; Michel, E.; Minster, B.; Popp, T.; Prié, F.; Vinther, B. M.

2014-03-01

Glacial climate was characterised by two types of abrupt events. Greenland ice cores record Dansgaard-Oeschger events, marked by abrupt warming in-between cold, stadial phases. Six of these stadials coincide with major Heinrich events (HE), identified from ice-rafted debris (IRD) and large excursions in carbon and oxygen stable isotopic ratios in North Atlantic deep sea sediments, documenting major ice sheet collapse events. This finding has led to the paradigm that glacial cold events are induced by the response of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation to such massive freshwater inputs, supported by sensitivity studies conducted with climate models of various complexities. This mechanism could however never be confirmed or infirmed because the exact timing of Heinrich events and associated low latitude hydrological cycle changes with respect to Greenland stadials has so far remained elusive. Here, we provide the first multi-proxy fingerprint of H4 within Stadial 9 in Greenland ice cores through ice and air proxies of low latitude climate and water cycle changes. Our new dataset demonstrates that Stadial 9 consists of three phases, characterised first by Greenland cooling during 550 ± 60 years (as shown by markers of Greenland temperature δ18O and δ15N), followed by the fingerprint of Heinrich Event 4 as identified from several proxy records (abrupt decrease in 17O excess and Greenland methane sulfonic acid (MSA), increase in CO2 and methane mixing ratio, heavier δ D-CH4 and δ18Oatm), lasting 740 ± 60 years, itself ending approximately 390 ± 50 years prior to abrupt Greenland warming. Preliminary investigations on GS-13 encompassing H5, based on the ice core proxies δ18O, MSA, δ18Oatm, CH4 and CO2 data also reveal a 3 phase structure, as well as the same sequence of events. The decoupling between stable cold Greenland temperature and low latitude HE imprints provides new targets for benchmarking climate model simulations and testing mechanisms associated with millennial variability.

5. Chemical compositions of soluble aerosols around the last termination in the NEEM (Greenland) ice core

Oyabu, Ikumi; Iizuka, Yoshinori; Karlin, Torbjorn; Fukui, Manabu; Hondoh, Takeo; Hansson, Margareta

2013-04-01

The polar ice cores provide us with reconstruction of past atmospheric aerosols. Atmospheric aerosols such as dust and sea salt in both Arctic and Antarctic ice cores are well discussed by using the proxy of ion concentration/flux. Recently, studies on the chemical compositions of soluble aerosols in the ice cores have been carried out. The chemical compositions and transition of soluble aerosols in the Dome Fuji (Antarctica) has been revealed, however, there are few studies on those of soluble aerosols in Greenland ice cores. Using ice sublimation method #1, we analyzed the chemical compositions of soluble aerosols around the last termination in the NEEM (Greenland) ice core. A total of 43 samples were distributed from NEEM ice core section from 1280 to 1580 m. Soluble aerosols were extracted from the samples by sublimation system. Constituent elements and diameter of each non-volatile particle were measured by scanning electron micro scope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). By using a method in our recent paper #2, we assumed that particles containing Ca and S are calcium sulfate and particles containing Na and S are sodium sulfate. We divided around the last termination into 4 stages by focusing on the temperature; Holocene, Younger Dryas (YD), Bølling-Allerød (B-A) and Last Glacial Period (LGP), and compared the mass ratio of sulfate and chloride aerosols in each stage. During the cold stage in YD and LGP, calcium sulfate accounted large percentage of soluble aerosols. On the other hand, during the warm stage in Holocene and B-A, sodium sulfate accounted large percentage of soluble aerosols. These relationships between chemical composition and temperature are probably related to non sea salt (nss)-calcium ion concentration. We will discuss the relationship between nss-calcium ion concentration and chemical compositions of soluble aerosols in the presentation. References #1 Iizuka et al., J. Glaciol., 55(191), 58-64, 2009. #2 Iizuka, Y. et al. J. Geophys. Res. 117, D04308, 2012.

6. Peregrinations of the Greenland Ice Sheet divide in the last glacial cycle: implications for central Greenland ice cores

Marshall, Shawn J.; Cuffey, Kurt M.

2000-06-01

The superb quality of the climate chronology archived in the Summit, Greenland ice cores (GRIP, GISP2) testifies that the Greenland Ice Sheet divide has been generally stable through the last glacial cycle. The ice sheet has experienced a broad range of paleoclimate conditions, ice sheet margin configurations, and internal dynamical adjustments in glacial-interglacial transitions, however. It is unlikely that the Summit region escaped shifts in ice divide position, geometry, elevation, and flow characteristics. Details of this dynamical history are important to several aspects of ice core studies. The magnitudes of pure and simple shearing, reconstruction of vertical ice velocity, the explicit location of the ice divide, and the divide 'residence time' at different locations are all of interest in interpretation of climatic variables and physical properties of ice in the ice cores. We apply a three-dimensional, thermomechanical ice sheet model to examine the evolution of these dynamical variables over the last 160 kyr in central Greenland. While a high-elevation ice dome is present in the Summit region throughout the simulation, ice divide migrations of up to 150 km are predicted. All points in the vicinity of the Summit ice cores, including the modern divide, have been subject to flowline shifts and variable, non-zero shear deformation during the adjustment from glacial to Holocene conditions, from ca. 10 ka to the present. Modelled divide peregrinations and strain rate history are consistent with the observed disturbance of deep ice in the GRIP and GISP2 ice cores, which has muddled paleoclimate reconstructions for the last interglacial (Eemian) period in Greenland. Dynamical excursions are also evident north of the modern summit, where the NGRIP ice core is currently being drilled [Dahl-Jensen et al., J. Glaciol. 43 (1997) 300-306]. However, the prevailing flow direction and deformation regime at the NGRIP site are much more stable than those at GRIP and GISP2 in the simulations. Combined with the greater depth of ice at this site, this lends cautious optimism to the hope that Eemian ice at NGRIP may contain an intact record of Eemian climate.

7. Fire in Ice: Glacial-Interglacial biomass burning in the NEEM ice core

Zennaro, Piero; Kehrwald, Natalie; Zangrando, Roberta; Gambaro, Andrea; Barbante, Carlo

2014-05-01

Earth is an intrinsically flammable planet. Fire is a key Earth system process with a crucial role in biogeochemical cycles, affecting carbon cycle mechanisms, land-surface properties, atmospheric chemistry, aerosols and human activities. However, human activities may have also altered biomass burning for thousands of years, thus influencing the climate system. We analyse the specific marker levoglucosan to reconstruct past fire events in ice cores. Levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucopyranose) is an organic compound that can be only released during the pyrolysis of cellulose at temperatures > 300°C. Levoglucosan is a major fire product in the fine fraction of woody vegetation combustion, can be transported over regional to global distances, and is deposited on the Greenland ice sheet. The NEEM, Greenland ice core (77 27'N, 51 3'W, 2454 masl) documents past fire activity changes from the present back to the penultimate interglacial, the Eemian. Here we present a fire activity reconstruction from both North American and Eurasian sources over the last 120,000 yrs based on levoglucosan signatures in the NEEM ice core. Biomass burning significantly increased over the boreal Northern Hemisphere since the last glacial, resulting in a maximum between 1.5 and 3.5 kyr BP yet decreasing from ~2 kyr BP until the present. Major climate parameters alone cannot explain the observed trend and thus it is not possible to rule out the hypothesis of early anthropogenic influences on fire activity. Over millennial timescales, temperature influences Arctic ice sheet extension and vegetation distribution at Northern Hemisphere high latitudes and may have altered the distance between NEEM and available fuel loads. During the last Glacial, the combination of dry and cold climate conditions, together with low boreal insolation and decreased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels may have also limited the production of available biomass. Diminished boreal forest extension and the southward shift of taiga may have reduced the levoglucosan flux over Greenland during the Glacial, thus limiting the biomass burning signatures in the glacial NEEM section. Eemian biomass burning would be expected to be greater than that of the last Glacial due to incresed temperatures and the lack of continental ice sheets. However, NEEM Eemian levoglucosan concentrations are unexpectedly low, and are lower than any other climate period including the last Glacial. We propose that microbial activity in melting ice layers is a potential explanation for the low observed Eemian levoglucosan values.

8. Small scale folding observed in the NEEM ice core

Jansen, Daniela; Llorens, Maria-Gema; Westhoff, Julien; Steinbach, Florian; Bons, Paul D.; Kipfstuhl, Sepp; Griera, Albert; Weikusat, Ilka

2015-04-01

Disturbances on the centimeter scale in the layering of the NEEM ice core (North Greenland) can be mapped by means of visual stratigraphy as long as the ice does have a visual layering, such as, for example, cloudy bands. Different focal depths of the visual stratigraphy method allow, to a certain extent, a three dimensional view of the structures. In this study we present a structural analysis of the visible folds, discuss characteristics and frequency and present examples of typical fold structures. With this study we aim to quantify the potential impact of small scale folding on the integrity of climate proxy data. We also analyze the structures with regard to the stress environment under which they formed. The structures evolve from gentle waves at about 1700 m to overturned z-folds with increasing depth. Occasionally, the folding causes significant thickening of layers. Their shape indicates that they are passive features and are probably not initiated by rheology differences between layers. Layering is heavily disturbed and tracing of single layers is no longer possible below a depth of 2160 m. Lattice orientation distributions for the corresponding core sections were analyzed where available in addition to visual stratigraphy. The data show axial-plane parallel strings of grains with c.axis orientations that deviate from that of the matrix, which has more or less a single-maximum fabric at the depth where the folding occurs. We conclude from these data that folding is a consequence of deformation along localized shear planes and kink bands. The findings are compared with results from other deep ice cores. The observations presented are supplemented by microstructural modeling using a crystal plasticity code that reproduces deformation, applying a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), coupled with ELLE to include dynamic recrystallization processes. The model results reproduce the development of bands of grains with a tilted orientation relative to the single maximum fabric of the matrix and also the associated local deformation.

9. Optimisation of glaciological parameters for ice core chronology by implementing counted layers between identified depth levels

Bazin, L.; Lemieux-Dudon, B.; Landais, A.; Guillevic, M.; Kindler, P.; Parrenin, F.; Martinerie, P.

2014-08-01

A~recent coherent chronology has been built for 4 Antarctic ice cores and the NorthGRIP (NGRIP) Greenland ice core (Antarctic Ice Core Chronology 2012, AICC2012) using a bayesian approach for ice core dating (Datice). When building the AICC2012 chronology, and in order to prevent any confusion with official ice cores chronology, it has been imposed that the AICC2012 chronology for NGRIP should respect exactly the GICC05 chronology based on layer counting. However, such a strong tuning did not satisfy the hypothesis of independence of background parameters and observations for the NGRIP core as required by Datice. We present here the implementation in Datice of a new type of markers that is better suited to constraints deduced from layer counting: the markers of age-difference. Using this type of markers for NGRIP in a 5 cores dating exercise with Datice, we have performed several sensitivity tests and show that the new ice core chronologies obtained with these new markers do not differ by more than 400 years from AICC2012 for Antarctic ice cores and by more than 130 years from GICC05 for NGRIP over the last 60 000 years. With this new parameterization, the accumulation rate and lock-in depth associated with NGRIP are more coherent with independent estimates than those obtained in AICC2012. While these new chronologies should not be used yet as new ice core chronologies, the improved methodology presented here should be considered in the next coherent ice core dating exercise.

10. Tropical Ice Core Records: Evidence for Asynchronous Glaciation on Milankovitch Time Scales

Thompson, L. G.

2001-12-01

Ice core records are available from selected high altitude, low and mid-latitude ice caps. Comparisons are made among the histories from the Tibetan Plateau, the tropical Andes of South America, and Kilimanjaro in East Africa. Three of these records (Guliya in China, Huascarán in Peru, and Sajama in Bolivia) contain ice deposited during the Last Glacial Stage (LGS). The oxygen isotopic ratios (δ 18O) of this ice suggest significant tropical cooling ( ~5° C). Comparison of a global array of cores reveals large-scale similarities as well as important regional differences. The δ 18O shift from Early Holocene to LGM is 5.4‰ on Sajama, 6.3‰ on Huascarán, ~5.3‰ in central Greenland, 6.6‰ at Byrd Station in Antarctica and 5.4‰ at Vostok also in Antarctica. These records all show similar isotopic depletion, reflecting significant global cooling at the Late Glacial Maximum (LGM). As continental ice sheets form only in high latitudes (>40° ), those regions have provided most of the evidence for the pulsing of Quaternary glaciations. In low latitudes, glaciers are restricted to the high mountains and only recently have enough long tropical ice core histories become available to investigate the timing of glaciations there. Long ice cores recovered to bedrock at 7 high-altitude (>5300 m) sites on three continents are investigated for synchroneity of their glaciation histories. The cores from Huascarán in Peru at 9° S and Sajama in Bolivia at 18° S contain continuous records back into the LGS. Both glaciers clearly survived the early Holocene warm period (9 to 6 ka B.P.), but neither contains a long record of glacial stage climate back to the previous interglacial. Rather, the published records from Huascarán and Sajama extend back ~19 kyr and 25 kyr, respectively. Hence, both mountaintops, among the highest in South America, appear to have been ice free during a time considered significantly colder than the Holocene. The records from Dasuopu (28° N) and Puruogangri (34° N) suggest that the ice present today in the Himalayas and central Tibet formed during the time of greatest summer monsoon activity less than 10 kyr B.P. The younger basal ages for the Dasuopu and Puruogangri cores, coupled with the basal ages in the Andean ice caps, suggests an interesting scenario for the formation of permanent ice fields on these high elevation, low latitude mountains. Moving from 18° S to 9° S to 28° - 34° N, the ice fields appear to have successively younger basal ages (e.g., 25, 19 and ~8 kyr B.P.). Specifically, it is proposed that a northward migration of the age of glacier formation' occurred as the axis of Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), the major moisture supply, moved northward. At present, the average latitude of the ITCZ is ~5° N. This narrow band of intense upward water vapor flux determines the position of wet/dry climatic zones over a large portion of the tropics; therefore, any long-term change in its mean position could lead to asynchronous glacier formation/starvation. In fact, the precession cycle reached its Southern Hemisphere maximum about 23 kyr B.P. and its Northern Hemisphere maximum about 11 kyr. This is remarkably consistent with the latitudinal pattern of glacier formation proposed here. This precessional migration provides a powerful working hypothesis for investigating tropical climate records. The nature of this relationship has major implications for understanding the processes controlling global climate.

11. Variability of sulfate signal in ice-core records based on five replicate cores

Gautier, E.; Savarino, J.; Erbland, J.; Lanciki, A.; Possenti, P.

2015-08-01

Current volcanic reconstructions based on ice core analysis have significantly improved over the last decades. Relying on limited and disparate sulfate profiles at first, they have progressively incorporated multi cores analysis with high temporal resolution from different parts of the Polar Regions. Regional patterns of volcanic deposition flux are now based on composite records, built from several cores taken at both poles. However, it is worth mentioning that most of the time only a single record at a given site is used for such reconstructions. This implicitly assumes that transport and regional meteorological patterns are the only source of the dispersion of the volcanic-products. In the present work, we evaluate the local scale variability of a sulfate profile in a low accumulation site (Dome C, Antarctica), in order to assess the representativeness of one core for such reconstruction. We evaluate the depth variability, statistical occurrence, and sulfate flux deposition variability of volcanic eruptions detected on 5 ice cores, drilled 1 m away from each other. Local scale variability, essentially attributed to snow drift and surface roughness at Dome C, can lead to a non-exhaustive record of volcanic events when a single core is used as the site reference with a bulk probability of 30 % of missing volcanic events and 60 % uncertainty on the volcanic flux estimation. Averaging multiple records almost erases the probability of missing volcanic events and can reduce by half the uncertainty pertaining to the deposition flux.

12. Quantification of Dead-ice Melting in Ice-Cored Moraines at the High-Arctic Glacier Holmströmbreen, Svalbard

Schomacker, A.; Kjaer, K. H.

2007-12-01

An extensive dead-ice area has developed at the stagnant snout of the Holmströmbreen glacier on Svalbard following its Little Ice Age maximum. Dead-ice appears mainly as ice-cored moraines, ice-cored eskers and ice- cored kames. The most common dead-ice landform is sediment gravity flows on ice-cored slopes surrounding a large ice-walled, moraine-dammed lake. The lake finally receives the sediment from the resedimentation processes. Dead-ice melting is described and quantified through field studies and analyses of high-resolution, multi-temporal aerial photographs and satellite imagery. Field measurements of backwasting of ice-cored slopes indicate short-term melting rates of c. 9.2 cm/day. Long-term downwasting rates indicate a surface lowering of ice-cored moraines of c. 0.9 m/yr from 1984-2004. Different measures for dead-ice melting are assessed in relation to the temperature record from Svalbard since the termination of the Little Ice Age. The most prominent impact of dead-ice melting is the evolution of the ice-walled lake with an area increasing near-exponentially over the last 40 years. As long as backwasting and mass movement processes prevent build-up of an insulating debris-cover and expose ice-cores to melting, the de-icing continues even though the area is characterized by continuous permafrost.

13. Ice cores and SeaRISE: What we do (and don't) know

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alley, Richard B.

1991-01-01

Ice core analyses are needed in SeaRISE to learn what the West Antarctic ice sheet and other marine ice sheets were like in the past, what climate changes led to their present states, and how they behave. The major results of interest to SeaRISE from previous ice core analyses in West Antarctic are that the end of the last ice age caused temperature and accumulation rate increases in inland regions, leading to ice sheet thickening followed by thinning to the present.

14. Adsorption and dissociation of acidic trace gases on ice surfaces - caught in the act with core level spectroscopy

Waldner, Astrid; Orlando, Fabrizio; Ammann, Markus; Kleibert, Armin; Huthwelker, Thomas; Peter, Thomas; Bartels-Rausch, Thorsten

2015-04-01

Chemistry and physical processes in Earth's ice and snow cover can change the composition of the atmosphere and the contaminant content of the cryosphere. They have thus direct impacts on geochemical cycles and the climate system. Our ability to predict the fate of chemicals in snow or air masses in exchange with the cryosphere on a regional scale or to model those in snow chemistry models is currently hampered by our limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms on a molecular level. So far, direct experimental observations under environmentally relevant conditions of the ice surface and of the adsorption of trace gases to it are very limited. The unique approach of this study is to combine two surface sensitive spectroscopic methods to directly probe the hydrogen-bonding network at the ice surface ( ~1 nm depth) and the concentration, depth profile (~1 to 10 nm), and dissociation degree of the dopant. We present first core-electron photoemission (XPS) and partial electron yield X-ray absorption (NEXAFS) measurements of formic acid adsorbed to ice at 240 K. The analysis of oxygen NEXAFS spectra reveals information on changes in the hydrogen-bonding network of the ice surface upon adsorption of formic acid. Depth profiles based on XPS measurements indicate that the adsorbed acid stays at the ice surface. Furthermore we obtained a preliminary estimation of the degree of formic acid dissociation at the ice surface. Results are compared to earlier core-electron studies of several trace gases adsorbed to ice at 240 K and compared to results from more traditional method to and snow to reveal fundamental aspects of the ice surface and how it interacts with dopants. Even with the focus on adsorption of acidic trace gases to ice, results of this study will thus be of high relevance also for other chemical processes in ice and snow. This is of interest not only in environmental science but also in material science, cryobiology, and astrophysics.

15. Water isotopic ratios from a continuously melted ice core sample

Gkinis, V.; Popp, T. J.; Blunier, T.; Bigler, M.; Schüpbach, S.; Kettner, E.; Johnsen, S. J.

2011-11-01

A new technique for on-line high resolution isotopic analysis of liquid water, tailored for ice core studies is presented. We built an interface between a Wavelength Scanned Cavity Ring Down Spectrometer (WS-CRDS) purchased from Picarro Inc. and a Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) system. The system offers the possibility to perform simultaneuous water isotopic analysis of δ18O and δD on a continuous stream of liquid water as generated from a continuously melted ice rod. Injection of sub μl amounts of liquid water is achieved by pumping sample through a fused silica capillary and instantaneously vaporizing it with 100% efficiency in a~home made oven at a temperature of 170 °C. A calibration procedure allows for proper reporting of the data on the VSMOW-SLAP scale. We apply the necessary corrections based on the assessed performance of the system regarding instrumental drifts and dependance on the water concentration in the optical cavity. The melt rates are monitored in order to assign a depth scale to the measured isotopic profiles. Application of spectral methods yields the combined uncertainty of the system at below 0.1‰ and 0.5‰ for δ18O and δD, respectively. This performance is comparable to that achieved with mass spectrometry. Dispersion of the sample in the transfer lines limits the temporal resolution of the technique. In this work we investigate and assess these dispersion effects. By using an optimal filtering method we show how the measured profiles can be corrected for the smoothing effects resulting from the sample dispersion. Considering the significant advantages the technique offers, i.e. simultaneuous measurement of δ18O and δD, potentially in combination with chemical components that are traditionally measured on CFA systems, notable reduction on analysis time and power consumption, we consider it as an alternative to traditional isotope ratio mass spectrometry with the possibility to be deployed for field ice core studies. We present data acquired in the field during the 2010 season as part of the NEEM deep ice core drilling project in North Greenland.

16. Deep Radiostratigraphy of the East Antarctic Plateau: Connecting the Dome C and Vostok Ice Core Sites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cavitte, Marie G. P.; Blankenship, Donald D.; Young, Duncan A.; Schroeder, Dustin M.; Parrenin, Frederic; Lemeur, Emmanuel; Macgregor, Joseph A.; Siegert, Martin J.

2016-01-01

17. An automated approach for annual layer counting in ice cores

Winstrup, M.; Svensson, A. M.; Rasmussen, S. O.; Winther, O.; Steig, E. J.; Axelrod, A. E.

2012-11-01

A novel method for automated annual layer counting in seasonally-resolved paleoclimate records has been developed. It relies on algorithms from the statistical framework of hidden Markov models (HMMs), which originally was developed for use in machine speech recognition. The strength of the layer detection algorithm lies in the way it is able to imitate the manual procedures for annual layer counting, while being based on statistical criteria for annual layer identification. The most likely positions of multiple layer boundaries in a section of ice core data are determined simultaneously, and a probabilistic uncertainty estimate of the resulting layer count is provided, ensuring an objective treatment of ambiguous layers in the data. Furthermore, multiple data series can be incorporated and used simultaneously. In this study, the automated layer counting algorithm has been applied to two ice core records from Greenland: one displaying a distinct annual signal and one which is more challenging. The algorithm shows high skill in reproducing the results from manual layer counts, and the resulting timescale compares well to absolute-dated volcanic marker horizons where these exist.

18. Methane and nitrous oxide in the ice core record.

PubMed

Wolff, Eric; Spahni, Renato

2007-07-15

Polar ice cores contain, in trapped air bubbles, an archive of the concentrations of stable atmospheric gases. Of the major non-CO2 greenhouse gases, methane is measured quite routinely, while nitrous oxide is more challenging, with some artefacts occurring in the ice and so far limited interpretation. In the recent past, the ice cores provide the only direct measure of the changes that have occurred during the industrial period; they show that the current concentration of methane in the atmosphere is far outside the range experienced in the last 650,000 years; nitrous oxide is also elevated above its natural levels. There is controversy about whether changes in the pre-industrial Holocene are natural or anthropogenic in origin. Changes in wetland emissions are generally cited as the main cause of the large glacial-interglacial change in methane. However, changing sinks must also be considered, and the impact of possible newly described sources evaluated. Recent isotopic data appear to finally rule out any major impact of clathrate releases on methane at these time-scales. Any explanation must take into account that, at the rapid Dansgaard-Oeschger warmings of the last glacial period, methane rose by around half its glacial-interglacial range in only a few decades. The recent EPICA Dome C (Antarctica) record shows that methane tracked climate over the last 650,000 years, with lower methane concentrations in glacials than interglacials, and lower concentrations in cooler interglacials than in warmer ones. Nitrous oxide also shows Dansgaard-Oeschger and glacial-interglacial periodicity, but the pattern is less clear. PMID:17513260

19. Microflora in the basal strata at Antarctic ice core above the Vostok lake

Abyzov, S. S.; Mitskevich, I. N.; Poglazova, M. N.; Barkov, N. I.; Lipenkov, V. Ya.; Bobin, N. E.; Koudryashov, B. B.; Pashkevich, V. M.; Ivanov, M. V.

2001-01-01

The microbiological investigations of the Antarctic ice core at the Vostok station become especially important in connection with the discovery of an subglacial lake in this region. This lake is considered by the world-wide scientific community to be an important object for searching for relict forms of life on the Earth and also as a model for solving a number of problems of exobiology — for instance for development of methods to penetrate into underice sea at Europe — Jupiter's satellite. For the first time the Antarctic ice core samples were taken from the horizons which correspond to the basal zone (3534-3541 m) and to the accreation ice zone (3555 - 3611 m) above the subglacial lake Vostok. As a result of the microbiological investigations it was shown that the total number of microbial cells have been in the same range of quantities as at the upper, younger horizons and varied from 1.3 · 10 2 up to 9.6 · 10 2 cl/ml. Some periodicity in the cell concentration and in their morphological diversity was revealed along the core. The maximal number and the greatest morphological variety were detected at horizons with the depth of 3534, 3555 and 3595 m. A drop in the cell concentration two or three times as much was found in ice layers under each of the above mentioned horizons. The discovered stratification is apparently connected with the periodicity of the lake water interactions with the basal ice layer and obviously depends on the complex natural events which took place in the geological history of our planet.

20. Microflora in the basal strata at Antarctic ice core above the Vostok lake.

PubMed

Abyzov, S S; Mitskevich, I N; Poglazova, M N; Barkov, N I; Lipenkov, V Y; Bobin, N E; Koudryashov, B B; Pashkevich, V M; Ivanov, M V

2001-01-01

The microbiological investigations of the Antarctic ice core at the Vostok station become especially important in connection with the discovery of an subglacial lake in this region. This lake is considered by the world-wide scientific community to be an important object for searching for relict forms of life on the Earth and also as a model for solving a number of problems of exobiology--for instance for development of methods to penetrate into underice sea at Europe--Jupiter's satellite. For the first time the Antarctic ice core samples were taken from the horizons which correspond to the basal zone (3534-3541 m) and to the accreation ice zone (3555-3611 m) above the subglacial lake Vostok. As a result of the microbiological investigations it was shown that the total number of microbial cells have been in the same range of quantities as at the upper, younger horizons and varied from 1.3 x 10(2) up to 9.6 x 10(2) cl/ml. Some periodicity in the cell concentration and in their morphological diversity was revealed along the core. The maximal number and the greatest morphological variety were detected at horizons with the depth of 3534, 3555 and 3595 m. A drop in the cell concentration two or three times as much was found in ice layers under each of the above mentioned horizons. The discovered stratification is apparently connected with the periodicity of the lake water interactions with the basal ice layer and obviously depends on the complex natural events which took place in the geological history of our planet. PMID:11803975

1. Shallow seafloor glacial features reveal ice streaming and re-advance of the last British Ice Sheet, offshore eastern Scotland and north-eastern England, UK

2013-12-01

Multibeam echosounder datasets have been combined with high-resolution topographic digital surface models (NEXTMap), 2D seismic reflection profiles and shallow cores to reveal strong evidence for onshore-offshore palaeo-ice streaming in eastern Scotland and north-eastern England, UK. The study area includes the catchments of the previously proposed, but only partly mapped, Strathmore, Forth-Tay, and Tweed palaeo-ice streams. Long suspected to terminate offshore, the full flow path and dimensions of this palaeo-ice stream system can now be reconstructed with some certainty using these new data. The ice sheet glacial landsystem is extremely well preserved on the seabed with four main types of subglacial and ice marginal morphology present: 1) highly elongate flow-parallel ridges and grooves strongly suggestive of ice streaming; 2) shorter-elongation flow aligned drumlins and crag and tails indicative of fast-flowing and persistent ice-sheet flow configurations; 3) large arcuate moraine ridges marking frontal stillstands or readvances of the ice sheet margin; and 4) tunnel valleys and deeply incised meltwater channels probably associated with retreat phases of the British Ice Sheet (BIS) following Last Glacial Maximum. The mapped bedforms indicate that fast-flowing corridors (palaeo-ice streams) existed within the last BIS emanating from the central belt of Scotland and northeast England. This new geomorphological evidence shows that these ice streams extended at least 60km offshore and probably accelerated across the transition from bedrock-dominated onshore terrain to till- dominated North Sea Basin. Of particular note is the observation that the Forth-Tay ice stream diverged, forming two glaciologically separate streams running parallel to the present-day coastline. Evidence shows that the southerly arm of this palaeo-ice stream overprinted the Tweed palaeo-ice stream which is contrary to the previously proposed trajectory. Spatial and morphological relationships between the landforms within this glacial landsystem allow inferences about ice sheet history and behaviour to be reconstructed. Most notably, elongate streamlined bedforms superimposed on conspicuous moraine ridges indicate that an extensive advance of palaeo-ice streams took place into the North Sea Basin during overall ice sheet retreat.

2. Climatic and insolation control on the high-resolution total air content in the NGRIP ice core

Eicher, O.; Baumgartner, M.; Schilt, A.; Schmitt, J.; Schwander, J.; Stocker, T. F.; Fischer, H.

2015-11-01

Because the total air content (TAC) of polar ice is directly affected by the atmospheric pressure, its record in polar ice cores was considered as a proxy for past ice sheet elevation changes. However the Antarctic ice core TAC record is known to also contain an insolation signature, although the underlying physical mechanisms are still a matter of debate. Here we present a high-resolution TAC record over the whole North Greenland Ice Core Project ice core, covering the last 120 000 years, which independently supports an insolation signature in Greenland. Wavelet analysis reveals a clear precession and obliquity signal similar to previous findings on Antarctic TAC, with different insolation history. In our high-resolution record we also find a decrease of 3-5 % (3-4.2 mL kg-1) in TAC as a response to Dansgaard-Oeschger-Events (DO-events). TAC starts to decrease in parallel to increasing Greenland surface temperature and slightly before CH4 reacts to the warming, but also shows a two-step decline that lasts for several centuries into the warm phase/interstadial. The TAC response is larger than expected considering only local temperature and atmospheric pressure as a driver, pointing to transient firnification response caused by the accumulation-induced increase in the load on the firn at bubble close-off, while temperature changes deeper in the firn are still small.

3. Variability of sulfate signal in ice core records based on five replicate cores

Gautier, E.; Savarino, J.; Erbland, J.; Lanciki, A.; Possenti, P.

2016-01-01

Current volcanic reconstructions based on ice core analysis have significantly improved over the past few decades by incorporating multiple-core analyses with a high temporal resolution from different parts of the polar regions into a composite common volcanic eruption record. Regional patterns of volcanic deposition are based on composite records, built from cores taken at both poles. However, in many cases only a single record at a given site is used for these reconstructions. This assumes that transport and regional meteorological patterns are the only source of the dispersion of the volcanic products. Here we evaluate the local-scale variability of a sulfate profile in a low-accumulation site (Dome C, Antarctica), in order to assess the representativeness of one core for such a reconstruction. We evaluate the variability with depth, statistical occurrence, and sulfate flux deposition variability of volcanic eruptions detected in five ice cores, drilled 1 m apart from each other. Local-scale variability, essentially attributed to snow drift and surface roughness at Dome C, can lead to a non-exhaustive record of volcanic events when a single core is used as the site reference, with a bulk probability of 30 % of missing volcanic events and close to 65 % uncertainty on one volcanic flux measurement (based on the standard deviation obtained from a five-core comparison). Averaging n records reduces the uncertainty of the deposited flux mean significantly (by a factor 1/ n); in the case of five cores, the uncertainty of the mean flux can therefore be reduced to 29 %.

4. The Mount Logan (Yukon) Ice Cores: Preliminary Results

Fisher, D. A.

2004-05-01

Three ice cores were taken at different elevations on or near My Logan in the years 2001 and 2002. The summit core (PRCol) comes from the summit plateau ( 5340 masl, length 187 m to bedrock, mean temperature -29 C ) and was done by the Geological Survey of Canada. The NIPR group cored 210m on the flanks of the mountain at King Col (4200 masl mean temperature -16C) and the UNH group cored 20 km from the mountain at Eclipse "Dome" (3015 masl,length 345 m mean temperature -5C) . The three cores were done cooperatively by GSC, NIPR and UNH and cover nominally 30 ka, 1 ka and 2ka respectively . Located very close to the Gulf of Alaska these core records are thought to reflect the climate history of the Pacific Ocean and having three widely spaced elevations, the sites "see" different distances to different sources. The lowest site (Eclipse) has excellent seasonals but a very muted δ 18O history with no obvious little ice age, whereas the most recent 1ka of the PRCol summit sites contains two very large and sudden δ 18O and d (deuterium excess) shifts at 1850 AD and ~ 800 AD. The δ 18O shifts which happen from one year to the next are about 4 o/oo . The summit site (PRCol) δ 18O response is "backwards", ie the Little Ice Age δ 18O values are 4 o/oo more positive than recent ones. The PRCol δ 18O and d suggest that the source water can either be ëlocalí (Gulf of Alaska) or very distant (tropics) . The Eclipse site seems only to get the local water . A massive dust storm originating in central Asia (Gobi) in April 2001 dumped a visible layer all over the St Elias Mountains and this layer was sampled, to provide a calibration "Asian dust event". The satellite and isotoic signatures both agreed that Gobi was the source. The PRCol record covers the Holocene and well back into the ice age. The transition is defined by a sudden ECM shift on the flanks of a more gradual O18 shift. Acknowledgements. Logan consortium consists of : Geological Survey of Canada : Jocelyne Bourgeois, Mike Demuth, David Fisher, Roy Koerner,Chris Zdanowicz, James Zheng. University of Ottawa: Ian Clarke,Raphaelle Cardyn. National Institute of Polar Research (Japan): Kumiko Goto-Azuma University of New Hampshire: Cam Wake, Kaplan Yalcin. University of Maine: Karl Kreutz, Paul Mayewski, Erich Osterberg. Arctic Institute of North America: Gerald Holdsworth. University of Washington: Eric J. Steig, Summer B. Rupper. University of Copenhagen: Dorthe Dahl-Jensen. David Fisher is the presenter but many contributed to what is a joint preliminary offering.

5. Tree ring and ice core time scales around the Santorini eruption

Löfroth, Elin; Muscheler, Raimund; Aldahan, Ala; Possnert, Göran; Berggren, Ann-Marie

2010-05-01

When studying cosmogenic radionuclides in ice core and tree ring archives around the Santorini eruption a ~20 year discrepancy was found between the records (Muscheler 2009). In this study a new 10Be dataset from the NGRIP ice core is presented. It has a resolution of 7 years and spans the period 3752-3244 BP (1803-1295 BC). The NGRIP 10Be record and the previously published 10Be GRIP record were compared to the IntCal datasets to further investigate the discrepancy between the ice core and tree ring chronologies. By modelling the 14C production rate based on atmospheric 14C records a comparison could be made to the 10Be flux which is assumed to represent the 10Be production rate. This showed a time shift of ~23 years between the records. The sensitivity of the results to changes in important model parameters was evaluated. Uncertainties in the carbon cycle model cannot explain a substantial part of the timing differences. Potential influences of climate and atmospheric processes on the 10Be deposition were studied using δ18O from the respective cores and GISP2 ice core ion data. The comparison to δ18O revealed a small but significant correlation between 10Be flux and δ18O when the 14C-derived production signal was removed from the 10Be curves. The ion data, as proxies for atmospheric circulation changes, did not show any correlations to the 10Be record or the 10Be/14C difference. When including possible data uncertainties there is still a minimum discrepancy of ~10 years between the 10Be ice core and the 14C tree ring record. Due to lack of alternative explanations it is concluded that the ice core and/or the tree ring chronologies contains unaccounted errors in this range. This also reconciles the radiocarbon 1627-1600 BC (Friedrich et al., 2006) and ice core 1642±5 BC (Vinther et al., 2006) datings of the Santorini eruption. Friedrich, W.L., Kromer, B., Friedrich, M., Heinemeier, J., Pfeiffer, T., & Talamo, S., 2006: Santorini eruption radiocarbon dated to 1627-1600 BC. Science 312, 548-548. Muscheler, 2009: 14C and 10Be around 1650 cal BC. In Warburton, D.A., (ed.): Time's Up! Dating the Minoan Eruption of Santorini: acts of the Minoan Eruption Chronology Workshop, Sandbjerg November 2007: Monographs of the Danish Institute at Athens. Aarhus University Press, Aarhus. 298 pp. Vinther, B.M., Clausen, H.B., Johnsen, S.J., Rasmussen, S.O., Andersen, K.K., Buchardt, S.L., Dahl-Jensen, D., Seierstad, I.K., Siggaard-Andersen, M.L., Steffensen, J.P., Svensson, A., Olsen, J., & Heinemeier, J., 2006: A synchronized dating of three Greenland ice cores throughout the Holocene. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres 111, 11.

6. Characterizing black carbon in rain and ice cores using coupled tangential flow filtration and transmission electron microscopy

Ellis, A.; Edwards, R.; Saunders, M.; Chakrabarty, R. K.; Subramanian, R.; van Riessen, A.; Smith, A. M.; Lambrinidis, D.; Nunes, L. J.; Vallelonga, P.; Goodwin, I. D.; Moy, A. D.; Curran, M. A. J.; van Ommen, T. D.

2015-06-01

Antarctic ice cores have been used to study the history of black carbon (BC), but little is known with regards to the physical and chemical characteristics of these particles in the remote atmosphere. Characterization remains limited by ultra-trace concentrations in ice core samples and the lack of adequate methods to isolate the particles unaltered from the melt water. To investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of these particles, we have developed a tangential flow filtration (TFF) method combined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Tests using ultrapure water and polystyrene latex particle standards resulted in excellent blanks and significant particle recovery. This approach has been applied to melt water from Antarctic ice cores as well as tropical rain from Darwin, Australia with successful results: TEM analysis revealed a variety of BC particle morphologies, insoluble coatings, and the attachment of BC to mineral dust particles. The TFF-based concentration of these particles has proven to give excellent results for TEM studies of BC particles in Antarctic ice cores and can be used for future studies of insoluble aerosols in rainwater and ice core samples.

7. Characterizing black carbon in rain and ice cores using coupled tangential flow filtration and transmission electron microscopy

Ellis, A.; Edwards, R.; Saunders, M.; Chakrabarty, R. K.; Subramanian, R.; van Riessen, A.; Smith, A. M.; Lambrinidis, D.; Nunes, L. J.; Vallelonga, P.; Goodwin, I. D.; Moy, A. D.; Curran, M. A. J.; van Ommen, T. D.

2015-09-01

Antarctic ice cores have been used to study the history of black carbon (BC), but little is known with regards to the physical and chemical characteristics of these particles in the remote atmosphere. Characterization remains limited by ultra-trace concentrations in ice core samples and the lack of adequate methods to isolate the particles unaltered from the melt water. To investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of these particles, we have developed a tangential flow filtration (TFF) method combined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Tests using ultrapure water and polystyrene latex particle standards resulted in excellent blanks and significant particle recovery. This approach has been applied to melt water from Antarctic ice cores as well as tropical rain from Darwin, Australia with successful results: TEM analysis revealed a variety of BC particle morphologies, insoluble coatings, and the attachment of BC to mineral dust particles. The TFF-based concentration of these particles has proven to give excellent results for TEM studies of BC particles in Antarctic ice cores and can be used for future studies of insoluble aerosols in rainwater and ice core samples.

8. Expression and Characterization of an Ice Binding Protein from a Bacterium Isolated at a Depth of 3,519 Meters in the Vostok Ice Core, Antarctica

Christner, B. C.; Achberger, A.; Brox, T. I.; Skidmore, M. L.

2011-12-01

The cryopreservation of microorganisms in ancient glacial ice is possible if lethal levels of macromolecular damage are not incurred and cellular integrity is not compromised via intracellular ice formation or recrystallization. There are numerous examples of cold-adapted species that prevent or limit ice crystal growth by producing ice-binding proteins (IBP). Previously, a bacterium (isolate 3519-10; Flavobacteriaceae family) recovered from a depth of 3,519 meters below the surface in the Vostok ice core was shown to produce and secrete an IBP that inhibits the recrystallization of ice. To explore the phenotypic advantage that IBPs confer to ice-entrapped cells, experiments were designed to examine the expression of 3519-10's IBP gene and protein at different temperatures, assess the effect of the IBP on bacterial viability in ice, and determine how the IBP influences the physical structure of the ice. Total RNA isolated from aerobic cultures grown at temperatures between 4C to 25C and analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR indicated constitutive expression of the IBP gene. Additionally, SDS-PAGE analysis of 3519-10's extracellular proteins revealed a polypeptide corresponding to the predicted size of the 54 kDa IBP at all temperatures tested. The total extracellular protein fraction was subsequently used in assays with Escherichia coli to examine the effect of the IBP on bacterial survival in warm ice (-5C) and after freeze-thaw cycling. In the presence of 100 μg mL-1 of extracellular protein from 3519-10, the survival of E. coli was increased by greater than 100-fold; however, the survival of E. coli suspensions containing the same concentration of bovine serum albumin was not significantly different than controls (p<0.05). Microscopic analysis of ice formed in the presence of the IBP indicated that in a mm^2 field of view, there were 5 times as many crystals as in ice formed in the presence of washed 3519-10 cells and non-IBP producing bacteria, and 10 times as many crystals as in particle-free deionized water. Presumably, the effect that the IBP has on bacterial viability and ice crystal structure is due to its activity as an inhibitor of ice recrystallization. Although a myriad of molecular adaptations are likely to play a role in bacterial persistence under frozen conditions, the ability of 3519-10's IBP to control ice crystal structure may provide one explanation for its successful survival deep within the Antarctic ice sheet for thousands of years.

9. Caldicellulosiruptor Core and Pangenomes Reveal Determinants for

SciTech Connect

Blumer-Schuette, Sara E.; Giannone, Richard J; Zurawski, Jeffrey V; Ozdemir, Inci; Ma, Qin; Yin, Yanbin; Xu, Ying; Kataeva, Irena; Poole, Farris; Adams, Michael W. W.; Hamilton-Brehm, Scott; Elkins, James G; Larimer, Frank W; Land, Miriam L; Hauser, Loren John; Cottingham, Robert W; Hettich, Robert {Bob} L; Kelly, Robert M

2012-01-01

Extremely thermophilic bacteria of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor utilize carbohydrate components of plant cell walls, including cellulose and hemicellulose, facilitated by a diverse set of glycoside hydrolases (GHs). From a biofuel perspective, this capability is crucial for deconstruction of plant biomass into fermentable sugars. While all species from the genus grow on xylan and acidpretreated switchgrass, growth on crystalline cellulose is variable. The basis for this variability was examined using microbiological, genomic, and proteomic analyses of eight globally diverse Caldicellulosiruptor species. The open Caldicellulosiruptor pangenome (4,009 open reading frames [ORFs]) encodes 106 GHs, representing 43 GH families, but only 26 GHs from 17 families are included in the core (noncellulosic) genome (1,543 ORFs). Differentiating the strongly cellulolytic Caldicellulosiruptor species from the others is a specific genomic locus that encodes multidomain cellulases from GH families 9 and 48, which are associated with cellulose-binding modules. This locus also encodes a novel adhesin associated with type IV pili, which was identified in the exoproteome bound to crystalline cellulose. Taking into account the core genomes, pangenomes, and individual genomes, the ancestral Caldicellulosiruptor was likely cellulolytic and evolved, in some cases, into species that lost the ability to degrade crystalline cellulose while maintaining the capacity to hydrolyze amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose.

10. Holocene biomass burning recorded in polar and low-latitude ice cores

Kehrwald, N. M.; Zennaro, P.; Zangrando, R.; Gabrielli, P.; Thompson, L. G.; Gambaro, A.; Barbante, C.

2011-12-01

Ice cores contain specific molecular markers including levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucopyranose) and other pyrochemical evidence that provides much-needed information on the role of fire in regions with no existing data of past fire activity. Levoglucosan is a cellulose combustion product produced at burning temperatures of 300°C or greater. We first trace fire emissions from a boreal forest source in the Canadian Shield through transport and deposition at Summit, Greenland. Atmospheric and surface samples suggest that levoglucosan in snow can record biomass burning events up to 1000s of kilometers away. Levoglucosan does degrade by interacting with hydroxyl radicals in the atmosphere, but it is emitted in large quantities, allowing the use as a biomass burning tracer. These quantified atmospheric biomass burning emissions and associated parallel oxalate and levoglucosan peaks in snow pit samples validates levoglucosan as a proxy for past biomass burning in snow records and by extension in ice cores. The temporal and spatial resolution of chemical markers in ice cores matches the core in which they are measured. The longest temporal resolution extends back approximately eight glacial cycles in the EPICA Dome C ice core, but many ice cores provide high-resolution Holocene records. The spatial resolution of chemical markers in ice cores depends on the core location where low-latitude ice cores primarily reflect regional climate parameters, and polar ice cores integrate hemispheric signals. Here, we compare levoglucosan flux measured during the late Holocene in the Kilimanjaro (3°04.6'S; 37°21.2'E, 5893 masl) and NEEM, Greenland (77°27' N; 51°3'W, 2454 masl) ice cores. We contrast the Holocene results with levoglucosan flux across the past 600,000 years in the EPICA Dome C (75°06'S, 123°21'E, 3233 masl) ice core.

11. Svalbard Climate Variability During the Past 200 Years as Recorded in two Ice Cores

Isaksson, E.; Kohler, J.; Igarashi, M.; Motoyama, H.; Martma, T.; Meijer, H.; Kekkonen, T.; Moore, J.; Mulvaney, R.; Pohjola, V.

2001-12-01

Ice cores from the relatively low-lying icecaps in Svalbard have not been widely exploited in climatic studies due to uncertainties about the effect of melt water percolation. However, results from two new Svalbard ice cores, at Lomonosovfonna and Austfonna, have shown that with careful site selection, high-resolution sampling and multiple chemical analysis, it is possible to recover ice cores whose annual signals are preserved. The new Svalbard ice core sites are positioned in different parts of Svalbard, with different climatic influences. We compare the two sites' \\delta18O and deuterium records with air temperature and sea ice extent records over the two last centuries. The \\delta18O data from the cores are relatively similar over most of the 20th century, suggesting that they record the same atmospheric signal. Prior to 1920, the Austfonna ice core exhibits more negative \\delta18O values than Lomonosovfonna, but there are intermittent decadal-scale periods throughout the record with similar values. Comparing the ice core and sea ice records from this period suggests that sea ice extent is largely responsible for these differences.

12. The Mercedario ice core - an excellent archive for ENSO reconstruction

Jenk, Theo; Graesslin-Ciric, Anita; Tobler, Leonhard; Gäggeler, Heinz; Morgenstern, Uwe; Casassa, Gino; Lüthi, Martin; Schmitt, Jochen; Eichler, Anja; Schwikowski, Margit

2015-04-01

South America is a key region for the understanding of climate dynamics in the Southern Hemisphere such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). A direct ENSO signal can be expected to be preserved in glaciers located between 28 and 35° S, as the amount of winter precipitation in Central Chile is significantly correlated to the Southern Oscillation Index. We will present new results from a 104 m long ice core drilled in 2005 at La Ollada glacier on Cerro Mercedario located in the Central Argentinean Andes (31° 58'S, 70° 07'W, 6100 m asl.). Measured borehole temperatures, ranging from -16.7 ° C at 104 m depth to -18.5 ° C at 10 m below surface, are the lowest englacial temperatures that have been measured in Andean glaciers to date which is reflected in the complete absence of melt features in the core. Another rather unique characteristic of this core is the fact that the oxygen isotopic ratios of water (δ18O) do not show seasonal variation. The core was dated using a combination of independent tools such as (1) annual layer counting mainly based on dust related chemical impurities, (2) nuclear dating with 210Pb, 14C of particulate carbon (i.e. OC fraction) and tritium, (3) measurements of trace gases (i.e. CH4, N2O and CFCs) trapped in the ice enclosed air bubbles and (4) 2D glacier flow modelling. This allowed obtaining an accurate chronology for the last 350 years. The mean annual accumulation rate of the site was determined with 0.27 ± 0.03 m w.eq., principally allowing seasonal to sub-seasonal resolution. We will discuss transport and sources of chemical impurities and the relation between them, δ18O and tropical eastern Pacific sea surface temperatures (SST). As expected for the site, we find δ18O and most chemical impurities to be strongly modulated by the ENSO allowing presentation of a new proxy based ENSO reconstruction back to ~1700 AD.

13. Phase relationships between orbital forcing and the composition of air trapped in Antarctic ice cores

Bazin, Lucie; Landais, Amaelle; Masson-Delmotte, Valérie; Ritz, Catherine; Picard, Ghislain; Capron, Emilie; Jouzel, Jean; Dumont, Marie; Leuenberger, Markus; Prié, Frédéric

2015-04-01

Orbital tuning is central for ice core chronologies beyond annual layer counting, available back to 60 ka (i.e. thousands of years before 1950) for Greenland ice cores. While several complementary orbital tuning tools have recently been developed using δ18Oatm, δO2/N2 and air content with different orbital targets, quantifying their uncertainties remains a challenge. Indeed, the exact processes linking variations of these parameters, measured in the air trapped in ice, to their orbital targets are not yet fully understood. Here, we provide new series of δO2/N2 and δ18Oatm data encompassing Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 5 (between 100-160 ka) and the oldest part (380-800 ka) of the East Antarctic EPICA Dome C (EDC) ice core. For the first time, the measurements over MIS 5 allow an inter-comparison of δO2/N2 and δ18Oatm records from three East Antarctic ice core sites (EDC, Vostok and Dome F). This comparison highlights a site-specific relationship between δO2/N2 and its local summer solstice insolation that increases the uncertainty associated with the use of δO2/N2 as a tool for orbital tuning. Combining records of δ18Oatm and δO2/N2 from Vostok and EDC, we evidence a loss of orbital signature for these two parameters during periods of minimum eccentricity (~400 ka, ~720-800 ka). Our dataset reveals a time-varying lag between δO2/N2 and δ18Oatm over the last 800 ka that we interpret as variations of the lag between δ18Oatm and precession. Large lags of ~5 ka are identified during Terminations I and II, associated with strong Heinrich events. On the opposite, minimal lags (~1-2 ka) are identified during four periods characterized by high eccentricity, intermediate ice volume and no Heinrich events (MIS 6-7, the end of MIS 9, MIS 15 and MIS 17). We therefore suggest that the occurrence of Heinrich events influences the response of δ18Oatm to precession.

14. Phase relationships between orbital forcing and the composition of air trapped in Antarctic ice cores

Bazin, Lucie; Landais, Amaelle; Capron, Emilie; Masson-Delmotte, Valérie; Ritz, Catherine; Picard, Ghislain; Jouzel, Jean; Dumont, Marie; Leuenberger, Markus; Prié, Frédéric

2016-03-01

Orbital tuning is central for ice core chronologies beyond annual layer counting, available back to 60 ka (i.e. thousands of years before 1950) for Greenland ice cores. While several complementary orbital tuning tools have recently been developed using δ18Oatm, δO2⁄N2 and air content with different orbital targets, quantifying their uncertainties remains a challenge. Indeed, the exact processes linking variations of these parameters, measured in the air trapped in ice, to their orbital targets are not yet fully understood. Here, we provide new series of δO2/N2 and δ18Oatm data encompassing Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 5 (between 100 and 160 ka) and the oldest part (340-800 ka) of the East Antarctic EPICA Dome C (EDC) ice core. For the first time, the measurements over MIS 5 allow an inter-comparison of δO2/N2 and δ18Oatm records from three East Antarctic ice core sites (EDC, Vostok and Dome F). This comparison highlights some site-specific δO2/N2 variations. Such an observation, the evidence of a 100 ka periodicity in the δO2/N2 signal and the difficulty to identify extrema and mid-slopes in δO2/N2 increase the uncertainty associated with the use of δO2/N2 as an orbital tuning tool, now calculated to be 3-4 ka. When combining records of δ18Oatm and δO2/N2 from Vostok and EDC, we find a loss of orbital signature for these two parameters during periods of minimum eccentricity (˜ 400 ka, ˜ 720-800 ka). Our data set reveals a time-varying offset between δO2/N2 and δ18Oatm records over the last 800 ka that we interpret as variations in the lagged response of δ18Oatm to precession. The largest offsets are identified during Terminations II, MIS 8 and MIS 16, corresponding to periods of destabilization of the Northern polar ice sheets. We therefore suggest that the occurrence of Heinrich-like events influences the response of δ18Oatm to precession.

15. Phase relationships between orbital forcing and the composition of air trapped in Antarctic ice cores

Bazin, L.; Landais, A.; Masson-Delmotte, V.; Ritz, C.; Picard, G.; Capron, E.; Jouzel, J.; Dumont, M.; Leuenberger, M.; Prié, F.

2015-04-01

Orbital tuning is central for ice core chronologies beyond annual layer counting, available back to 60 ka (i.e. thousand of years before 1950) for Greenland ice cores. While several complementary orbital tuning tools have recently been developed using δ18Oatm, δO2/N2 and air content with different orbital targets, quantifying their uncertainties remains a challenge. Indeed, the exact processes linking variations of these parameters, measured in the air trapped in ice, to their orbital targets are not yet fully understood. Here, we provide new series of δO2/N2 and δ18Oatm data encompassing Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 5 (between 100-160 ka) and the oldest part (380-800 ka) of the East Antarctic EPICA Dome C (EDC) ice core. For the first time, the measurements over MIS 5 allow an inter-comparison of δO2/N2 and δ18Oatm records from three East Antarctic ice core sites (EDC, Vostok and Dome F). This comparison highlights a site-specific relationship between δO2/N2 and its local summer solstice insolation. Such a relationship increases the uncertainty associated with the use of δO2/N2 as a tool for orbital tuning. Combining records of δ18Oatm and δO2/N2 from Vostok and EDC, we evidence a loss of orbital signature for these two parameters during periods of minimum eccentricity (∼400, ∼720-800 ka). Our dataset reveals a time-varying lag between δO2/N2 and δ18Oatm over the last 800 ka that we interpret as variations of the lag between δ18Oatm and precession. Large lags of ∼5 ka are identified during Terminations I and II, associated with strong Heinrich events. On the opposite, minimal lags (∼1-2 ka) are identified during four periods characterized by high eccentricity, intermediate ice volume and no Heinrich events (MIS 6-7, the end of MIS 9, MIS 15 and MIS 17). We therefore suggest that the occurrence of Heinrich events influences the response of δ18Oatm to precession.

16. Halogen-based reconstruction of Russian Arctic sea ice area from the Akademii Nauk ice core (Severnaya Zemlya)

Spolaor, A.; Opel, T.; McConnell, J. R.; Maselli, O. J.; Spreen, G.; Varin, C.; Kirchgeorg, T.; Fritzsche, D.; Saiz-Lopez, A.; Vallelonga, P.

2016-01-01

The role of sea ice in the Earth climate system is still under debate, although it is known to influence albedo, ocean circulation, and atmosphere-ocean heat and gas exchange. Here we present a reconstruction of 1950 to 1998 AD sea ice in the Laptev Sea based on the Akademii Nauk ice core (Severnaya Zemlya, Russian Arctic). The chemistry of halogens bromine (Br) and iodine (I) is strongly active and influenced by sea ice dynamics, in terms of physical, chemical and biological process. Bromine reacts on the sea ice surface in autocatalyzing "bromine explosion" events, causing an enrichment of the Br / Na ratio and hence a bromine excess (Brexc) in snow compared to that in seawater. Iodine is suggested to be emitted from algal communities growing under sea ice. The results suggest a connection between Brexc and spring sea ice area, as well as a connection between iodine concentration and summer sea ice area. The correlation coefficients obtained between Brexc and spring sea ice (r = 0.44) as well as between iodine and summer sea ice (r = 0.50) for the Laptev Sea suggest that these two halogens could become good candidates for extended reconstructions of past sea ice changes in the Arctic.

17. Spatially-resolved chemical analysis of frozen ice cores by cryo-cell-UV-laser-ablation-ICPMS

Müller, Wolfgang; Della Lunga, Damiano; Rasmussen, Sune O.; Svensson, Anders

2015-04-01

High-latitude ice cores have become the master records of late Pleistocene climate variability. Especially the high-resolution data from Greenland of the past ~125 ka reveal a remarkably changeable glacial climate, and these rapid climate oscillations have been shown to take place within a few years only [1, 2]. The requirement for an improvement in spatial resolution in ice core analysis arises from 1) the continuous thinning of annual layers in deep parts of ice cores to below what is routinely resolvable by continuous flow analysis and 2) the concomitant recrystallization of ice that potentially affects the location of impurities and thus the identification of annual layers. We developed a new technique to analyze elemental concentrations at ppb-levels in frozen ice cores at ~100 um (0.1 mm) resolution, which focuses on seasalt and dust tracers (e.g. Na, Mg, Ca, Al, Fe). It utilizes a custom-built, peltier-cooled cryo-sample holder fully compatible with the two-volume Laurin LA-cell of our RESOlution M-50 excimer (193 nm ArF) LA system, which is coupled to an Agilent 7500cs ICPMS, operated in reaction cell gas mode with H2 to eliminate 40Ar and 40Ar16O to access 40Ca and 56Fe [3]. Using 3 x 5 cm strips of ice cores per sample holder, this setup allows elemental concentrations to be acquired using both depth-profiling along (chains of) spots and/or as continuous lateral profiles, following surface cleaning with a major-element-free ceramic blade. Ice crystal boundaries can be observed with transmitted or reflected light illumination. We focus on NGRIP samples from Greenland Stadial 22 (GS22; ~84-88 ka; ~2695-2720 m) with its corresponding transitions. Owing to analysis in frozen ice, we can easily identify - relative to ice crystal boundaries - the location of cation impurities in both clear ice and so-called cloudy bands that are enriched in impurities. We find a remarkable difference in the location of impurities between these different ice domains [4]. Lower concentration clear ice shows strong impurity-enrichment along grain boundaries and junctions (similar to S concentrations in [5]), whereas cloudy bands do not display significant differences in elemental concentrations between grain interiors and boundaries, at overall higher concentrations. These results together with those of 2D and even 3D mapping of impurities as well as profiles across the two warm/cold transitions will be presented.

18. Microbial activity and phylogeny in ice cores retrieved from Lake Paula, a newly detected freshwater lake in Antarctica

Sattler, Birgit I.; Waldhuber, Sebastian; Fischer, Helgard; Semmler, Hans; Sipiera, Paul P.; Psenner, Roland

2004-11-01

A permanent ice covered water body, called Lake Paula, was detected in Patriot Hills in the West Antarctic and sampled for the first time ever for microbial life. The ice sheet measured approximately 2,5m thickness and the water body has a depth of about 10m. The lake is situated near a moraine which partly ablates from snow and provides meltwater from the slopes to the lake during austral summer. These running waters which are kept liquid by the heating up of the dark soil are penetrating the lower ice cover and thus softening up the lakeside part if the ice core. It is inoculated by nutrients, active microbes and diatoms of terrestrial origin. A distinct gradient concerning bacterial numbers, biomass and production which is 10 fold at the ice-water interface compared to the exposed part is observable. Temperature sensitivity of the embedded microbes reflect the gradient as well: Bacteria isolated from the upper part showed growth optima at 10°C, the lower part at 25°C, phylogenetic properties done by 16s rDNA reveal distinct communities depending on their vertical position, some clones are similar to those retrieved in Lake Vostok ice cores. These results offer the conclusion that even in this harsh environment like the Antarctic continent a dynamic system like microbial ice aggregates can be sustained as long as the supply of liquid water which is essential for an active bacterial metabolism is provided at least for a small time frame.

19. Tropical Cyclones and Ice Cores: Developing a Long Term Perspective

Urmann, D.

2006-12-01

Accurate forecasts of seasonal typhoon activity in the northwestern Pacific are of critical importance to the people living in the densely populated coastal cities of east Asia. The El Nio Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a key component of these forecasts as past observations indicate that El Nio (La Nia) events are associated with an increase (decrease) in the proportion of typhoons striking Japan, Korea and Taiwan (The Philippines and the South China Sea). The ice core-derived ?18O record from the Quelccaya ice cap (Peru) is strongly correlated (r=0.646, p<0.001, 1856-2003) with sea surface temperatures (SST) in NINO 4, a region of the western equatorial Pacific that is a sensitive recorder of ENSO. Additionally, a direct relationship is observed between ?18O and both the mean longitude of typhoon development (r=0.59, p<.001, 1945-2003) and the number of typhoon days (r=0.59, p<.001, 1945-2003). The typhoon and ice core ?18O records exhibit patterns of decadal-scale variability that closely resemble the longer-term variations in NINO 4 SSTs (decadal NINO 4 SST variability is known as the "Decadal ENSO"). Annual values of ?18O are significantly different (p=.05) between La Nia and El Nio years suggesting that ?18O reflects not only the Decadal ENSO but also the superimposed interannual ENSO variability. ENSO-driven shifts in the SSTs and large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns may provide a physical linkage to explain the observed relationships among ?18O, SSTs and typhoon activity. The effect of the ongoing warming on ENSO is unclear, but any changes in the background frequency or intensity of ENSO events would likely affect the development of typhoons and cyclones in the Pacific as well as hurricanes in the Atlantic. The 1500-year ?18O record from Quelccaya offers a unique opportunity to examine how ENSO-driven hurricane and typhoon activity responded to large-scale climate forcing (changes) in the past and may provide a more complete perspective and better understanding that will be required to evaluate the likely effects under future climate change scenarios

20. The Search for Transient Astrophysical Neutrino Emission with IceCube-DeepCore

Aartsen, M. G.; Abraham, K.; Ackermann, M.; Adams, J.; Aguilar, J. A.; Ahlers, M.; Ahrens, M.; Altmann, D.; Anderson, T.; Ansseau, I.; Archinger, M.; Arguelles, C.; Arlen, T. C.; Auffenberg, J.; Bai, X.; Barwick, S. W.; Baum, V.; Bay, R.; Beatty, J. J.; Becker Tjus, J.; Becker, K.-H.; Beiser, E.; BenZvi, S.; Berghaus, P.; Berley, D.; Bernardini, E.; Bernhard, A.; Besson, D. Z.; Binder, G.; Bindig, D.; Bissok, M.; Blaufuss, E.; Blumenthal, J.; Boersma, D. J.; Bohm, C.; Börner, M.; Bos, F.; Bose, D.; Böser, S.; Botner, O.; Braun, J.; Brayeur, L.; Bretz, H.-P.; Buzinsky, N.; Casey, J.; Casier, M.; Cheung, E.; Chirkin, D.; Christov, A.; Clark, K.; Classen, L.; Coenders, S.; Cowen, D. F.; Cruz Silva, A. H.; Daughhetee, J.; Davis, J. C.; Day, M.; de André, J. P. A. M.; De Clercq, C.; del Pino Rosendo, E.; Dembinski, H.; De Ridder, S.; Desiati, P.; de Vries, K. D.; de Wasseige, G.; de With, M.; DeYoung, T.; Díaz-Vélez, J. C.; di Lorenzo, V.; Dumm, J. P.; Dunkman, M.; Eagan, R.; Eberhardt, B.; Ehrhardt, T.; Eichmann, B.; Euler, S.; Evenson, P. A.; Fadiran, O.; Fahey, S.; Fazely, A. R.; Fedynitch, A.; Feintzeig, J.; Felde, J.; Filimonov, K.; Finley, C.; Fischer-Wasels, T.; Flis, S.; Fösig, C.-C.; Fuchs, T.; Gaisser, T. K.; Gaior, R.; Gallagher, J.; Gerhardt, L.; Ghorbani, K.; Gier, D.; Gladstone, L.; Glagla, M.; Glüsenkamp, T.; Goldschmidt, A.; Golup, G.; Gonzalez, J. G.; Góra, D.; Grant, D.; Groh, J. C.; Groß, A.; Ha, C.; Haack, C.; Haj Ismail, A.; Hallgren, A.; Halzen, F.; Hansen, E.; Hansmann, B.; Hanson, K.; Hebecker, D.; Heereman, D.; Helbing, K.; Hellauer, R.; Hickford, S.; Hignight, J.; Hill, G. C.; Hoffman, K. D.; Hoffmann, R.; Holzapfel, K.; Homeier, A.; Hoshina, K.; Huang, F.; Huber, M.; Huelsnitz, W.; Hulth, P. O.; Hultqvist, K.; In, S.; Ishihara, A.; Jacobi, E.; Japaridze, G. S.; Jero, K.; Jurkovic, M.; Kappes, A.; Karg, T.; Karle, A.; Kauer, M.; Keivani, A.; Kelley, J. L.; Kemp, J.; Kheirandish, A.; Kiryluk, J.; Kläs, J.; Klein, S. R.; Kohnen, G.; Koirala, R.; Kolanoski, H.; Konietz, R.; Köpke, L.; Kopper, C.; Kopper, S.; Koskinen, D. J.; Kowalski, M.; Krings, K.; Kroll, G.; Kroll, M.; Kunnen, J.; Kurahashi, N.; Kuwabara, T.; Labare, M.; Lanfranchi, J. L.; Larson, M. J.; Lesiak-Bzdak, M.; Leuermann, M.; Leuner, J.; Lu, L.; Lünemann, J.; Madsen, J.; Maggi, G.; Mahn, K. B. M.; Maruyama, R.; Mase, K.; Matis, H. S.; Maunu, R.; McNally, F.; Meagher, K.; Medici, M.; Meli, A.; Menne, T.; Merino, G.; Meures, T.; Miarecki, S.; Middell, E.; Middlemas, E.; Mohrmann, L.; Montaruli, T.; Morse, R.; Nahnhauer, R.; Naumann, U.; Neer, G.; Niederhausen, H.; Nowicki, S. C.; Nygren, D. R.; Obertacke, A.; Olivas, A.; Omairat, A.; O'Murchadha, A.; Palczewski, T.; Pandya, H.; Pankova, D. V.; Paul, L.; Pepper, J. A.; Pérez de los Heros, C.; Pfendner, C.; Pieloth, D.; Pinat, E.; Posselt, J.; Price, P. B.; Przybylski, G. T.; Pütz, J.; Quinnan, M.; Raab, C.; Rädel, L.; Rameez, M.; Rawlins, K.; Reimann, R.; Relich, M.; Resconi, E.; Rhode, W.; Richman, M.; Richter, S.; Riedel, B.; Robertson, S.; Rongen, M.; Rott, C.; Ruhe, T.; Ryckbosch, D.; Saba, S. M.; Sabbatini, L.; Sander, H.-G.; Sandrock, A.; Sandroos, J.; Sarkar, S.; Schatto, K.; Scheriau, F.; Schimp, M.; Schmidt, T.; Schmitz, M.; Schoenen, S.; Schöneberg, S.; Schönwald, A.; Schulte, L.; Seckel, D.; Seunarine, S.; Smith, M. W. E.; Soldin, D.; Song, M.; Spiczak, G. M.; Spiering, C.; Stahlberg, M.; Stamatikos, M.; Stanev, T.; Stanisha, N. A.; Stasik, A.; Stezelberger, T.; Stokstad, R. G.; Stößl, A.; Ström, R.; Strotjohann, N. L.; Sullivan, G. W.; Sutherland, M.; Taavola, H.; Taboada, I.; Tatar, J.; Ter-Antonyan, S.; Terliuk, A.; Tešić, G.; Tilav, S.; Toale, P. A.; Tobin, M. N.; Toscano, S.; Tosi, D.; Tselengidou, M.; Turcati, A.; Unger, E.; Usner, M.; Vallecorsa, S.; Vandenbroucke, J.; van Eijndhoven, N.; Vanheule, S.; van Santen, J.; Veenkamp, J.; Vehring, M.; Voge, M.; Vraeghe, M.; Walck, C.; Wallace, A.; Wallraff, M.; Wandkowsky, N.; Weaver, Ch.; Wendt, C.; Westerhoff, S.; Whelan, B. J.; Whitehorn, N.; Wiebe, K.; Wiebusch, C. H.; Wille, L.; Williams, D. R.; Wissing, H.; Wolf, M.; Wood, T. R.; Woschnagg, K.; Xu, D. L.; Xu, X. W.; Xu, Y.; Yanez, J. P.; Yodh, G.; Yoshida, S.; Zoll, M.; IceCube Collaboration

2016-01-01

We present the results of a search for astrophysical sources of brief transient neutrino emission using IceCube and DeepCore data acquired between 2012 May 15 and 2013 April 30. While the search methods employed in this analysis are similar to those used in previous IceCube point source searches, the data set being examined consists of a sample of predominantly sub-TeV muon-neutrinos from the Northern Sky (-5^\\circ \\lt δ \\lt 90^\\circ ) obtained through a novel event selection method. This search represents a first attempt by IceCube to identify astrophysical neutrino sources in this relatively unexplored energy range. The reconstructed direction and time of arrival of neutrino events are used to search for any significant self-correlation in the data set. The data revealed no significant source of transient neutrino emission. This result has been used to construct limits at timescales ranging from roughly 1 s to 10 days for generic soft-spectra transients. We also present limits on a specific model of neutrino emission from soft jets in core-collapse supernovae.

1. Little Ice Age evidence from a south-central North American ice core, U.S.A.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Naftz, D.L.; Klusman, R.W.; Michel, R.L.; Schuster, P.F.; Ready, M.M.; Taylor, H.E.; Yanosky, T.M.; McConnaughey, E.A.

1996-01-01

In the past, ice-core records from mid-latitude glaciers in alpine areas of the continental United States were considered to be poor candidates for paleoclimate records because of the influence of meltwater on isotopic stratigraphy. To evaluate the existence of reliable paleoclimatic records, a 160-m ice core, containing about 250 yr of record was obtained from Upper Fremont Glacier, at an altitude of 4000 m in the Wind River Range of south-central North America. The ??18O (SMOW) profile from the core shows a -0.95??? shift to lighter values in the interval from 101.8 to 150 m below the surface, corresponding to the latter part of the Little Ice Age (LIA). Numerous high-amplitude oscillations in the section of the core from 101.8 to 150 m cannot be explained by site-specific lateral variability and probably reflect increased seasonality or better preservation of annual signals as a result of prolonged cooler temperatures that existed in this alpine setting. An abrupt decrease in these large amplitude oscillations at the 101.8-m depth suggests a sudden termination of this period of lower temperatures which generally coincides with the termination of the LIA. Three common features in the ??18O profiles between Upper Fremont Glacier and the better dated Quelccaya Ice Cap cores indicate a global paleoclimate linkage, further supporting the first documented occurrence of the LIA in an ice-core record from a temperate glacier in south-central North America.

2. Ice core evidence for climate change in the Tropics: implications for our future

Thompson, Lonnie G.

2000-01-01

Reliable meteorological observations for climate reconstruction are limited or absent prior to A.D. 1850 for much of the Earth and particularly in both tropical South America and the Tibetan Plateau region of central Asia. Over 50% of the Earth's surface lies between 30°N and 30°S and 75% of the world's inhabitants live and conduct their activities in these tropical regions. Thus, much of the climatic activity of significance to humanity, such as variations in the occurrence and intensity of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and monsoons, are largely confined to lower latitudes. Moreover, the variability of these tropical systems and particularly that of the tropical hydrological system in response to regional and global climate forcing are not well understood. Fortunately, ice core records are also available from selected high altitude, low and mid-latitude ice caps. The ice core studies described here were undertaken as part of a long-term program to acquire the global-scale, high-resolution climatic and environmental history essential for understanding more fully the linkages between the low and the high latitudes. Two ice core records, one covering the last full glacial cycle from the Guliya Ice Cap, China (35°N; 6200 m asl) and one from Huascarán, Peru, which reveal significant cooling during the Last Glacial Cycle Maximum (LGM ˜20,000 yr BP) are compared with preliminary data coming from the new Sajama, Bolivia (18 o S, 6550 m asl) and the Dasuopu, Himalaya (China, 28°N, 7200 m asl) cores. Lower δ 18O values (equivalent to cooling of ˜8°C) contribute to the growing body of evidence that the tropical climate was cooler and more variable during the last glacial cycle and has renewed current interest in the tropical water vapor cycle. The new tropical ice core records raise additional questions about our understanding of the role of the tropics in global climate. Unfortunately, as a result of recent warming, all known tropical glaciers and ice caps are retreating and soon will no longer continue to preserve viable paleoclimatic records. The characteristics of the current warming will be examined and compared to earlier periods of climatic warming such as the transition form the last glacial into the current interglacial as well as other periods within the Holocene. It is important to distinguish natural variation in the climate system from the anthropogenic influences superimposed during the last century. These tropical ice cores offer long-term perspectives of accumulation, temperature, atmospheric dust and "greenhouse" gas concentrations against which recent variations may be assessed, with particular relevance for lower latitude regions where most people live.

3. Grain size, concentrations, and fluxes of dust particles in ice cores from the Tibetan Plateau

Wu, G.; Yao, T.; Tian, L.; Xu, B.; Zhang, C.; Zhang, X.

2010-12-01

We provide the grain size, concentrations, and fluxes of dust particles (1-30 um diameter) in several shallow ice cores recovered from the northern (Dunde), western (Muztagata), central (Tanggula), and southern (Dasuopu and Everest) parts of the Tibetan Plateau over the past few decades. Our results reveal that whether the volume distribution fits the log-normal function or not largely depends on the dust concentration and the specific dust-storm event but is independent of physiographical location and season. Only high-concentration samples obey the log-normal distribution in volume and higher concentration leads to a better lognormal fitting. The log-normal distribution, with mode sizes ranging from 3 to 16 um, was largely attributed to the mid-sized particles between 3 and 15 um, which contribute most (>70%) of the total volume. The volume size distribution characteristics for mineral dust particles from ice cores reveal that the coarse particles might be common in the upper-level troposphere over the Tibetan Plateau, and suggest that the lifetime of silt particles in the atmosphere, especially for the large particles, might still be underestimated in current models. Over the past decades, dust concentrations from the northern and western Tibetan Plateau are 2-10 times higher, and from the central Tibetan Plateau is 5 times higher, respectively, than in the southern part. Dust flux in ice cores is highly dependent on mass concentration, but does not necessarily correlate with accumulation. Dust flux in Dunde (about 798 ug cm-2 a-1) is 10 times higher, and that in Muztagata (342 ug cm-2 a-1) is 4 times higher, respectively, than the dust flux in the central Himalayas (77-103 ug cm-2 a-1). The quantitative assessment of dust flux in ice cores accords with the MODIS aerosol optical depth, and both suggest that the general dust transport route is from northwest to southeast over the Tibetan Plateau. Our results reveal the basic physical properties of upper level tropospheric dust over the Tibetan Plateau, which is useful for the study of the climatic effects on climate.

4. Annual layers in the Roosevelt Island (coastal Antarctica) ice core determined from conductivity and calcium measurements

Simonsen, Marius; Vallelonga, Paul; Kjr, Helle; Neff, Peter; Bertler, Nancy; Svensson, Anders; Dahl-Jensen, Dorthe; Riis, Marie

2015-04-01

The Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution (RICE) Project aims to determine the stability of the Ross Ice Shelf and thus the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in a warming world. A 764 m ice core (79.36 S, 161.71 W) was drilled in 2011-13 at the summit of the Roosevelt Island ice dome, a location surrounded by the Ross Ice Shelf. The site has high accumulation (0.26 m ice equivalent) and a mean annual temperature of -23 C. From 2012 to 2014, continuous flow analysis (CFA) of the ice core enabled continuous measurements of conductivity, acidity, calcium and insoluble dust particle concentrations along the core. The RICE ice core features high background levels of sulphate and marine salts, due to the low altitude of the site (550 m asl) and its proximity to open ocean. At Roosevelt Island, calcium is influenced by both dust and marine salt inputs. By investigating the residual offset between conductivity and calcium, it has been possible to calculate non-sea salt conductivity and hence determine impurity layers deriving from volcanic eruptions. We present a preliminary chronology for the last 2000 years of deposition in the RICE ice core, composed of counted impurity layers and constrained by a limited number of large, well-dated volcanic eruptions.

5. The 1500m South Pole Ice Core: Recovering a 40 Ka Environmental Record

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Casey, Kimberly Ann; Neumann, Thomas Allen; Fudge, T. J.; Neumann, T. A.; Steig, E. J.; Cavitte, M. G. P.; Blankenship, D. D.

2014-01-01

Supported by the US National Science Foundation, a new 1500 m, approximately 40 ka old ice core will be recovered from South Pole during the 2014/15 and 2015/16 austral summer seasons using the new US Intermediate Depth Drill. The combination of low temperatures, relatively high accumulation rates and low impurity concentrations at South Pole will yield detailed records of ice chemistry and trace atmospheric gases. The South Pole ice core will provide a climate history record of a unique area of the East Antarctic plateau that is partly influenced by weather systems that cross the West Antarctic ice sheet. The ice at South Pole flows at approximately 10m a(exp-1) and the South Pole ice-core site is a significant distance from an ice divide. Therefore, ice recovered at depth originated progressively farther upstream of the coring site. New ground-penetrating radar collected over the drill site location shows no anthropogenic influence over the past approximately 50 years or upper 15 m. Depth-age scale modeling results show consistent and plausible annual-layer thicknesses and accumulation rate histories, indicating that no significant stratigraphic disturbances exist in the upper 1500m near the ice-core drill site.

6. Automated Laser-Light Scattering measurements of Impurities, Bubbles, and Imperfections in Ice Cores

Stolz, M. R.; Ram, M.

2004-12-01

Laser- light scattering (LLS) on polar ice, or on polar ice meltwater, is an accepted method for measuring the concentration of water insoluble aerosol deposits (dust) in the ice. LLS on polar ice can also be used to measure water soluble aerosols, as well as imperfections (air bubbles and cavities) in the ice. LLS was originally proposed by Hammer (1977a, b) as a method for measuring the dust concentration in polar ice meltwater. Ram et al. (1995) later advanced the method and applied it to solid ice, measuring the dust concentration profile along the deep, bubble-free sections of the Greenland Ice Sheet Projetct 2 (GISP2) ice core (Ram et al., 1995, 2000) from central Greenland. In this paper, we will put previous empirical findings (Ram et al., 1995, 2000) on a theoretical footing, and extend the usability of LLS on ice into the realm of the non-transparent, bubbly polar ice. For LLS on clear, bubble-free polar ice, we studied numerically the scattering of light by soluble and insoluble (dust) aerosol particles embedded in the ice to complement previous experimental studies (Ram et al., 2000). For air bubbles in polar ice, we calculated the effects of multiple light scattering using Mie theory and Monte Carlo simulations, and found a method for determining the bubble number size and concentration using LLS on bubbly ice. We also demonstrated that LLS can be used on bubbly ice to measure annual layers rapidly in an objective manner. Hammer, C. U. (1977a), Dating of Greenland ice cores by microparticle concentration analyses., in International Symposium on Isotopes and Impurities in Snow and Ice, pp. 297-301, IAHS publ. no. 118. Hammer, C. U. (1977b), Dust studies on Greenland ice cores, in International Symposium on Isotopes and Impurities in Snow and Ice, pp. 365-370, IAHS publ. no. 118. Ram, M., M. Illing, P. Weber, G. Koenig, and M. Kaplan (1995), Polar ice stratigraphy from laser-light scattering: Scattering from ice, Geophys. Res. Lett., 22(24), 3525-3527. Ram, M., J. Donarummo, M. R. Stolz, and G. Koenig (2000), Calibration of laser-light scattering measurements of dust concentration for Wisconsinan GISP2 ice using instrumental neutron activation analysis of aluminum: Results and discussion, J. Geophys. Res., 105(D20), 24,731--24,738.

7. The Design and Performance of IceCube DeepCore

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stamatikos, M.

2012-01-01

The IceCube neutrino observatory in operation at the South Pole, Antarctica, comprises three distinct components: a large buried array for ultrahigh energy neutrino detection, a surface air shower array, and a new buried component called DeepCore. DeepCore was designed to lower the IceCube neutrino energy threshold by over an order of magnitude, to energies as low as about 10 GeV. DeepCore is situated primarily 2100 m below the surface of the icecap at the South Pole, at the bottom center of the existing IceCube array, and began taking pbysics data in May 2010. Its location takes advantage of the exceptionally clear ice at those depths and allows it to use the surrounding IceCube detector as a highly efficient active veto against the principal background of downward-going muons produced in cosmic-ray air showers. DeepCore has a module density roughly five times higher than that of the standard IceCube array, and uses photomultiplier tubes with a new photocathode featuring a quantum efficiency about 35% higher than standard IceCube PMTs. Taken together, these features of DeepCore will increase IceCube's sensitivity to neutrinos from WIMP dark matter annihilations, atmospheric neutrino oscillations, galactic supernova neutrinos, and point sources of neutrinos in the northern and southern skies. In this paper we describe the design and initial performance of DeepCore.

8. The environmental implications for dust in high-alpine snow and ice cores in Asian mountains

Wu, Guangjian; Zhang, Chenglong; Zhang, Xuelei; Xu, Tianli; Yan, Ni; Gao, Shaopeng

2015-01-01

Dust in ice cores is an excellent proxy for atmospheric dust and can reveal long-term dust history, but the relative contribution from high mountains close to Asian deserts, such as the Tibetan Plateau, remains uncertain. Here we show that dust from high-alpine snow collected from Eastern Tien Shan (Tian Shan), Eastern Pamirs (Muztagata), and Qilian Shan displays a different geochemical composition (e.g. rare earth elements, REEs) to adjacent moraines and neighboring surface soils, but is similar in composition to the upwind remote arid regions. For high-alpine snow dust, the local contribution from moraines and surface soils is minor, with the major source being the Asian deserts. The results have revealed that the snow dust is representative of mid- and upper troposphere dust from Asian deserts, and demonstrates a weak event-based discrepancy but a strong concentration-independent uniformity in composition in the long-term, and confirm the regional environmental implication for the paleo-climatic records from ice cores.

9. Twentieth century sea-ice trends in the Ross Sea from a high-resolution, coastal ice-core record

Sinclair, Kate E.; Bertler, Nancy A. N.; Bowen, Melissa M.; Arrigo, Kevin R.

2014-05-01

We present the first proxy record of sea-ice area (SIA) in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, from a 130 year coastal ice-core record. High-resolution deuterium excess data show prevailing stable SIA from the 1880s until the 1950s, a 2-5% reduction from the mid-1950s to the early-1990s, and a 5% increase after 1993. Additional support for this reconstruction is derived from ice-core methanesulphonic acid concentrations and whaling records. While SIA has continued to decline around much of the West Antarctic coastline since the 1950s, concurrent with increasing air and ocean temperatures, the underlying trend is masked in the Ross Sea by a switch to positive SIA anomalies since the early-1990s. This increase is associated with a strengthening of southerly winds and the enhanced northward advection of sea ice.

10. The Search for Supernova Signatures in an Ice Core

Cole, A. L.; Boyd, R. N.; Davis, M. E.; Thompson, L. G.; Davis, A. M.; Lewis, R. S.; Zinner, E.

2005-07-01

It has been suggested that ice cores may preserve detectable enhancements of some terrestrially rare radioisotopes, 10Be, 26Al, 36Cl, resulting from a near-Earth core-collapse supernova(SN) [J. Ellis, B.D. Fields and D.N. Schramm, Astrophys. J. 470 (1996) 1227]. Both 10Be and 36Cl are also produced by atmospheric cosmic ray spallation and hence are influenced by processes that modulate the Earth's cosmic ray flux. Previous studies [G.M. Raisbeck, F. Yiou, D. Bourles, C. Lorius, J. Jouzel and N. I. Barkov, Nature 326 (1987) 273], [L.G. Thompson, T. Yao, M.E. Davis, K.A. Henderson, E. Mosley-Thompson, P.-N. Lin, J. Beer, H.-A. Synal, J. Cole-Dai and J.F. Bolzan, Science 276 (1997) 1821] have suggested that enhancements occurred in the 10Be and 36Cl fluxes at ˜35 ky and at ˜60 ky for 10Be. Thus we have searched for potential SN condensates with 26Al amongst grains filtered from the 308.6m Guliya ice core recovered from the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau in China [L.G. Thompson, T. Yao, M.E. Davis, K.A. Henderson, E. Mosley-Thompson, P.-N. Lin, J. Beer, H.-A. Synal, J. Cole-Dai and J.F. Bolzan, Science 276 (1997) 1821].We searched for potential core-collapse SN condensate grains corundum (Al2O3), hibonite (CaAl12O19) and spinel (MgAl2O4) (see [D.S. Ebel and L. Grossman, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 65 (2001) 469]) in Guliya grain samples from the following time periods: ˜2-10 ky, ˜25-27 ky, ˜34-36 ky, ˜53-57 ky, ˜59-62 ky and ˜68-72 ky. These minerals are rare among terrestrial rocks and fine-grained atmospheric dust of terrestrial origin. Furthermore, they are insoluble in the acids employed in the sample preparation process and therefore separable from other minerals, such as silicates, that have high terrestrial abundances. Candidate SN condensate grains were identified among their terrestrial diluents employing a procedure developed at the University of Chicago for detecting presolar grains in meteoritic samples [S. Amari, R.S. Lewis and E. Anders, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 58 (1994) 459]. A set of 37 grains from the ˜34-36 ky, ˜53-57 ky and ˜59-62 ky samples were analyzed with the NanoSIMS at Washington University to measure their oxygen isotopic ratios. The preliminary results indicate that the analyzed grains, representing < 15% of those identified, do not possess the extreme O isotopic ratios expected to characterize a SN source [S. Amari and E. Zinner, Nucl. Phys. A 621 (1997) 99c], [T. Rauscher, A. Heger, R.D. Hoffman and S.E. Woosley, Astrophys. J. 576 (2002) 323].

11. Arcticibacter eurypsychrophilus sp. nov., isolated from ice core.

PubMed

Shen, Liang; Liu, Yongqin; Gu, Zhengquan; Yao, Tandong; Xu, Baiqing; Wang, Ninglian; Jiao, Nianzhi; Liu, Hongcan; Zhou, Yuguang

2015-02-01

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-flagellated bacterium, strain MJ9-5(T), was isolated from ice core of Muji Glacier. Colonies of strain MJ9-5(T) were pink, convex and round on R2A agar. Strain MJ9-5(T) grew between -1 to 25 °C with an optimum growth temperature of 10-15 °C. The strain tolerated 0-1.2 % (w/v) NaCl with an optimum of 1 %. The major cellular fatty acids of strain MJ9-5(T) were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C1 6 : 1ω7c). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 38.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain MJ9-5(T) was related to members of the genus Arcticibacter. On the basis of the phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, a novel species of this genus, Arcticibacter eurypsychrophilus sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is MJ9-5(T) ( = KCTC 42008(T) = JCM 19862(T)). PMID:25410942

12. Greenland ice core δ18O records - from Camp Century to NEEM

Vinther, B. M.

2012-04-01

During the past five decades deep ice cores have been drilled at six locations on the Greenland Ice Sheet, all cores yielding records of δ18O from the past. Hence δ18O records from southern, central and north-western Greenland locations can now be interpreted. Furthermore several δ18O records from ice cores drilled on small ice caps in the vicinity of the Greenland Ice Sheet are available. An inter-comparison of the Holocene sections of the ice cores has suggested that both climate change and ice sheet elevation change played major parts in determining the millennial scale evolution of the δ18O signals seen in the records [Vinther et al. 2009]. While all glacial δ18O records show very prominent abrupt climate change in the form of Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles it is interesting to note that long term trends in glacial δ18O differ between the records. A significant part of these differences are likely to be a consequence of different elevation histories in the different areas of the Greenland Ice Sheet during the glacial period. Reference: Vinther, B.M, Buchardt, S.L., Clausen, H.B., Dahl-Jensen, D., Johnsen, S.J., Fisher, D.A., Koerner, R.M., Raynaud, D., Lipenkov, V., Andersen, K.K, Blunier, T., Rasmussen, S.O., Steffensen, J.P., Svensson, A.M., Holocene thinning of the Greenland ice sheet, Nature, 461, 385-388, 2009.

13. How Will Sea Ice Loss Affect the Greenland Ice Sheet? On the Puzzling Features of Greenland Ice-Core Isotopic Composition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pausata, Francesco S. R.; Legrande, Allegra N.; Roberts, William H. G.

2016-01-01

The modern cryosphere, Earth's frozen water regime, is in fast transition. Greenland ice cores show how fast theses changes can be, presenting evidence of up to 15 C warming events over timescales of less than a decade. These events, called Dansgaard/Oeschger (D/O) events, are believed to be associated with rapid changes in Arctic sea ice, although the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. The modern demise of Arctic sea ice may, in turn, instigate abrupt changes on the Greenland Ice Sheet. The Arctic Sea Ice and Greenland Ice Sheet Sensitivity (Ice2Ice Chttps://ice2ice.b.uib.noD) initiative, sponsored by the European Research Council, seeks to quantify these past rapid changes to improve our understanding of what the future may hold for the Arctic. Twenty scientists gathered in Copenhagen as part of this initiative to discuss the most recent observational, technological, and model developments toward quantifying the mechanisms behind past climate changes in Greenland. Much of the discussion focused on the causes behind the changes in stable water isotopes recorded in ice cores. The participants discussed sources of variability for stable water isotopes and framed ways that new studies could improve understanding of modern climate. The participants also discussed how climate models could provide insights into the relative roles of local and nonlocal processes in affecting stable water isotopes within the Greenland Ice Sheet. Presentations of modeling results showed how a change in the source or seasonality of precipitation could occur not only between glacial and modern climates but also between abrupt events. Recent fieldwork campaigns illustrate an important role of stable isotopes in atmospheric vapor and diffusion in the final stable isotope signal in ice. Further, indications from recent fieldwork campaigns illustrate an important role of stable isotopes in atmospheric vapor and diffusion in the final stable isotope signal in ice. This feature complicates the quantitative interpretation of ice core signals but also makes the stable ice isotope signal a more robust regional indicator of climate, speakers noted. Meeting participants agreed that to further our understanding of these relationships, we need more process-focused field and laboratory campaigns.

14. Tree ring effects and ice core acidities clarify the volcanic record of the 1st millennium

Baillie, M. G. L.; McAneney, J.

2014-04-01

Various attempts have been made to link tree-ring and ice-core records, something vital for the understanding of the environmental response to major volcanic eruptions in the past. Here we demonstrate that, by taking note of the spacing between events, it is possible to clarify linkages between tree-response, as witnessed by frost rings in bristlecone pines from Western North America and volcanic acid deposition in ice cores. The results demonstrate that in the 6th and 7th centuries of the current era, and presumably for all earlier dates, the key European ice chronologies from the North Greenland Ice Core Project, namely Dye3, GRIP, NGRIP and NEEM appear to have been wrongly dated by 7 years, with the ice dates being too old. Similar offsets are observed for the Antarctic Law Dome and West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide WDC06A ice-core chronologies that have been linked to the Greenland record. Importantly, the results clarify which frost rings in bristlecone pines are related to volcanic activity and which may be the result of other causes. In addition, it is possible to show that ice core researchers have used inappropriate linkages to tree effects to justify their chronology.

15. Insights into the nature of radar attenuation through impure ice from broadband dielectric spectroscopy of polar ice cores

Stillman, D.; MacGregor, J. A.; Grimm, R. E.

2011-12-01

Water ice is ubiquitous in our solar system and is a key target for planetary radar sounders. A primary unknown in many radar surveys is the energy loss due to conduction (attenuation) within the medium being studied. Electrical conduction through ice is controlled by the mobility, concentration and charge of lattice- and water-soluble impurities. Despite extensive study of the physical and chemical characteristics of lab-frozen and naturally forming ices, several questions have remained as to which impurities can increase conduction and the mechanisms by which this conduction occurs. Here we investigate the role of impurities in electrical conduction using broadband dielectric spectroscopy of terrestrial polar ice cores and report several findings of interest to present and future radar investigations of extraterrestrial ice masses. 1. The dielectric strength of meteoric ice-core samples we studied was often much less than that of pure lab-frozen ice, which suggests that the balance of minority and majority charge carriers in naturally forming ice is much closer to being "crossed-over" than previously realized. 2. Samples with high acid concentrations also have high HF conductivities due to an increase in L-defects caused by chloride, i.e., the ionic defects induced by acid in the lattice partition more chloride into the lattice for charge balance. This behavior explains the larger HF conductivity of acids per unit concentration versus that of chloride and their similar activation energies. 3. The DC conductivity of polar ice is much lower than reported previously from in situ Antarctic field surveys, and is best explained if conduction from acids arises from ionic defects in the ice lattice, rather than through liquid networks. Its conductivity is much less than that of single crystal ice because of the low conductivity of grain boundaries through which charges must migrate. 4. In nearly all the meteoric ice-core samples that we studied, we observed two dielectric relaxations. Their temperature dependencies imply that within most meteoric ices, there are essentially two populations of crystals (pure and salty). Previously, it had been suggested that there was only a single dielectric relaxation at an average "salty" value. 5. Ammonium-rich ice-core and lab-frozen samples have different activation energies than chloride-rich samples and increased conductivities, proving that Bjerrum-D defects formed by ammonium in the ice lattice are indeed mobile. This result supports the conclusions of a previous study of the LF properties of a central Greenland ice core, but is at odds with existing theory. The sum of our results further emphasizes the breadth of the dielectric behavior of polar ice and has greatly expanded our knowledge of the complex role of impurities in determining its dielectric properties. These data will be used to improve radar-attenuation models and predictions of the performance of planetary radars when sounding extraterrestrial ice masses, along with the interpretation of observed echoes.

16. Initial Continuous Chemistry Results From The Roosevelt Island Ice Core (RICE)

Kjær, H. A.; Vallelonga, P. T.; Simonsen, M. F.; Neff, P. D.; Bertler, N. A. N.; Svensson, A.; Dahl-Jensen, D.

2014-12-01

The Roosevelt Island ice core (79.36° S, -161.71° W) was drilled in 2011-13 at the top of the Roosevelt Island ice dome, a location surrounded by the Ross ice shelf. The RICE ice core provides a unique opportunity to look into the past evolution of the West Antarctic Ice sheet. Further the site has high accumulation; 0.26 m of ice equivalent is deposited annually allowing annual layer determination for many chemical parameters. The RICE core was drilled to bedrock and has a total length of 763 metres. Preliminary results derived from water isotopes suggest that the oldest ice reaches back to the Eemian, with the last glacial being compressed in the bottom 60 metres. We present preliminary results from the RICE ice core including continuous measurements of acidity using an optical dye method, insoluble dust particles, conductivity and calcium. The core was analyzed at the New Zealand National Ice Core Research Facility at GNS Science in Wellington. The analytical set up used to determine climate proxies in the ice core was a modified version of the Copenhagen CFA system (Bigler et al., 2011). Key volcanic layers have been matched to those from the WAIS record (Sigl et al., 2013). A significant anti-correlation between acidity and calcium was seen in the Holocene part of the record. Due to the proximity to the ocean a large fraction of the calcium originates from sea salt and is in phase with total conductivity and sodium. In combination with the insoluble dust record, calcium has been apportioned into ocean-related and dust-related sources. Variability over the Holocene is presented and attributed to changing inputs of marine and dust aerosols.

17. Exploring ice core drilling chips from a cold Alpine glacier for cosmogenic radionuclide (10Be) analysis

Zipf, Lars; Merchel, Silke; Bohleber, Pascal; Rugel, Georg; Scharf, Andreas

Ice cores offer unique multi-proxy paleoclimate records, but provide only very limited sample material, which has to be carefully distributed for various proxy analyses. Beryllium-10, for example, is analysed in polar ice cores to investigate past changes of the geomagnetic field, solar activity, and the aerosol cycle, as well as to more accurately date the material. This paper explores the suitability of a drilling by-product, the so-called drilling chips, for 10Be-analysis. An ice core recently drilled at a cold Alpine glacier is used to directly compare 10Be-data from ice core samples with corresponding drilling chips. Both sample types have been spiked with 9Be-carrier and identically treated to chemically isolate beryllium. The resulting BeO has been investigated by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) for 10Be/9Be-ratios to calculate 10Be-concentrations in the ice. As a promising first result, four out of five sample-combinations (ice core and drilling chips) agree within 2-sigma uncertainty range. However, further studies are needed in order to fully demonstrate the potential of drilling chips for 10Be-analysis in alpine and shallow polar ice cores.

18. A relationship between ion balance and the chemical compounds of salt inclusions found in the Greenland Ice Core Project and Dome Fuji ice cores

Iizuka, Yoshinori; Horikawa, Shinichiro; Sakurai, Toshimitsu; Johnson, Sigfus; Dahl-Jensen, Dorthe; Steffensen, JøRgen Peder; Hondoh, Takeo

2008-04-01

We have proposed a method of deducing the chemical compounds found in deep polar ice cores by analyzing the balance between six major ions (Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+). The method is demonstrated for the Holocene and last glacial maximum regions of the Dome Fuji and GRIP ice cores. The dominant compounds depend only on the ion balance and the sequence of chemical reactions. In priority order, the principle salts are calcium sulfate, other sulfates, nitrate, chloride, and carbonate. The chemical abundances deduced by this method agree well with the results of Raman spectroscopy on individual salt inclusions. The abundances in the ice cores are shown to reflect differences in climatic periods (the acidic environment of the Holocene versus the reductive environment of the last glacial maximum) and regional conditions (the marine environment of Antarctica versus the continental environment of Greenland).

19. Chemical compositions of solid particles present in the Greenland NEEM ice core over the last 110,000 years

Oyabu, Ikumi; Iizuka, Yoshinori; Fischer, Hubertus; Schüpbach, Simon; Gfeller, Gideon; Svensson, Anders; Fukui, Manabu; Steffensen, Jørgen Peder; Hansson, Margareta

2015-09-01

This study reports the chemical composition of particles present along Greenland's North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling (NEEM) ice core, back to 110,000 years before present. Insoluble and soluble particles larger than 0.45 µm were extracted from the ice core by ice sublimation, and their chemical composition was analyzed using scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy. We show that the dominant insoluble components are silicates, whereas NaCl, Na2SO4, CaSO4, and CaCO3 represent major soluble salts. For the first time, particles of CaMg(CO3)2 and Ca(NO3)2•4H2O are identified in a Greenland ice core. The chemical speciation of salts varies with past climatic conditions. Whereas the fraction of Na salts (NaCl + Na2SO4) exceeds that of Ca salts (CaSO4 + CaCO3) during the Holocene (0.6-11.7 kyr B.P.), the two fractions are similar during the Bølling-Allerød period (12.9-14.6 kyr B.P.). During cold climate such as over the Younger Dryas (12.0-12.6 kyr B.P.) and the Last Glacial Maximum (15.0-26.9 kyr B.P.), the fraction of Ca salts exceeds that of Na salts, showing that the most abundant ion generally controls the salt budget in each period. High-resolution analyses reveal changing particle compositions: those in Holocene ice show seasonal changes, and those in LGM ice show a difference between cloudy bands and clear layers, which again can be largely explained by the availability of ionic components in the atmospheric aerosol body of air masses reaching Greenland.

20. Initial results from geophysical surveys and shallow coring of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS)

Vallelonga, P.; Christianson, K.; Alley, R. B.; Anandakrishnan, S.; Christian, J. E. M.; Dahl-Jensen, D.; Gkinis, V.; Holme, C.; Jacobel, R. W.; Karlsson, N. B.; Keisling, B. A.; Kipfstuhl, S.; Kjær, H. A.; Kristensen, M. E. L.; Muto, A.; Peters, L. E.; Popp, T.; Riverman, K. L.; Svensson, A. M.; Tibuleac, C.; Vinther, B. M.; Weng, Y.; Winstrup, M.

2014-07-01

The Northeast Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS) is the sole interior Greenlandic ice stream. Fast flow initiates near the summit dome, and the ice stream terminates approximately 1000 km downstream in three large outlet glaciers that calve into the Greenland Sea. To better understand this important system, in the summer of 2012 we drilled a 67 m firn core and conducted ground-based radio-echo sounding (RES) and active-source seismic surveys at a site approximately 150 km downstream from the onset of streaming flow (NEGIS firn core, 75°37.61' N, 35°56.49' W). The site is representative of the upper part of the ice stream, while also being in a crevasse-free area for safe surface operations. Annual cycles were observed for insoluble dust, sodium and ammonium concentrations and for electrolytic conductivity, allowing a seasonally resolved chronology covering the past 400 yr. Annual layer thicknesses averaged 0.11 m ice equivalent (i.e.) for the period 1607-2011, although accumulation varied between 0.08 and 0.14 m i.e., likely due to flow-related changes in surface topography. Tracing of RES layers from the NGRIP (North Greenland Ice Core Project) ice core site shows that the ice at NEGIS preserves a climatic record of at least the past 51 kyr. We demonstrate that deep ice core drilling in this location can provide a reliable Holocene and late-glacial climate record, as well as helping to constrain the past dynamics and ice-lithosphere interactions of the Greenland Ice Sheet.

1. Origin and characterisation of microparticles in an ice core from the Central Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica.

PubMed

Laluraj, C M; Krishnan, K P; Thamban, M; Mohan, R; Naik, S S; D'Souza, W; Ravindra, R; Chaturvedi, A

2009-02-01

The scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopic (SEM-EDS) study of selected samples from an ice core collected from Central Dronning Maud Land (CDML), East Antarctica, revealed several microparticles. They are mainly siliceous and carbonaceous particles and have distinct variations in their shape and composition. The morphology and major element chemistry of the particles suggest their origin from either volcanic eruptions or continental dust. The EDS analysis revealed that the volcanic particles are enriched in silica (average SiO2 62%), compared to the continental dust particle (average SiO2 56%). We found that the tephra relating to Agung (1963) and Karkatau (1883) volcanic eruptions, as recorded, in the ice core harbored microbial cells (both coocoid and rods). The occurrence of organic and inorganic particles which bear relation to volcanic eruption and continental dust implies significant environmental changes in the recent past. PMID:18301999

2. Precipitation pathways for five new ice core sites in Ellsworth Land, West Antarctica

Thomas, Elizabeth R.; Bracegirdle, Thomas J.

2015-04-01

Ice cores provide a wealth of information about past climate and atmospheric circulation however a good understanding of the precipitation patterns, potential source regions and transport pathways is essential in their interpretation. Here we investigate the precipitation pathways for a transect of five new ice cores drilled in the southern Antarctic Peninsula and Ellsworth Land. We utilize in situ observations from automatic weather stations to confirm that the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts ERA-Interim reanalysis data adequately captures annual and sub-annual variability, with evidence of a slight cold bias in the 2 m temperatures. Back trajectory analysis, from the British Atmospheric Data Centre trajectory service, reveals that warm and snowy years are associated with air masses that originate (5 days before reaching the site) from the Amundsen-Bellingshausen Sea, while cold and dry years are associated with air masses from the Antarctic continent. There is a clear seasonal migration in the trajectories at each site, reflecting the east to west migration of the Amundsen Sea Low, known to have a strong influence on climate in this region.

3. Polychlorinated biphenyls in glaciers. 1. Deposition history from an Alpine ice core.

PubMed

Pavlova, Pavlina Aneva; Schmid, Peter; Bogdal, Christian; Steinlin, Christine; Jenk, Theo M; Schwikowski, Margit

2014-07-15

We present a highly time-resolved historical record of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from an Alpine ice core (Fiescherhorn glacier, Switzerland). Introduced in the 1940s, PCBs were widely used industrial chemicals. Because of their persistence they are still found in the environment, long after their production phase-out. The Fiescherhorn ice core record covers the entire time period of industrial use of PCBs, that is, 1940-2002. The total concentration of six PCBs varies from 0.5 to 5 ng L(-1) and reveals a temporal trend, with an 8-fold increase from the early 1940s to the peak value in the 1970s. The level in 2002 is comparable to the concentration in the 1940s, when PCBs were introduced into the market. The time trend of PCBs associated with the particulate fraction closely follows the trend found in the dissolved fraction, but the absolute values are a factor of 10 lower. In addition to changing emissions, fluctuations in the PCB record were explained by variabilty in convective transport and postdepositional processes such as surface melting. Concentrations of PCBs are in agreement with data from seasonal snow samples in the Alps, but are a factor of 100 higher than concentrations measured in the Arctic. Contrasting time trends and congener patterns between the Alpine and Arctic region indicate the importance of atmospheric transport and postdepositional effects. PMID:24968761

4. Visual-Stratigraphic Dating of the GISP2 Ice Core: Basis, Reproducibility, and Application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alley, R. B.; Shuman, C. A.; Meese, D. A.; Gow, A. J.; Taylor, K. C.; Cuffey, K. M.; Fitzpatrick, J. J.; Grootes, P. M.; Zielinski, G. A.; Ram, M.; Spinelli, G.; Elder, B.

1997-01-01

Annual layers are visible in the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 ice core from central Greenland, allowing rapid dating of the core. Changes in bubble and grain structure caused by near-surface, primarily summertime formation of hoar complexes provide the main visible annual marker in the Holocene, and changes in "cloudiness" of the ice correlated with dustiness mark Wisconsinan annual cycles; both markers are evident and have been intercalibrated in early Holocene ice. Layer counts are reproducible between different workers and for one worker at different times, with 1% error over century-length times in the Holocene. Reproducibility is typically 5% in Wisconsinan ice-age ice and decreases with increasing age and depth. Cumulative ages from visible stratigraphy are not significantly different from independent ages of prominent events for ice older than the historical record and younger than approximately 50,000 years. Visible observations are not greatly degraded by "brittle ice" or many other core-quality problems, allowing construction of long, consistently sampled time series. High accuracy requires careful study of the core by dedicated observers.

5. Continuous acidity measurements of the Roosevelt Island (coastal Antarctica) ice core

Kjær, Helle Astrid; Vallelonga, Paul; Simonsen, Marius; Bertler, Nancy; Neff, Peter; Svensson, Anders

2015-04-01

A novel dye-based continuous flow analysis method for the determination of acidity has been developed and applied to the Roosevelt Island ice core. The Roosevelt Island ice core (79.36° S, 161.71° W) was drilled in 2011-13 at the top of the Roosevelt Island ice dome, a location surrounded by the Ross ice shelf. The site has high accumulation; 0.26 m of ice equivalent is deposited annually allowing sub-annual determination of conductivity, calcium and acidity. The proximity to the ocean combined with the low altitude makes the RICE ice core loaded with sea salts, which dominate the conductivity signal. Similarly Ca2+, which was measured by Continuous Flow Analysis, is primarily of oceanic origin. The proximity of the ocean also leads to high background levels of acidity (primarily sulphate) which mask volcanic peaks and thus complicate the identification of tropical volcanic eruptions. Using a combined approach of high resolution acidity, melt water conductivity and calcium measurements we have succeeded in identifying more than 450 volcanic eruptions in the top 500 metres of the RICE ice core. The combination of high-resolution acidity and calcium records allow for speculation into the inverse relationship between the two, which may be related to sea ice extent in the nearby Ross and Amundsen seas. Please fill in your abstract text.

6. Carbonyl sulfide hydrolysis in polar ice cores and the feasibility of recovering a paleoatmospheric history

Nicewonger, M. R.; Aydin, K. M.; Saltzman, E. S.; Fudge, T. J.; Waddington, E. D.; Verhulst, K. R.

2012-12-01

Carbonyl sulfide (COS) is the most abundant sulfur gas in the atmosphere with a current tropospheric mean level of 484 parts per trillion [Montzka et al., 2007]. The major sources of COS are biomass burning, oceanic emissions of COS, and the atmospheric oxidation of precursor sulfur compounds CS2 and DMS emitted from the oceans and soils. The major losses of atmospheric COS are uptake by vegetation and soil. The uptake of COS by terrestrial vegetation provides a link between the global budget of COS and the carbon cycle. We measured COS in polar ice cores from four Antarctic sites: Taylor Dome, Siple Dome, South Pole, and West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide. The COS samples ranged in age from 0.2-42 ky BP. There are large differences between the measurements from the various sites during overlapping time periods. COS levels in ice from the warmer sites (Siple Dome and WAIS-D) are considerably lower than those from the colder sites (Taylor Dome and South Pole). This result suggests that the difference reflects COS loss to hydrolysis within the ice core bubbles. The kinetics of COS hydrolysis in aqueous solution have been studied, but there is no information about reaction rates in ice. A 1-dimensional heat and ice flow model was used to determine the temperature history for each ice core sample. Assuming a pseudo-first order Arrhenius rate equation for COS loss in ice, we can correct each ice core sample for post-depositional COS loss. The temperature histories are used with an objective minimization algorithm to determine the optimal kinetic parameters for COS loss to obtain agreement between ice core measurements from different sites. The results indicate that the ice core data from all sites can be reconciled with a single COS atmospheric history. The uncertainty in this history becomes large in warm ice at longer time scales. This study suggests that reconstructing paleoatmospheric COS will require measurements in ice cores from sites with cold surface temperatures and large ice sheet thickness.

7. Antarctic climate signature in the Greenland ice core record

PubMed Central

Barker, Stephen; Knorr, Gregor

2007-01-01

A numerical algorithm is applied to the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 (GISP2) dust record from Greenland to remove the abrupt changes in dust flux associated with the Dansgaard–Oeschger (D–O) oscillations of the last glacial period. The procedure is based on the assumption that the rapid changes in dust are associated with large-scale changes in atmospheric transport and implies that D–O oscillations (in terms of their atmospheric imprint) are more symmetric in form than can be inferred from Greenland temperature records. After removal of the abrupt shifts the residual, dejumped dust record is found to match Antarctic climate variability with a temporal lag of several hundred years. It is argued that such variability may reflect changes in the source region of Greenland dust (thought to be the deserts of eastern Asia). Other records from this region and more globally also reveal Antarctic-style variability and suggest that this signal is globally pervasive. This provides the potential basis for suggesting a more important role for gradual changes in triggering more abrupt transitions in the climate system. PMID:17954910

8. SOLUBILITY OF WATER ICE IN METALLIC HYDROGEN: CONSEQUENCES FOR CORE EROSION IN GAS GIANT PLANETS

SciTech Connect

Wilson, H. F.; Militzer, B.

2012-01-20

Using ab initio simulations we investigate whether water ice is stable in the cores of giant planets, or whether it dissolves into the layer of metallic hydrogen above. By Gibbs free energy calculations we find that for pressures between 10 and 40 Mbar the ice-hydrogen interface is thermodynamically unstable at temperatures above approximately 3000 K, far below the temperature of the core-mantle boundaries in Jupiter and Saturn. This implies that the dissolution of core material into the fluid layers of giant planets is thermodynamically favored, and that further modeling of the extent of core erosion is warranted.

9. Holocene tephras highlight complexity of volcanic signals in Greenland ice cores

Coulter, Sarah E.; Pilcher, Jonathan R.; Plunkett, Gill; Baillie, Mike; Hall, Valerie A.; Steffensen, J. P.; Vinther, Bo M.; Clausen, Henrik B.; Johnsen, Sigfus J.

2012-11-01

Acidity peaks in Greenland ice cores have been used as critical reference horizons for synchronizing ice core records, aiding the construction of a single Greenland Ice Core Chronology (GICC05) for the Holocene. Guided by GICC05, we examined sub-sections of three Greenland cores in the search for tephra from specific eruptions that might facilitate the linkage of ice core records, the dating of prehistoric tephras and the understanding of the eruptions. Here we report the identification of 14 horizons with tephra particles, including 11 that have not previously been reported from the North Atlantic region and that have the potential to be valuable isochrons. The positions of tephras whose major element data are consistent with ash from the Katmai AD 1912 and Öraefajökull AD 1362 eruptions confirm the annually resolved ice core chronology for the last 700 years. We provide a more refined date for the so-called “AD860B” tephra, a widespread isochron found across NW Europe, and present new evidence relating to the 17th century BC Thera/Aniakchak debate that shows N. American eruptions likely contributed to the acid signals at this time. Our results emphasize the variable spatial and temporal distributions of volcanic products in Greenland ice that call for a more cautious approach in the attribution of acid signals to specific eruptive events.

10. Holocene tephras highlight complexity of volcanic signals in Greenland ice cores

Coulter, Sarah E.; Pilcher, Jonathan R.; Plunkett, Gill; Baillie, Mike; Hall, Valerie A.; Steffensen, J. P.; Vinther, Bo M.; Clausen, Henrik B.; Johnsen, Sigfus J.

2011-11-01

Acidity peaks in Greenland ice cores have been used as critical reference horizons for synchronizing ice core records, aiding the construction of a single Greenland Ice Core Chronology (GICC05) for the Holocene. Guided by GICC05, we examined sub-sections of three Greenland cores in the search for tephra from specific eruptions that might facilitate the linkage of ice core records, the dating of prehistoric tephras and the understanding of the eruptions. Here we report the identification of 14 horizons with tephra particles, including 11 that have not previously been reported from the North Atlantic region and that have the potential to be valuable isochrons. The positions of tephras whose major element data are consistent with ash from the Katmai AD 1912 and Öraefajökull AD 1362 eruptions confirm the annually resolved ice core chronology for the last 700 years. We provide a more refined date for the so-called "AD860B" tephra, a widespread isochron found across NW Europe, and present new evidence relating to the 17th century BC Thera/Aniakchak debate that shows N. American eruptions likely contributed to the acid signals at this time. Our results emphasize the variable spatial and temporal distributions of volcanic products in Greenland ice that call for a more cautious approach in the attribution of acid signals to specific eruptive events.

11. Effects of postdepositional processing on nitrogen isotopes of nitrate in the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 ice core

Geng, Lei; Zatko, Maria C.; Alexander, Becky; Fudge, T. J.; Schauer, Andrew J.; Murray, Lee T.; Mickley, Loretta J.

2015-07-01

Records of ice core nitrate and its isotopes hold the potential to assess past atmospheric conditions regarding NOx and oxidant levels. However, relating such records to past atmospheric conditions requires a site-specific understanding of the postdepositional processing of snow nitrate. We report δ15N(NO3-) records from the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 (GISP2) ice core over major climate transitions. Model calculations and comparison with records of parameters influencing UV-driven postdepositional processing of snow nitrate suggest that the observed variability in GISP2 δ15N(NO3-) over major climate transitions is primarily driven by changes in the degree of postdepositional loss of snow nitrate. Estimates of the fractional loss of snow nitrate is (16-23)% in the Holocene and (45-53)% in the glacial period, suggesting a (41 ± 32)% lower nitrate depositional flux to Greenland during the glacial period relative to the Holocene.

12. Ice core study in Patagonia (San Valentin, 47°S) over the last century

Herreros, J.; Taupin, J. D.; Patris, N.; Moreno, I.; Ginot, P.; Magand, O.; Schotterer, U.

2009-04-01

We present the results of the first long ice core record at mid-southern latitudes obtained in the Chilean Patagonia. In April 2005, a 16m-long shallow firn core (40 years record) was drilled at the San Valentin summit, Northern Patagonia Icefield, Chile (4032m, 46°35'S, 73°19'W) in the Northern Patagonia Icefield (NPI) and in May 2007, several ice cores including a 122m-long deep ice core (present study) were extracted close to the 2005 site. The firn temperature, measured during the first drilling campaign, was -11.9°C at 10m depth. We observe a well preserved glaciochemical record in the cold ice. We present the isotopic composition (deuterium and oxygen 18) of the ice from the surface down to 70 meters. The aim of the present study is to identify and validate a modern link between the isotopic composition of the ice (deuterium and oxygen 18) and the environmental conditions (temperature and/or precipitation and/or air masses trajectories) prevailing over Patagonia. In future works, this relationship will be used to interpret the deep ice core record. We used the data from meteorological stations and re-analyses to understand the seasonal isotopic variations. The preliminary interpretations are supported by the chemical signals observed in the ice. The dating of this ice core is based on reference layers (nuclear weapon tests) and on counting of isotopic cycles. We calculate that the first 70 meters may span the last 100 to 150 years.

13. Optimal site selection for a high-resolution ice core record in East Antarctica

Vance, Tessa R.; Roberts, Jason L.; Moy, Andrew D.; Curran, Mark A. J.; Tozer, Carly R.; Gallant, Ailie J. E.; Abram, Nerilie J.; van Ommen, Tas D.; Young, Duncan A.; Grima, Cyril; Blankenship, Don D.; Siegert, Martin J.

2016-03-01

Ice cores provide some of the best-dated and most comprehensive proxy records, as they yield a vast and growing array of proxy indicators. Selecting a site for ice core drilling is nonetheless challenging, as the assessment of potential new sites needs to consider a variety of factors. Here, we demonstrate a systematic approach to site selection for a new East Antarctic high-resolution ice core record. Specifically, seven criteria are considered: (1) 2000-year-old ice at 300 m depth; (2) above 1000 m elevation; (3) a minimum accumulation rate of 250 mm years-1 IE (ice equivalent); (4) minimal surface reworking to preserve the deposited climate signal; (5) a site with minimal displacement or elevation change in ice at 300 m depth; (6) a strong teleconnection to midlatitude climate; and (7) an appropriately complementary relationship to the existing Law Dome record (a high-resolution record in East Antarctica). Once assessment of these physical characteristics identified promising regions, logistical considerations (for site access and ice core retrieval) were briefly considered. We use Antarctic surface mass balance syntheses, along with ground-truthing of satellite data by airborne radar surveys to produce all-of-Antarctica maps of surface roughness, age at specified depth, elevation and displacement change, and surface air temperature correlations to pinpoint promising locations. We also use the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast ERA 20th Century reanalysis (ERA-20C) to ensure that a site complementary to the Law Dome record is selected. We find three promising sites in the Indian Ocean sector of East Antarctica in the coastal zone from Enderby Land to the Ingrid Christensen Coast (50-100° E). Although we focus on East Antarctica for a new ice core site, the methodology is more generally applicable, and we include key parameters for all of Antarctica which may be useful for ice core site selection elsewhere and/or for other purposes.

14. Century-scale perspectives on observed and simulated Southern Ocean sea ice trends from 20th century ice core proxies.

Hobbs, W. R.

2014-12-01

The failure of coupled climate model ensembles to reproduce the increased Antarctic sea ice cover observed by satellites raises grave doubts about our ability to accurately predict the future of the Antarctic climate system, with important implications in the context of predicting Antarctica's contribution to future sea level rise. While the increase in total Antarctic ice cover is within the bounds of coupled model internal variability, the spatially heterogeneous pattern of trends indicates that Antarctic sea ice may have a response to anthropogenic forcings that is not replicated by the models. A complete understanding of this discrepancy is hampered by the relatively short satellite record. In this work, 20th century sea ice reconstructions from a number of ice cores are combined to give a synthesis covering about 75% of the circumpolar region. It is found that in sectors with the biggest SAM response, late winter sea ice cover has been decreasing since the 1960s, in qualitative agreement with CMIP5 models. In the Ross Sea the observed increase in ice cover has been a occurring since the mid 1960s, when it was preceded by a sharp, decade long reduction, outside the range of simulated natural variability.

15. Cosmogenic 10Be Depth Profile in top 560 m of West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide Ice Core

Welten, K. C.; Woodruff, T. E.; Caffee, M. W.; Edwards, R.; McConnell, J. R.; Bisiaux, M. M.; Nishiizumi, K.

2009-12-01

Concentrations of cosmogenic 10Be in polar ice samples are a function of variations in solar activity, geomagnetic field strength, atmospheric mixing and annual snow accumulation rates. The 10Be depth profile in ice cores also provides independent chronological markers to tie Antarctic to Greenland ice cores and to tie Holocene ice cores to the 14C dendrochronology record. We measured 10Be concentrations in 187 samples from depths of 0-560 m of the main WAIS Divide core, WDC06A. The ice samples are typically 1-2 kg and represent 2-4 m of ice, equivalent to an average temporal resolution of ~12 years, based on the preliminary age-depth scale proposed for the WDC core, (McConnell et al., in prep). Be, Al and Cl were separated using ion exchange chromatography techniques and the 10Be concentrations were measured by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) at PRIME lab. The 10Be concentrations range from 8.1 to 19.1 x 10^3 at/g, yielding an average of (13.1±2.1) x 10^3 at/g. Adopting an average snow accumulation rate of 20.9 cm weq/yr, as derived from the age-depth scale, this value corresponds to an average 10Be flux of (2.7±0.5) x 10^5 atoms/yr/cm2. This flux is similar to that of the Holocene part of the Siple Dome (Nishiizumi and Finkel, 2007) and Dome Fuji (Horiuchi et al. 2008) ice cores, but ~30% lower than the value of 4.0 x 10^5 atoms/yr/cm2 for GISP2 (Finkel and Nishiizumi, 1997). The periods of low solar activity, known as Oort, Wolf, Spörer, Maunder and Dalton minima, show ~20% higher 10Be concentrations/fluxes than the periods of average solar activity in the last millennium. The maximum 10Be fluxes during some of these periods of low solar activity are up to ~50% higher than average 10Be fluxes, as seen in other polar ice cores, which makes these peaks suitable as chronologic markers. We will compare the 10Be record in the WAIS Divide ice core with that in other Antarctic as well as Greenland ice cores and with the 14C treering record. Acknowledgment. This work was supported by NSF grants ANT-0538427, 0636815, 0636964 and 0739780. Finkel R. C. and Nishiizumi K. 1997. J. Geophys. Res. 102, 26,699-26,706. Horiuchi K., et al. 2008. Quatern. Geochron. 3, 253-261. Nishiizumi K. and Finkel R. C. 2007. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center. Digital media.

16. Recent North West Greenland climate variability documented by NEEM shallow ice cores

Masson-Delmotte, Valérie; Steen-Larsen, Hans-Christian; Popp, Trevor; Vinther, Bo; Oerter, Hans; Ortega, Pablo; White, Jim; Orsi, Anais; Falourd, Sonia; Minster, Benedicte; Jouzel, Jean; Landais, Amaelle; Risi, Camille; Werner, Martin; Swingedouw, Didier; Fettweis, Xavier; Gallée, Hubert; Sveinbjornsdottir, Arny; Gudlaugsdottir, Hera; Box, Jason

2014-05-01

Short water stable isotope records obtained from NEEM ice cores (North West Greenland) have been shown to be sensitive to NW Greenland temperature variations, and sea-ice extent in the Baffin Bay area (Steen-Larsen et al, JGR, 2011), with maximum snowfall deposition during summer, therefore providing information complementary to other Greenland ice core records. At the NEEM deep drilling camp, several snow pits and shallow ice cores have been retrieved and analysed at high resolution (seasonal to annual) for water stable isotopes using mass spectrometry and laser instruments in order to document recent climate variability, complementing and facilitating the interpretation of the long records obtained from the deep ice core which extends back to the last interglacial period (NEEM, Nature, 2013). The different pits and shallow ice core records allow to document the signal to noise ratio and to produce a robust stack back to 1750, and up to 2011. The stack record of annual mean d18O depicts a recent isotopic enrichment in parallel with the Greenland warming inferred from coastal weather stations, and shows that many features of decadal variations are in fact well captured by the low resolution profiles measured along the deep ice core data. Recent variations can therefore be compared to long-term trends and centennial variations of the last Holocene, documented at about 5 year resolution. For the past decades to centuries, the NEEM isotopic records are compared with estimations and simulations of local temperature for different seasons, results from NEEM borehole temperature inversions, d18O records from other Greenland ice cores, large scale modes of variability (NAO and AMO) and with simulations from atmospheric general circulation models equiped with water stable isotopes.

17. Earthquakes and Ice Cores Point to Wet Feet at the NorthGRIP Deep Drill Site

Dahl-Jensen, D.; Dahl-Jensen, T.; Gundestrup, N. S.

2001-12-01

A seismic broadband station was placed at the NorthGRIP deep drill site (75N, 42W) on the Greenland Ice Cap for the summer 2000. During the 2 month acquisition period 15 earthquakes with sufficient quality for Receiver Function analysis aimed at crust and mantle structure under NorthGRIP were recorded. The models are consistent with the presence of a thin sedimentary layer at the base of the ice. The seismic velocities in the sediments are lower than in the ice, indicating wet sediments. The results from the deep drilling program reveal high basal temperatures at the base of the 3080 m thick ice at NorthGRIP. The measured temperatures and the observed layer thickness' in the ice core indicate that there is basal melting of the order of 5 mm /yr. and that the geothermal heatflow is of the order of 100 mW/m2 (REF), much higher than expected. A detailed radio echo mapping of the bedrock show that NorthGRIP is located in a large, flat-bottomed valley, suggesting that the sediments observed are lacustrine. The thin layer of sediments cannot account for the unexpected high heatflow causing equally unexpected basal melting. The geology is presumed to be Precambrian. Heatflow determined in a similar way at the GRIP deep drill site (73N, 38W) is 51 mW/ m2 (Dahl-Jensen et al, 1998), more in line with expected values. Magnetic anomaly data do not indicate any volcanic structures, which could help explain the high heatflow. Gravity anomaly data show that NorthGRIP is located at the edge of marked gravity discontinuity. The cause of the discontinuity is not known, but "edge effects" could be speculated upon to be the cause of the high heatflow. D. Dahl-Jensen, N. Gundestrup, H. Miller, O. Watanabe, S.J. Johnsen, J.P. Steffensen, H.B. Clausen, A. Svensson, L.B. Larsen in press: The NorthGRIP drilling program. Annals of Glaciology, vol 35 D. Dahl-Jensen, K Mosegaard, N. Grundestrup, G.D. Clow, S.J. Johnson and N. Balling 1998: Past Temperatures Directly from the Greenland Ice Sheet. Science 282 pp 268-271

18. Initial results from geophysical surveys and shallow coring of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS)

Vallelonga, P.; Christianson, K.; Alley, R. B.; Anandakrishnan, S.; Christian, J. E. M.; Dahl-Jensen, D.; Gkinis, V.; Holme, C.; Jacobel, R. W.; Karlsson, N.; Keisling, B. A.; Kipfstuhl, S.; Kjær, H. A.; Kristensen, M. E. L.; Muto, A.; Peters, L. E.; Popp, T.; Riverman, K. L.; Svensson, A. M.; Tibuleac, C.; Vinther, B. M.; Weng, Y.; Winstrup, M.

2014-01-01

The Northeast Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS) is the sole interior Greenlandic ice stream. Fast flow initiates near the summit dome, and the ice stream terminates approximately 1000 km downstream in three large outlet glaciers that calve into the Greenland Sea. To better understand this important system, in the summer of 2012 we drilled a 67 m firn core and conducted ground-based radio-echo sounding (RES) and active-source seismic surveys at a site approximately 150 km downstream from the onset of streaming flow (NEGIS firn core, 75° 37.61' N, 35°56.49' W). The site is representative of the upper part of the ice stream, while also being in a crevasse-free area for safe surface operations. Annual cycles were observed for insoluble dust, sodium and ammonium concentrations and for electrolytic conductivity, allowing a seasonally resolved chronology covering the past 400 yr. Annual layer thicknesses averaged 0.11 m ice equivalent (i.e.) for the period 1607-2011, although accumulation varied between 0.08 and 0.14 m i.e., likely due to flow-related changes in surface topography. Tracing of RES layers from the NGRIP ice core site shows that the ice at NEGIS preserves a climatic record of at least the past 51 kyr. We demonstrate that a deep ice core drilling in this location can provide a reliable Holocene and late-glacial climate record, as well as helping to constrain the past dynamics and ice-lithosphere interactions of the Greenland Ice Sheet.

19. Continuous methane measurements from a late Holocene Greenland ice core: Atmospheric and in-situ signals

Rhodes, Rachael H.; Fan, Xavier; Stowasser, Christopher; Blunier, Thomas; Chappellaz, Jrme; McConnell, Joseph R.; Romanini, Daniele; Mitchell, Logan E.; Brook, Edward J.

2013-04-01

Ancient air trapped inside bubbles in ice cores can now be analysed for methane concentration utilising a laser spectrometer coupled to a continuous melter system. We present a new ultra-high resolution record of atmospheric methane variability over the last 1800 yr obtained from continuous analysis of a shallow ice core from the North Greenland Eemian project (NEEM-2011-S1) during a 4-week laboratory-based measurement campaign. Our record faithfully replicates the form and amplitudes of multi-decadal oscillations previously observed in other ice cores and demonstrates the detailed depth resolution (5.3 cm), rapid acquisition time (30 m day-1) and good long-term reproducibility (2.6%, 2?) of the continuous measurement technique. In addition, we report the detection of high frequency ice core methane signals of non-atmospheric origin. Firstly, measurements of air from the firn-ice transition region and an interval of ice core dating from 1546-1560 AD (gas age) resolve apparently quasi-annual scale methane oscillations. Traditional gas chromatography measurements on discrete ice samples confirm these signals and indicate peak-to-peak amplitudes of ca. 22 parts per billion (ppb). We hypothesise that these oscillations result from staggered bubble close-off between seasonal layers of contrasting density during time periods of sustained multi-year atmospheric methane change. Secondly, we report the detection of abrupt (20-100 cm depth interval), high amplitude (35-80 ppb excess) methane spikes in the NEEM ice that are reproduced by discrete measurements. We show for the first time that methane spikes present in thin and infrequent layers in polar, glacial ice are accompanied by elevated concentrations of carbon- and nitrogen-based chemical impurities, and suggest that biological in-situ production may be responsible.

20. Ice core evidence for significant 100-year regional warming on the Antarctic Peninsula

Thomas, E. R.; Dennis, P. F.; Bracegirdle, T. J.; Franzke, C.

2009-10-01

We present a new 150-year, high-resolution, stable isotope record (δ 18O) from the Gomez ice core, drilled on the data sparse south western Antarctic Peninsula, revealing a ˜2.7°C rise in surface temperatures since the 1950s. The record is highly correlated with satellite-derived temperature reconstructions and instrumental records from Faraday station on the north west coast, thus making it a robust proxy for local and regional temperatures since the 1850s. We conclude that the exceptional 50-year warming, previously only observed in the northern Peninsula, is not just a local phenomena but part of a statistically significant 100-year regional warming trend that began around 1900. A suite of coupled climate models are employed to demonstrate that the 50 and 100 year temperature trends are outside of the expected range of variability from pre-industrial control runs, indicating that the warming is likely the result of external climate forcing.

1. Optimal site selection for a high resolution ice core record in East Antarctica

Vance, T.; Roberts, J.; Moy, A.; Curran, M.; Tozer, C.; Gallant, A.; Abram, N.; van Ommen, T.; Young, D.; Grima, C.; Blankenship, D.; Siegert, M.

2015-11-01

Ice cores provide some of the best dated and most comprehensive proxy records, as they yield a vast and growing array of proxy indicators. Selecting a site for ice core drilling is nonetheless challenging, as the assessment of potential new sites needs to consider a variety of factors. Here, we demonstrate a systematic approach to site selection for a new East Antarctic high resolution ice core record. Specifically, seven criteria are considered: (1) 2000 year old ice at 300 m depth, (2) above 1000 m elevation, (3) a minimum accumulation rate of 250 mm yr-1 IE, (4) minimal surface re-working to preserve the deposited climate signal, (5) a site with minimal displacement or elevation change of ice at 300 m depth, (6) a strong teleconnection to mid-latitude climate and (7) an appropriately complementary relationship to the existing Law Dome record (a high resolution record in East Antarctica). Once assessment of these physical characteristics identified promising regions, logistical considerations (for site access and ice core retrieval) were briefly considered. We use Antarctic surface mass balance syntheses, along with ground-truthing of satellite data by airborne radar surveys to produce all-of-Antarctica maps of surface roughness, age at specified depth, elevation and displacement change and surface air temperature correlations to pinpoint promising locations. We also use the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast ERA 20th Century reanalysis (ERA-20C) to ensure a site complementary to the Law Dome record is selected. We find three promising sites in the Indian Ocean sector of East Antarctica in the coastal zone from Enderby Land to the Ingrid Christensen Coast (50-100° E). Although we focus on East Antarctica for a new ice core site, the methodology is more generally applicable and we include key parameters for all of Antarctica which may be useful for ice core site selection elsewhere and/or for other purposes.

2. Orbital tuning of deep ice cores using O2/N2 of trapped air

Kawamura, K.; Aoki, S.; Nakazawa, T.

2014-12-01

The chronology of the first Dome Fuji deep ice core (80,000-340,000 yr BP) was established by orbital tuning of measured O2/N2 ratios in trapped air to the past local summer insolation at the drill site (Kawamura et al., 2007). The O2/N2 ratios found in ice cores are generally lower than atmospheric ratio because of size-dependent molecular fractionation during bubble close-off. The magnitude of this gas fractionation appears to be influenced by snow metamorphism when the layer was originally at the surface, which in turn is controlled by local summer insolation (Fujita et al., 2009). The O2/N2 record has little 100,000-yr periodicity (strongest in climatic records), suggesting insignificant climatic influence in the orbital tuning. Agreement of the O2/N2 chronology with U-Th radiometric chronology of speleothems (within ~2000 yr) suggests that O2/N2 and summer insolation are indeed in phase. However, it may not be common to all ice cores that O2/N2 signal only records local summer insolation. For example, the GISP2 ice core (Greenland) has clear imprint of abrupt climate changes in the O2/N2 record, indicating climatic (non-insolation) signal in the record and the possibility of phase variability of O2/N2 relative to the past insolation (Suwa and Bender, 2008). Here we present new O2/N2 record from the second Dome Fuji ice core with significant improvements in ice core storage practice and mass spectrometry. In particular, the ice core had been stored at about -50 ˚C until the air extraction except during transportations, which prevent fractionation due to gas loss during the core storage. The precision of the new O2/N2 data set is improved by a factor of 3 over the previous data, and we do not observe outliers (there were 15% outliers in the previous data). Clear imprint of local insolation is recognizable in the new O2/N2, which would enable us to generate a chronology with accuracy of ~2000 yr towards older periods. Samples from the first core after long storage (>10 yr) at -25 ˚C and -50 ˚C were measured as well, and the data show clear dependence of O2/N2 depletion on the storage temperature. We also plan to measure the NEEM ice core (Greenland) for the Eemian and the last glacial period in order to investigate the feasibility of O2/N2 tuning for the Greenland ice cores.

3. Basal Melt Under the Interior of the Greenland Ice Sheet: Comparison of Models, Deep Ice Cores, and Radar Observations

Rezvanbehbahani, S.; Stearns, L. A.; van der Veen, C. J.

2014-12-01

4. In Situ Production of Methyl Chloride in Siple Dome and WAIS Divide Ice Cores from Antarctica

Frausto-Vicencio, I.; Verhulst, K. R.; Aydin, M.; Saltzman, E. S.

2013-12-01

Methyl chloride (CH3Cl) is a naturally-occurring halocarbon with a global mean abundance of 550 pmol mol-1 and a lifetime of about 1 year. It constitutes about 16% of the total chlorine burden in the stratosphere. The sources of methyl chloride are mainly natural and include tropical vegetation, oceans and biomass burning. Oxidation with the hydroxyl radical is the primary removal mechanism with additional loss via microbial degradation in soils and in the oceans. Previous measurements suggest ice cores from cold Antarctic sites (Dome Fuji, South Pole, Taylor Dome) preserve a record of atmospheric CH3Cl variability during the Holocene (Saito et al., 2007; Williams et al., 2007; Verhulst et al., in review). However, measurements at Siple Dome displayed evidence of in situ enhancement (Saltzman et al., 2009). This study involves new CH3Cl measurements in 117 ice core samples from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide (WAIS-D) 06A ice core. Measurements from the Holocene are compared with earlier CH3Cl measurements from Taylor Dome and Siple Dome. In Late Holocene ice (5-0 ky BP), the WAIS-D and Siple Dome show evidence of in situ CH3Cl enrichment. The mean level and scatter are both larger than in Taylor Dome ice of the same age. The in situ enrichment is not time or depth-dependent. Interestingly, for most of the Early Holocene (11-5 ky BP), Siple Dome and WAIS-D exhibit less scatter and are closer to the Taylor Dome ice core data. In situ CH3Cl production may be purely chemical or involve biological reactions. Here, we investigate whether the excess CH3Cl in the Siple Dome and the WAIS-D ice cores can be explained by differences in ice chemistry between the various Antarctic sites. The results of this research will help establish the causes of CH3Cl production in ice cores and provide a basis to assess the possibility of studying long-term atmospheric CH3Cl variability using ice core data.

5. Tree ring effects and ice core acidities clarify the volcanic record of the first millennium

Baillie, M. G. L.; McAneney, J.

2015-01-01

In 2012 Plummer et al., in presenting the volcanic chronology of the Antarctic Law Dome ice core, chose to list connections to acid layers in other ice cores and also possible chronological coincidences between ice acid dates and the precise dates of frost damage, and/or reduced growth in North American bristlecone pines. We disagree with the chronological links indicated by Plummer et al. for the period before AD 700, and in this paper we show that a case can be made that better linkages between ice acid and tree ring effects occur for this period if the ice chronologies are systematically moved forward by around 7 years, consistent with a hypothesis published by Baillie in 2008. In the paper we seek to explore the proposition that frost damage rings in North American bristlecone pines are a very useful indicator of the dates of certain large explosive volcanic eruptions; the dating of major eruptions being critical for any clear understanding of volcanic forcing. This paper cannot prove that there is an error in the Greenland Ice Core Chronology 2005 (GICC05), and in equivalent ice chronologies from the Antarctic, however, it does provide a coherent argument for an apparent ice dating offset. If the suggested offset were to prove correct it would be necessary to locate where the error occurs in the ice chronologies and in this regard the dating of the increasingly controversial Icelandic Eldgjá eruption in the AD 930s, and the China/Korean Millennium eruption which occurs some 7 years after Eldgjá, may well be critical. In addition, if the offset were to be substantiated it would have implications for the alleged identification of tephra at 429.3 m in the Greenland GRIP core, currently attributed to the Italian volcano Vesuvius and used as a critical zero error point in the GICC05 chronology.

6. Tephrochronological Investigation of Mid- to Late Holocene Acid Signals in Greenland Ice Cores

Plunkett, G.; Coulter, S.; Pilcher, J. R.; Hall, V. A.; Baillie, M. G.; Steffensen, J.; Vinther, B.; Clausen, H. B.; Johnsen, S. J.

2011-12-01

7. Microbial Analyses of Ancient Ice Core Sections from Greenland and Antarctica

PubMed Central

Knowlton, Caitlin; Veerapaneni, Ram; D’Elia, Tom; Rogers, Scott O.

2013-01-01

Ice deposited in Greenland and Antarctica entraps viable and nonviable microbes, as well as biomolecules, that become temporal atmospheric records. Five sections (estimated to be 500, 10,500, 57,000, 105,000 and 157,000 years before present, ybp) from the GISP2D (Greenland) ice core, three sections (500, 30,000 and 70,000 ybp) from the Byrd ice core, and four sections from the Vostok 5G (Antarctica) ice core (10,500, 57,000, 105,000 and 105,000 ybp) were studied by scanning electron microscopy, cultivation and rRNA gene sequencing. Bacterial and fungal isolates were recovered from 10 of the 12 sections. The highest numbers of isolates were found in ice core sections that were deposited during times of low atmospheric CO2, low global temperatures and low levels of atmospheric dust. Two of the sections (GISP2D at 10,500 and 157,000 ybp) also were examined using metagenomic/metatranscriptomic methods. These results indicated that sequences from microbes common to arid and saline soils were deposited in the ice during a time of low temperature, low atmospheric CO2 and high dust levels. Members of Firmicutes and Cyanobacteria were the most prevalent bacteria, while Rhodotorula species were the most common eukaryotic representatives. Isolates of Bacillus, Rhodotorula, Alternaria and members of the Davidiellaceae were isolated from both Greenland and Antarctica sections of the same age, although the sequences differed between the two polar regions. PMID:24832659

8. Post-coring entrapment of modern air in polar ice: Evidence from CFC-12 measurements in Antarctic firn air and shallow ice cores

Aydin, K. M.; Montzka, S. A.; Battle, M. O.; Williams, M. B.; de Bruyn, W. J.; Butler, J. H.; Verhulst, K. R.; Tatum, C.; Gun, B. K.; Plotkin, D. A.; Hall, B. D.; Saltzman, E. S.

2009-12-01

This study is a comparison of CFC-12 (CCl2F2) measurements in firn air and ice core samples from three Antarctic sites: South Pole, West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide (79.46°S, 112.13°W), and Siple Dome (81.65°S, 148.81°W). CFC-12 is a synthetic chlorofluorocarbon manufactured during the mid-late 20th century for use as a refrigerant and an aerosol spray propellant. Its atmospheric history is well established with agreement among instrumental time series measurements and industry-reported production data [Walker et al., 2000], the distribution of dissolved CFC-12 in the oceans [e.g. Weiss et al., 1985], and firn air measurements [Butler et al., 1999]. The atmospheric history indicates that there was no measureable CFC-12 in the atmosphere prior to the 1940’s. The firn air CFC-12 profiles are consistent with the known atmospheric history of this gas. In contrast, the air in ice core samples collected near the close-off depth exhibit anomalously high CFC-12 levels. We propose that this is due to entrapment of modern air in open pores that close after drilling, resulting in elevated CFC-12 mixing ratios. These results demonstrate how the composition of air trapped in shallow ice cores can be altered during the post-drilling period through purely physical processes. Comparison of firn air and ice core bubble composition is one of the commonly used tools for studying the bubble close-off process. The post-drilling entrapment process detected in this study represents a potential complication for such investigations.

9. Glacial ice cores: A model system for developing extraterrestrial decontamination protocols

Christner, Brent C.; Mikucki, Jill A.; Foreman, Christine M.; Denson, Jackie; Priscu, John C.

2005-04-01

Evidence gathered from spacecraft orbiting Mars has shown that water ice exists at both poles and may form a large subsurface reservoir at lower latitudes. The recent exploration of the martian surface by unmanned landers and surface rovers, and the planned missions to eventually return samples to Earth have raised concerns regarding both forward and back contamination. Methods to search for life in these icy environments and adequate protocols to prevent contamination can be tested with earthly analogues. Studies of ice cores on Earth have established past climate changes and geological events, both globally and regionally, but only recently have these results been correlated with the biological materials (i.e., plant fragments, seeds, pollen grains, fungal spores, and microorganisms) that are entrapped and preserved within the ice. The inclusion of biology into ice coring research brings with it a whole new approach towards decontamination. Our investigations on ice from the Vostok core (Antarctica) have shown that the outer portion of the cores have up to 3 and 2 orders of magnitude higher bacterial density and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) than the inner portion of the cores, respectively, as a result of drilling and handling. The extreme gradients that exist between the outer and inner portion of these samples make contamination a very relevant aspect of geomicrobiological investigations with ice cores, particularly when the actual numbers of ambient bacterial cells are low. To address this issue and the inherent concern it raises for the integrity of future investigations with ice core materials from terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments, we employed a procedure to monitor the decontamination process in which ice core surfaces are painted with a solution containing a tracer microorganism, plasmid DNA, and fluorescent dye before sampling. Using this approach, a simple and direct method is proposed to verify the authenticity of geomicrobiological results obtained from ice core materials. Our protocol has important implications for the design of life detection experiments on Mars and the decontamination of samples that will eventually be returned to Earth.

10. Investigation of a deep ice core from the Elbrus western plateau, the Caucasus, Russia

Mikhalenko, V.; Sokratov, S.; Kutuzov, S.; Ginot, P.; Legrand, M.; Preunkert, S.; Lavrentiev, I.; Kozachek, A.; Ekaykin, A.; Faïn, X.; Lim, S.; Schotterer, U.; Lipenkov, V.; Toropov, P.

2015-12-01

A 182 m ice core was recovered from a borehole drilled into bedrock on the western plateau of Mt. Elbrus (43°20´53.9'' N, 42°25´36.0'' E; 5115 m a.s.l.) in the Caucasus, Russia, in 2009. This is the first ice core in the region that represents a paleoclimate record that is practically undisturbed by seasonal melting. Relatively high snow accumulation rates at the drilling site enabled the analysis of the intraseasonal variability in climate proxies. Borehole temperatures ranged from -17 °C at 10 m depth to -2.4 °C at 182 m. A detailed radio-echo sounding survey showed that the glacier thickness ranged from 45 m near the marginal zone of the plateau up to 255 m at the glacier center. The ice core has been analyzed for stable isotopes (δ18O and δD), major ions (K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+, SO42-, NO3-, Cl-, F-), succinic acid (HOOCCH2COOH), and tritium content. The mean annual net accumulation rate of 1455 mm w.e. for the last 140 years was estimated from distinct annual oscillations of δ18O, δD, succinic acid, and NH4+. Annual layer counting also helped date the ice core, agreeing with the absolute markers of the tritium 1963 bomb horizon located at the core depth of 50.7 m w.e. and the sulfate peak of the Katmai eruption (1912) at 87.7 m w.e. According to mathematical modeling results, the ice age at the maximum glacier depth is predicted to be ~ 660 years BP. The 2009 borehole is located downstream from this point, resulting in an estimated basal ice age of less than 350-400 years BP at the drilling site. The glaciological and initial chemical analyses from the Elbrus ice core help reconstruct the atmospheric history of the European region.

11. Investigation of Molecular Marker Lipids in Alpine Ice Cores Via Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction

Makou, M. C.; Eglinton, T. I.; Thompson, L. G.; Hughen, K. A.

2005-12-01

Recently developed analytical techniques were employed to identify and quantify organic molecular markers trapped in high-altitude ice. While various compounds represent potentially useful proxies for biomass burning, vegetation type, atmospheric circulation, and anthropogenic activity, prior attempts to measure organic compounds in ice cores have typically required large volumes of sample material that are incompatible with generation of high-resolution paleoclimate records. We employed stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and thermal desorption (TD), coupled with gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC/TOF-MS), to examine the organic content of small quantities (≤ 30 ml) of ice. To test the utility of the approach, post-industrial ice core samples from the Huascarán and Sajama sites (Andes), the Dasuopu and Puruogangri sites (Tibetan Plateau), and Mt. Kilimanjaro (east Africa) were tested. n-Alkanes, n-alkanoic acids, n-alkyl amides and nitriles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and various diterpenoids were identified in this suite of cores. These marker compounds suggest inputs from biomass burning, fresh vascular plant material, and anthropogenic activities such as fossil fuel combustion. Differences in distributions of the alkyl amide and nitrile homologues between the different sites suggest a predominantly local or regional supply of organic matter. Pre-industrial samples from the Sajama and Puruogangri ice cores were also analyzed in order to assess the character of biomarker assemblages in the absence of anthropogenic contributions and investigate changes in inputs over time. PAHs and diterpenoids, which may result from biomass burning and were observed in the modern Sajama samples, occurred in two Holocene Sajama samples, but not in a last glacial sample. Enhanced inputs of terrestrial vegetation combustion biomarkers were consistent with periods of enhanced aridity in both cores. This study demonstrates the utility of SBSE, TD, and GC/TOF-MS for isolating organic compounds from small amounts of alpine ice and paves the way for development of high-resolution molecular stratigraphic records from tropical ice cores.

12. A chemical pacemaker to refine chronology for the deep East Antarctic ice cores

Petit, J. R.; Parrenin, F.; Delmonte, B.

2012-04-01

Dating of the deep East Antarctic ice core spanning more than 100,000 years of climate records is challenging but benefited recently from iterative and complementary approaches. As a principle, ice core dating relies on ice flow modelling (thinning function of ice layer) as well as on the (modelled) estimate of the past snow accumulation rate. The inverse method allows integration of various dated horizons from other records assuming the physical properties of the ice (its deformation) remain within realistic boundaries. The modelled ice chronology is generally constrained by few dated horizons (volcanic, 10Be peaks from solar or from magnetic inversion related events…) and/or by orbital tuning process (temperature proxy, 18O of air bubbles…). Due to the scarcity of absolute dating, the use of orbital tuning from ice proxies may serve as a test of the modelled ice age. As a prerequisite, the proxy should not already be used to constrain the modelled chronology. Also, to prevent gas-age/ice age uncertainties, a preference should be given to a proxy associated to the ice instead to the air bubbles. Also, the physical link with the insolation should be rather direct, and a preference given to proxies sensitive to precession band (20kyr) instead obliquity band (41kyr). The continental dust and marine sodium records were so far not used to constrain the modelled chronology of EPICA and Vostok ice core. The dust and marine sodium appear firstly correlated to patterns of temperature and therefore to the hydrological cycle which influences at the same time the source emissions (for dust), the atmospheric cleansing and the deposition onto the ice sheet. Once the overall temperature effects is compensated, the residual signal for dust and sodium concentrations over the last 400 ky from EPICA Dome C and Vostok records display strong precession oscillations for both sites. Interestingly, the sodium residuals appear to increase with austral summer insolation while the dust residuals decrease, and remaining out of phase. Such behaviour could be understood by a positive effect of insolation on sodium emission (strengthening of spring cyclonic activity…) and negative effect on dust sources (reduction of Patagonian dust emission by strengthening of Southern American monsoon…). This dual behaviour which needs to be determined, allows combination of sodium and dust residuals providing a "chemical pacemaker" dominated by precession which could be used to refine the modelled chronology. A test was done on the EDC3 modelled age of the Epica Dome C deep ice core which covers the last 800ky.

13. A 300 000 year isotopic record from the TALDICE ice core (East Antarctica)

Stenni, B.

2009-04-01

The TALos Dome Ice CorE (TALDICE) project retrieved an ice core from a peripheral dome of East Antarctica. This international project aimed at drilling an ice core reaching back in time the past two climatic cycles (about 250,000 years). Talos Dome (72Ë 49' S, 159Ë 11' E; 2315 m; 80 kg m-2 yr-1; -41Ë C) is located at about 290 km from the Southern Ocean, 250 km from the Ross Sea, 275 km from the Zucchelli Station (Terra Nova Bay). Backtrajectory analyses suggest that Talos Dome is mainly influenced by air masses arriving both from the Pacific (Ross Sea) and Indian Ocean sectors. In December 2007 the drilling team reached the depth of 1619.2 m. A preliminary dating based on an ice flow model and an inverse method suggests for the upper 1560 m an age of about 300 000 years BP. This near coastal site allows a higher climate resolution study for the Holocene compared to the ones obtained from the more inland drilling sites. The paleotemperature reconstructions from Antarctic ice cores relies mainly on ^D and ^18O records. The main factors controlling the observed distribution of their surface values in Antarctic snow are mainly related to the condensation temperature and the origin of moisture. Measuring both isotopes in the ice allow the determination of the deuterium excess (d=^D-8*^18O) which is mainly controlled by the climatic conditions in the moisture source regions. The ice cores have been cut in the cold laboratory of the Alfred Wegener Institut at Bremerhaven. ^18O and ^D measurements have been performed on a continuous basis of 100 cm ("bag samples") and 10 cm (detailed samples) in Italy and France. The full ^18O record obtained from the bag samples is presented here along with a preliminary deuterium excess data set. The long term climate variability is in good agreement with the EPICA Dome C ice core with the exception of trends during interglacial periods (present and past interglacial). While most of the Holocene record shows a good agreement with EPICA EDML and EDC ice cores, the lack of early Holocene optimum at Talos Dome may be linked with changes in local ice sheet elevation. This new isotopic record shows similar millennial scale climate variability (AIM events) during the last glacial period and the deglaciation.

14. High-resolution, continuous method for measurement of acidity in ice cores.

PubMed

Pasteris, Daniel R; McConnell, Joseph R; Edwards, Ross

2012-02-01

The acid content of ice core samples provides information regarding the history of volcanism, biogenic activity, windblown dust, forest fires, and pollution-induced acid rain. A continuous ice core analysis allows for collection of high-resolution data in a very efficient manner, but this technique has not been readily applied to the measurement of pH and acidity in ice cores. The difficulty arises because the sample is highly undersaturated with respect to carbon dioxide (CO(2)) immediately after melting, making it difficult to maintain stable concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide and carbonic acid (H(2)CO(3)). Here, we present a solution to this problem in the form of a small flow-through bubbling chamber that is supplied with a known concentration of CO(2). The bubbling action allows for quick equilibration while the small size of the chamber limits sample mixing in order to maintain high resolution. Thorough error analysis provides a measurement uncertainty of ±0.20 μM or ±5% of the acidity value, whichever is greater, and the T95 signal response time is determined to be 1.25 min. The performance of the technique is further evaluated with data from a 63-year ice core from northwest Greenland for which all major ion species were also measured. The measured acidity closely matches the acidity derived from a charge balance calculation, indicating that all of the analytes were measured accurately. The performance specifications that we provide are applicable to ice cores with low concentrations of alkaline dust (<500 ppb), which includes the vast majority of ice cores that are collected. To date, the method has not been evaluated with samples containing high alkaline dust concentrations, such as Greenland cores from the last glacial period, where measurement could be made difficult by memory effects as particles coat the internal surfaces of the sample stream. PMID:22148513

15. Millennial and sub-millennial scale climatic variability over Marine Isotopic Stage 5: insights from polar ice cores (Invited)

Capron, E.; Landais, A.; Chappellaz, J.; Schilt, A.; Buiron, D.; Dahl-Jensen, D.; Fischer, H.; Johnsen, S. J.; Jouzel, J.; Lemieux-Dudon, B.; Leuenberger, M.; Masson-Delmotte, V.; Meyer, H.; Oerter, H.; Stenni, B.; Stocker, T. F.

2010-12-01

The millennial scale climatic variability of the last glacial period has been increasingly documented at all latitudes with studies focusing mainly on Marine Isotopic Stage 3 (MIS 3; 28-60 thousand of years before present, hereafter ka) and characterized by short and frequent Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO) events in Greenland ice cores. Recent and new results obtained on Antarctic (EPICA Dronning Maud Land and EPICA Dome C) and Greenlandic (NorthGRIP) ice cores now allow to precisely describe the rapid variations of temperature at both poles during MIS 5 (73.5-123 ka), a time period spanning the last glacial inception and corresponding to relatively high sea levels. By contrast with the “classical” DO events of MIS 3, we evidence the peculiarities of the MIS 5 DO events. In particular, a sub-millennial scale climatic variability is highlighted over these long MIS 5 DO events, depicted by (i) short-lived and abrupt warming events preceding some Greenland InterStadial (GIS) (precursor-type events) and (ii) abrupt warming events at the end of some GIS (rebound-type events). The occurrence of these secondary events is suggested to be driven by the northern hemisphere summertime insolation at 65°N and influenced by the ice sheet extent. Thanks to a recent timescale synchronisation between Antarctic and Greenland records over MIS 5, the bipolar sequence of climatic events can be established at millennial to sub-millennial timescale. This reveals that the see-saw behavior identified during the glacial MIS 3 is also at play over the warm MIS 5 even at sub-millennial timescales. Finally, we make a focus on the first DO event occurring during the last glacial inception (DO 25). A multi-parametric study performed on the NorthGRIP ice core suggests that this first rapid event is a regional feature likely resulting from the interaction between the orbitally driven sea-ice expansion and the north Atlantic circulation.

16. Comparison between wet and dry extractions for isotope analysis of Methane and Nitrous Oxide from ice cores

Sapart, C. J.; Bock, M.; Roeckmann, T.; Fischer, H.; Vigano, I.; van de Veen, C.; Brass, M.

2009-04-01

Methane and nitrous oxide are two important greenhouse gases. In order to predict their future concentrations, their present budgets and past variations need to be understood. Recent data have revealed surprising variations in the stable isotope signatures of CH4 over the past millennium which underlines the need of δD measurements of methane from air trapped in ice core. M We present a new dry extraction method for ice core air coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) technique developed for CH4 and N2O isotope analysis on atmospheric air samples. Ice samples are grated in a stainless steel pot provided with a perforated cylinder (cheese grater) by shaking at -30°C. Subsequently, the air released from the air bubbles in the ice is adsorbed on Hayesep D in a glass bottle at liquid nitrogen temperature. Before the Hayesep D trap, N2O is cryogenically separated in a U-shape glass. Subsequently, the N2O is flushed in a helium carrier gas to the IRMS system to measure δ15N and δ18O. Simultaneoulsy, the extracted air from the Hayesep D trap is flushed in a He carrier gas to another IRMS system where methane is extracted on a second Hayesep D trap, cryo-focused, and sent to the IRMS for δ13C or δD measurements . Our extraction method allows high precision measurements of δD (σ=2 per mil) and δ13C (σ=0.2 per mil) of methane and is still under testing for the N2O isotopes. In parallel, a standard wet extraction method was set up for comparison with the dry extraction aiming to determine if any contamination appears during the grating process. Results of an intercalibration between our extraction system and other systems measuring as well methane isotopes from air trapped in ice core will also be presented.

17. Atmospheric volcanic loading derived from bipolar ice cores: Accounting for the spatial distribution of volcanic deposition

Gao, Chaochao; Oman, Luke; Robock, Alan; Stenchikov, Georgiy L.

2007-05-01

18. Determination of trace amounts of heavy metals in arctic ice core samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Tao, G; Yamada, R; Fujikawa, Y; Kudo, A; Zheng, J; Fisher, D A; Koerner, R M

2001-10-31

Trace amounts of heavy metals in the ice cores from Canadian Arctic were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A custom made plastic device and ceramic knives were used to remove the contamination on the ice core surface. Ice cores could be broken into small sections (2-3 cm thick) after decontamination with the plastic device and ceramic knives. High-resolution depth profiles of various elements, i.e. As, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and U, were thus attained. Concentrations in 518 ice core samples range from 0.1 (U) to 673.3 (Zn) pg g(-1). PMID:18968423

19. A centrifugal ice microtome for measurements of atmospheric CO2 on air trapped in polar ice cores

Bereiter, B.; Stocker, T. F.; Fischer, H.

2012-10-01

For atmospheric CO2 reconstructions using ice cores, the technique to release the trapped air from the ice samples is crucial for the precision and accuracy of the measurements. We present here a new dry extraction technique in combination with a new gas analytical system that together show significant improvements with respect to current systems. Ice samples (3-15 g) are pulverized using a novel Centrifugal Ice Microtome (CIM) by shaving the ice in a cooled vacuum chamber (-27 C) in which no friction occurs due to the use of magnetic bearings. Both, the shaving principle of the CIM and the use of magnetic bearings have not been applied so far in this field. Shaving the ice samples produces finer ice powder and releases a minimum of 90% of the trapped air compared to 50%-70% when needle crushing is employed. In addition, the friction-free motion with an optimized design to reduce contaminations of the inner surfaces of the device result in a reduced system offset of about 2.0 ppmv compared to 4.9ppmv. The gas analytical part shows a factor two higher precision than our corresponding part of the previous system and all processes except the loading and cleaning of the CIM now run automatically. Compared to our previous system the new system shows a 3 times better measurement reproducibility of about 1.1 ppmv (1?) which is similar to the best reproducibility of other systems applied in this field. With this high reproducibility, replicate measurements are not required anymore for most prospective measurement campaigns resulting in a possible output of 12-20 measurements per day compared to a maximum of 6 with other systems.

20. A centrifugal ice microtome for measurements of atmospheric CO2 on air trapped in polar ice cores

Bereiter, B.; Stocker, T. F.; Fischer, H.

2013-02-01

For atmospheric CO2 reconstructions using ice cores, the technique to release the trapped air from the ice samples is essential for the precision and accuracy of the measurements. We present here a new dry extraction technique in combination with a new gas analytical system that together show significant improvements with respect to current systems. Ice samples (3-15 g) are pulverised using a novel centrifugal ice microtome (CIM) by shaving the ice in a cooled vacuum chamber (-27 C) in which no friction occurs due to the use of magnetic bearings. Both, the shaving principle of the CIM and the use of magnetic bearings have not been applied so far in this field. Shaving the ice samples produces finer ice powder and releases a minimum of 90% of the trapped air compared to 50%-70% when needle crushing is employed. In addition, the friction-free motion with an optimized design to reduce contaminations of the inner surfaces of the device result in a reduced system offset of about 2.0 ppmv compared to 4.9 ppmv. The gas analytical part shows a higher precision than the corresponding part of our previous system by a factor of two, and all processes except the loading and cleaning of the CIM now run automatically. Compared to our previous system, the complete system shows a 3 times better measurement reproducibility of about 1.1 ppmv (1 ?) which is similar to the best reproducibility of other systems applied in this field. With this high reproducibility, no replicate measurements are required anymore for most future measurement campaigns resulting in a possible output of 12-20 measurements per day compared to a maximum of 6 with other systems.

1. Offshore Extent of the Iceland Ice Cap During the Last Glacial Maximum Inferred from Multibeam Bathymetric Data and Sediment Cores.

Helgadottir, G.; Brandsdottir, B.; Geirsdottir, A.; Björnsson, H.

2005-12-01

The insular margin of Iceland is incised by several major troughs, which mark the pathways of outlet glaciers during the last glaciations. Multibeam bathymetric data have revealed features of glacial erosion and sedimentation pertinent to the extent of the Iceland ice cap during the Last Glacial Maximum. Marginal moraines have been identified at the southern, western and northwestern edge of the insular margin. Furthermore, glacial erosion and sedimentation along the Kolbeinsey Ridge, North Iceland, indicates that the Iceland ice cap extended beyond 67°30'N. The ridge axis is made up of various types of seamounts, crater rows and hummocky ridges whereas older seamounts have been sculptured into roche moutonnées by glacial erosion. The far extent of the ice cap to the north is also supported by sediment studies on cores that have been retrieved from the troughs on the northern and northwestern part of the insular margin. Numerous smaller moraines exist closer to land marking stepwise retreat of the ice cap during deglacial times. Such moraines have been identified at 400-500 m depth within a 3-6 km wide, U-shaped valley along the western margin of the Kolbeinsey ridge (at 66°55'N) and within many of the costal fjords. Many of the offshore features resemble those known from land, such as streamlined bedrock features elongated in the regional direction of ice flow, eskers and subglacial meltwater channels together with erosional channels possibly formed by jökulhlaups. Extensive number of ice plough marks are revealed on bank areas and landslides on the marginal slope. Fluted surfaces and subglacially formed meltwater channels suggest formation underneath fast flowing, warm-based ice streams. These newly identified glacial features reveal new information on the spatial extent, dynamics and retreat of the Iceland ice cap during the last glaciation and deglaciation. Eustatic and isostatic contributions can be predicted from models of ice sheets and mantle rheology, which varies across the divergent plate boundary. Continuing study will focus on spatial and temporal variability of the combined effect of glaciation and isostacy as well as tectonic movements.

2. Aerial photographs reveal late-20th-century dynamic ice loss in northwestern Greenland.

PubMed

Kjær, Kurt H; Khan, Shfaqat A; Korsgaard, Niels J; Wahr, John; Bamber, Jonathan L; Hurkmans, Ruud; van den Broeke, Michiel; Timm, Lars H; Kjeldsen, Kristian K; Bjørk, Anders A; Larsen, Nicolaj K; Jørgensen, Lars Tyge; Færch-Jensen, Anders; Willerslev, Eske

2012-08-01

Global warming is predicted to have a profound impact on the Greenland Ice Sheet and its contribution to global sea-level rise. Recent mass loss in the northwest of Greenland has been substantial. Using aerial photographs, we produced digital elevation models and extended the time record of recent observed marginal dynamic thinning back to the mid-1980s. We reveal two independent dynamic ice loss events on the northwestern Greenland Ice Sheet margin: from 1985 to 1993 and 2005 to 2010, which were separated by limited mass changes. Our results suggest that the ice mass changes in this sector were primarily caused by short-lived dynamic ice loss events rather than changes in the surface mass balance. This finding challenges predictions about the future response of the Greenland Ice Sheet to increasing global temperatures. PMID:22859486

3. Dating a tropical ice core by time-frequency analysis of ion concentration depth profiles

Gay, M.; De Angelis, M.; Lacoume, J.-L.

2014-09-01

Ice core dating is a key parameter for the interpretation of the ice archives. However, the relationship between ice depth and ice age generally cannot be easily established and requires the combination of numerous investigations and/or modelling efforts. This paper presents a new approach to ice core dating based on time-frequency analysis of chemical profiles at a site where seasonal patterns may be significantly distorted by sporadic events of regional importance, specifically at the summit area of Nevado Illimani (6350 m a.s.l.), located in the eastern Bolivian Andes (16°37' S, 67°46' W). We used ion concentration depth profiles collected along a 100 m deep ice core. The results of Fourier time-frequency and wavelet transforms were first compared. Both methods were applied to a nitrate concentration depth profile. The resulting chronologies were checked by comparison with the multi-proxy year-by-year dating published by de Angelis et al. (2003) and with volcanic tie points. With this first experiment, we demonstrated the efficiency of Fourier time-frequency analysis when tracking the nitrate natural variability. In addition, we were able to show spectrum aliasing due to under-sampling below 70 m. In this article, we propose a method of de-aliasing which significantly improves the core dating in comparison with annual layer manual counting. Fourier time-frequency analysis was applied to concentration depth profiles of seven other ions, providing information on the suitability of each of them for the dating of tropical Andean ice cores.

4. 27 m of lake ice on an Antarctic lake reveals past hydrologic variability

Dugan, H. A.; Doran, P. T.; Wagner, B.; Kenig, F.; Fritsen, C. H.; Arcone, S.; Kuhn, E.; Ostrom, N. E.; Warnock, J.; Murray, A. E.

2014-07-01

Lake Vida, located in Victoria Valley, is one of the largest lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. Unlike other lakes in the region, the surface ice extends at least 27 m, which has created an extreme and unique habitat by isolating a liquid-brine with salinity of 195 g L-1. Below 21 m, the ice is marked by well-sorted sand layers up to 20 cm thick, within a matrix of salty ice. From ice chemistry, isotopic abundances of 18O and 2H, ground penetrating radar profiles, and mineralogy, we conclude that the entire 27 m of ice formed from surface runoff, and the sediment layers represent the accumulation of fluvial and aeolian deposits. Radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence dating limit the maximum age of the lower ice to 6300 14C yr BP. As the ice cover ablated downwards during periods of low surface inflow, progressive accumulation of sediment layers insulated and preserved the ice and brine beneath; analogous to the processes that preserve shallow ground ice. The repetition of these sediment layers reveals climatic variability in Victoria Valley during the mid- to late Holocene. Lake Vida is an excellent Mars analog for understanding the preservation of subsurface brine, ice and sediment in a cold desert environment.

5. RICE ice core: Black Carbon reflects climate variability at Roosevelt Island, West Antarctica

Ellis, Aja; Edwards, Ross; Bertler, Nancy; Winton, Holly; Goodwin, Ian; Neff, Peter; Tuohy, Andrea; Proemse, Bernadette; Hogan, Chad; Feiteng, Wang

2015-04-01

The Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution (RICE) project successfully drilled a deep ice core from Roosevelt Island during the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons. Located in the Ross Ice Shelf in West Antarctica, the site is an ideal location for investigating climate variability and the past stability of the Ross Ice Shelf. Black carbon (BC) aerosols are emitted by both biomass burning and fossil fuels, and BC particles emitted in the southern hemisphere are transported in the atmosphere and preserved in Antarctic ice. The past record of BC is expected to be sensitive to climate variability, as it is modulated by both emissions and transport. To investigate BC variability over the past 200 years, we developed a BC record from two overlapping ice cores (~1850-2012) and a high-resolution snow pit spanning 2010-2012 (cal. yr). Consistent results are found between the snow pit profiles and ice core records. Distinct decadal trends are found with respect to BC particle size, and the record indicates a steady rise in BC particle size over the last 100 years. Differences in emission sources and conditions may be a possible explanation for changes in BC size. These records also show a significant increase in BC concentration over the past decade with concentrations rising over 1.5 ppb (1.5*10^-9 ng/g), suggesting a fundamental shift in BC deposition to the site.

6. Identification of major proton fluence events from nitrates in polar ice cores.

PubMed

Shea, M A; Smart, D F; Dreschhoff, G A

1999-06-01

Large transient concentrations of nitrates in polar ice cores have been identified as the signature of some major solar proton fluence events between 1940 and 1991. We review this solar proton proxy identification technique using nitrate concentration measurements in ice cores from the Arctic and Antarctic. Using this identification technique we go back in time in an attempt to identify major solar proton events during the past several centuries. There is a very large nitrate increase corresponding to the Carrington flare of 1859 evident in the Arctic ice core. Other significant nitrate increases may indicate that major solar proton events occurred toward the end of the last century. The problems associated with this new technique of using nitrates as proxies to identify solar proton events are discussed. PMID:11543137

7. Chronology of Pu isotopes and 236U in an Arctic ice core.

PubMed

Wendel, C C; Oughton, D H; Lind, O C; Skipperud, L; Fifield, L K; Isaksson, E; Tims, S G; Salbu, B

2013-09-01

In the present work, state of the art isotopic fingerprinting techniques are applied to an Arctic ice core in order to quantify deposition of U and Pu, and to identify possible tropospheric transport of debris from former Soviet Union test sites Semipalatinsk (Central Asia) and Novaya Zemlya (Arctic Ocean). An ice core chronology of (236)U, (239)Pu, and (240)Pu concentrations, and atom ratios, measured by accelerator mass spectrometry in a 28.6m deep ice core from the Austfonna glacier at Nordaustlandet, Svalbard is presented. The ice core chronology corresponds to the period 1949 to 1999. The main sources of Pu and (236)U contamination in the Arctic were the atmospheric nuclear detonations in the period 1945 to 1980, as global fallout, and tropospheric fallout from the former Soviet Union test sites Novaya Zemlya and Semipalatinsk. Activity concentrations of (239+240)Pu ranged from 0.008 to 0.254 mBq cm(-2) and (236)U from 0.0039 to 0.053 μBq cm(-2). Concentrations varied in concordance with (137)Cs concentrations in the same ice core. In contrast to previous published results, the concentrations of Pu and (236)U were found to be higher at depths corresponding to the pre-moratorium period (1949 to 1959) than to the post-moratorium period (1961 and 1962). The (240)Pu/(239)Pu ratio ranged from 0.15 to 0.19, and (236)U/(239)Pu ranged from 0.18 to 1.4. The Pu atom ratios ranged within the limits of global fallout in the most intensive period of nuclear atmospheric testing (1952 to 1962). To the best knowledge of the authors the present work is the first publication on biogeochemical cycles with respect to (236)U concentrations and (236)U/(239)Pu atom ratios in the Arctic and in ice cores. PMID:23770554

8. Mineral Dust Elemental Composition Over the Last 220 Kyr from the EPICA-Dome C ice core (East Antarctica)

Marino, F.; Maggi, V.; Delmonte, B.; Ghermandi, G.; Petit, J.; Hinkley, T. K.

2004-12-01

Mineral windblown aerosol (dust) represents a small fraction of the total mass of atmospheric aerosols. However, it may play an important role in climate and, in turn, it is itself sensitive to climatic changes. The investigation of the temporal variability of dust flux as well as the changes of its mineralogical composition within different climatic periods offers a unique way of assessing the source-related environmental changes, the variation in atmospheric circulation, and the potential influence of dust on biogeochemical cycles, for several key elements (such as Si and Fe). The mineral composition of dust found in ice cores is still poorly known, because few techniques are able to provide information on the chemical composition of the insoluble aerosol fraction, because of the very low mass of dust usually present in polar ice samples. Total volume of mineral content is provided by Coulter Counter measurements, and the dust record shows higher dust input during glacial periods than during interglacials (Delmonte et al., 2004). Sr and Nd isotopic tracers for identification of dust provenance to East Antarctica suggest southern South America as the dominant common source for dust in glacial periods of the late Pleistocene (Delmonte et al., 2004), whereas dust provenance during interglacials periods is still highly uncertain. Elemental composition of mineral dust from the Dome C ice core (75° 06' S, 123° 21' E) drilled in the framework of the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) is presented, showing measurements obtained by the Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique applied on insoluble atmospheric dust in ice cores. Within this work, substantial improvements to the experimental set-up and data processing have been made, compared to previously presented works on the first 2200 m of the EDC ice core, corresponding to about 220 kyr of climatic history (Marino et al., 2004; Ghermandi et al., 2003). The PIXE technique, based on X-ray spectrometry, allows direct measurements on filters of the insoluble dust fraction without sample pre-treatment, with analytical detection limits less than 1 ppb. The minimum required mass density of sample material on the filter is about 0.1 microg cm-2. Improvements made here allowed us to obtain accurate records of 8 major and minor crustal elements (Si, Al, Fe, Ti, K, Ca, Mg, Na). The data for these 8 elements, as well as their proportions as oxides, are shown for different climatic periods. Because O, Si, Al, Fe, Ti, K, Ca, Mg, Na are the principal constituents (99.90 %) of the Earth's Continental Crust, a comparison with literature data can reveal changes in relative elemental abundances, and hence variable composition of dust under different climatic conditions.

9. Carbonaceous aerosol tracers in ice-cores record multi-decadal climate oscillations

PubMed Central

Seki, Osamu; Kawamura, Kimitaka; Bendle, James A. P.; Izawa, Yusuke; Suzuki, Ikuko; Shiraiwa, Takayuki; Fujii, Yoshiyuki

2015-01-01

Carbonaceous aerosols influence the climate via direct and indirect effects on radiative balance. However, the factors controlling the emissions, transport and role of carbonaceous aerosols in the climate system are highly uncertain. Here we investigate organic tracers in ice cores from Greenland and Kamchatka and find that, throughout the period covered by the records (1550 to 2000 CE), the concentrations and composition of biomass burning-, soil bacterial- and plant wax- tracers correspond to Arctic and regional temperatures as well as the warm season Arctic Oscillation (AO) over multi-decadal time-scales. Specifically, order of magnitude decreases (increases) in abundances of ice-core organic tracers, likely representing significant decreases (increases) in the atmospheric loading of carbonaceous aerosols, occur during colder (warmer) phases in the high latitudinal Northern Hemisphere. This raises questions about causality and possible carbonaceous aerosol feedback mechanisms. Our work opens new avenues for ice core research. Translating concentrations of organic tracers (μg/kg-ice or TOC) from ice-cores, into estimates of the atmospheric loading of carbonaceous aerosols (μg/m3) combined with new model constraints on the strength and sign of climate forcing by carbonaceous aerosols should be a priority for future research. PMID:26411576

10. Retrieving the paleoclimatic signal from the deeper part of the EPICA Dome C ice core

Tison, J.-L.; de Angelis, M.; Littot, G.; Wolff, E.; Fischer, H.; Hansson, M.; Bigler, M.; Udisti, R.; Wegner, A.; Jouzel, J.; Stenni, B.; Johnsen, S.; Masson-Delmotte, V.; Landais, A.; Lipenkov, V.; Loulergue, L.; Barnola, J.-M.; Petit, J.-R.; Delmonte, B.; Dreyfus, G.; Dahl-Jensen, D.; Durand, G.; Bereiter, B.; Schilt, A.; Spahni, R.; Pol, K.; Lorrain, R.; Souchez, R.; Samyn, D.

2015-08-01

An important share of paleoclimatic information is buried within the lowermost layers of deep ice cores. Because improving our records further back in time is one of the main challenges in the near future, it is essential to judge how deep these records remain unaltered, since the proximity of the bedrock is likely to interfere both with the recorded temporal sequence and the ice properties. In this paper, we present a multiparametric study (δD-δ18Oice, δ18Oatm, total air content, CO2, CH4, N2O, dust, high-resolution chemistry, ice texture) of the bottom 60 m of the EPICA (European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica) Dome C ice core from central Antarctica. These bottom layers were subdivided into two distinct facies: the lower 12 m showing visible solid inclusions (basal dispersed ice facies) and the upper 48 m, which we will refer to as the "basal clean ice facies". Some of the data are consistent with a pristine paleoclimatic signal, others show clear anomalies. It is demonstrated that neither large-scale bottom refreezing of subglacial water, nor mixing (be it internal or with a local basal end term from a previous/initial ice sheet configuration) can explain the observed bottom-ice properties. We focus on the high-resolution chemical profiles and on the available remote sensing data on the subglacial topography of the site to propose a mechanism by which relative stretching of the bottom-ice sheet layers is made possible, due to the progressively confining effect of subglacial valley sides. This stress field change, combined with bottom-ice temperature close to the pressure melting point, induces accelerated migration recrystallization, which results in spatial chemical sorting of the impurities, depending on their state (dissolved vs. solid) and if they are involved or not in salt formation. This chemical sorting effect is responsible for the progressive build-up of the visible solid aggregates that therefore mainly originate "from within", and not from incorporation processes of debris from the ice sheet's substrate. We further discuss how the proposed mechanism is compatible with the other ice properties described. We conclude that the paleoclimatic signal is only marginally affected in terms of global ice properties at the bottom of EPICA Dome C, but that the timescale was considerably distorted by mechanical stretching of MIS20 due to the increasing influence of the subglacial topography, a process that might have started well above the bottom ice. A clear paleoclimatic signal can therefore not be inferred from the deeper part of the EPICA Dome C ice core. Our work suggests that the existence of a flat monotonic ice-bedrock interface, extending for several times the ice thickness, would be a crucial factor in choosing a future "oldest ice" drilling location in Antarctica.

11. Laser altimetry reveals complex pattern of Greenland Ice Sheet dynamics.

PubMed

Csatho, Beata M; Schenk, Anton F; van der Veen, Cornelis J; Babonis, Gregory; Duncan, Kyle; Rezvanbehbahani, Soroush; van den Broeke, Michiel R; Simonsen, Sebastian B; Nagarajan, Sudhagar; van Angelen, Jan H

2014-12-30

We present a new record of ice thickness change, reconstructed at nearly 100,000 sites on the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) from laser altimetry measurements spanning the period 1993-2012, partitioned into changes due to surface mass balance (SMB) and ice dynamics. We estimate a mean annual GrIS mass loss of 243 18 Gt ? y(-1), equivalent to 0.68 mm ? y(-1) sea level rise (SLR) for 2003-2009. Dynamic thinning contributed 48%, with the largest rates occurring in 2004-2006, followed by a gradual decrease balanced by accelerating SMB loss. The spatial pattern of dynamic mass loss changed over this time as dynamic thinning rapidly decreased in southeast Greenland but slowly increased in the southwest, north, and northeast regions. Most outlet glaciers have been thinning during the last two decades, interrupted by episodes of decreasing thinning or even thickening. Dynamics of the major outlet glaciers dominated the mass loss from larger drainage basins, and simultaneous changes over distances up to 500 km are detected, indicating climate control. However, the intricate spatiotemporal pattern of dynamic thickness change suggests that, regardless of the forcing responsible for initial glacier acceleration and thinning, the response of individual glaciers is modulated by local conditions. Recent projections of dynamic contributions from the entire GrIS to SLR have been based on the extrapolation of four major outlet glaciers. Considering the observed complexity, we question how well these four glaciers represent all of Greenland's outlet glaciers. PMID:25512537

12. Lagrangian analysis of ICESat altimetry reveals patterns of ice shelf basal melting

Moholdt, G.; Fricker, H. A.; Padman, L.

2012-12-01

Iceberg calving and ice shelf basal melting are normal mass-loss processes that over time roughly balance the outflow of ice from the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Most basal melting is thus compensated by ice advection and is not detected by the traditional methods of analyzing surface elevation changes in a fixed geographic coordinate system (Eulerian). Here we present a new method that derive elevation changes in a "Lagrangian" sense from repeat-track ICESat laser altimetry, where specific locations are followed on the advancing ice shelf surface. We use a published ice shelf velocity field to correct for ice advection between consecutive repeats, and then convert the Lagrangian dh/dt estimates into ice thickness changes based on a model of the firn layer. In some locations, the derived ice thickness changes are much larger the Eulerian approach. The Lagrangian approach reduces the noise level of the derived ice thickness changes and reveals clear spatial patterns that we interpret as variations in basal melting. For the largest Antarctic ice shelves (Ross and Filchner-Ronne), we find that the Lagrangian thinning rates increase progressively towards the fronts, which is consistent with oceanographic models that suggest higher basal melt rates in the frontal zone. There are few examples of localized Lagrangian thickening, suggesting that basal melting is likely dominating over basal freezing in the interior of most ice shelves. Combined with data on surface mass balance and firn compaction, our Lagrangian approach can provide new insights into the magnitude and extent of basal melting, as well as being an important validation for models of ice-ocean interaction.

13. Factors influencing nitrogen isotopes of snow nitrate: implications for interpretations of ice core nitrate records

Geng, L.; Alexander, B.; Cole-Dai, J.; Steig, E. J.; Savarino, J. P.; Sofen, E. D.; Schauer, A. J.

2014-12-01

The records of nitrate concentration and its isotopic composition (δ15N, δ18O and Δ17O) in ice cores are sought to reconstruct past levels of atmospheric NOx, the natural variability in NOx sources, and variations in tropospheric oxidants. However, these practices have been hampered by post-depositional processing of snow nitrate, which alters snow nitrate concentrations as well as its isotopic composition. Snow accumulation rates influence the degree of post-depositional processing. At sites with high snow accumulation rates, such as Summit, Greenland, the degree of post-depositional processing is thought to be minimal. Thus, variations in δ15N(NO3-) in Summit ice cores have been linked to NOx source changes, assuming the conservation of nitrogen isotope signatures during the conversion of NOx to nitrate. However, the marked decrease in δ15N(NO3-) from ~1850 to 1970 observed in Summit ice cores is difficult to explain by the addition of anthropogenic NOx to the natural background, as higher atmospheric δ15N(NO3-) values are frequently observed in polluted regions compared to pristine regions. Alternatively, we hypothesized that this decrease can be explained by changes in atmospheric acidity. Atmospheric acidity influences the partitioning of nitrate in gas- and aerosol-phases, inducing isotopic effects. Increased atmospheric acidity beginning ~ 1850 arising from anthropogenic SO2 emissions leads to elevated gas-phase HNO3 which is depleted in δ15N relative to aerosol nitrate. The preferential transport of HNO3 to the Arctic then leads to a decrease in ice core δ15N(NO3-). This hypothesis is supported by the significant correlation between δ15N(NO3-) and acidity records, and is supported by a model simulation. The result of this study indicates the importance of atmospheric processes to ice core δ15N(NO3-), and suggests that the link between ice core δ15N(NO3-) and NOx sources could be problematic even at high snow accumulation sites. In addition, our δ15N(NO3-) measurements in Summit ice cores expanding to the glacial-interglacial timescale indicate clear evidence of the effects of post-depositional processing, making it even more difficult to link ice core δ15N(NO3-) variations to NOx source changes.

14. Neutrino oscillations with IceCube DeepCore and PINGU

SciTech Connect

DeYoung, T.; Collaboration: IceCube-PINGU Collaboration

2014-11-18

The IceCube neutrino telescope was augmented with the DeepCore infill array, completed in the 2010/11 austral summer, to enhance its response to neutrinos below 100 GeV. At these energies, neutrino oscillation effects are visible in the flux of atmospheric neutrinos traversing path lengths comparable to the Earth's diameter. Initial measurements of muon neutrino disappearance parameters using data from DeepCore are presented, as well as an estimate of potential future precision. In addition, plans for a Precision IceCube Next Generation Upgrade (PINGU), which could permit determination of the neutrino mass hierarchy within the coming decade, are discussed.

15. Surface water mass composition changes captured by cores of Arctic land-fast sea ice

Smith, I. J.; Eicken, H.; Mahoney, A. R.; Van Hale, R.; Gough, A. J.; Fukamachi, Y.; Jones, J.

2016-04-01

In the Arctic, land-fast sea ice growth can be influenced by fresher water from rivers and residual summer melt. This paper examines a method to reconstruct changes in water masses using oxygen isotope measurements of sea ice cores. To determine changes in sea water isotope composition over the course of the ice growth period, the output of a sea ice thermodynamic model (driven with reanalysis data, observations of snow depth, and freeze-up dates) is used along with sea ice oxygen isotope measurements and an isotopic fractionation model. Direct measurements of sea ice growth rates are used to validate the output of the sea ice growth model. It is shown that for sea ice formed during the 2011/2012 ice growth season at Barrow, Alaska, large changes in isotopic composition of the ocean waters were captured by the sea ice isotopic composition. Salinity anomalies in the ocean were also tracked by moored instruments. These data indicate episodic advection of meteoric water, having both lower salinity and lower oxygen isotopic composition, during the winter sea ice growth season. Such advection of meteoric water during winter is surprising, as no surface meltwater and no local river discharge should be occurring at this time of year in that area. How accurately changes in water masses as indicated by oxygen isotope composition can be reconstructed using oxygen isotope analysis of sea ice cores is addressed, along with methods/strategies that could be used to further optimize the results. The method described will be useful for winter detection of meteoric water presence in Arctic fast ice regions, which is important for climate studies in a rapidly changing Arctic. Land-fast sea ice effective fractionation coefficients were derived, with a range of +1.82‰ to +2.52‰. Those derived effective fractionation coefficients will be useful for future water mass component proportion calculations. In particular, the equations given can be used to inform choices made when engaging in end member determination for working out the component proportions of water masses.

16. The Ice Core Data Gateway: The one stop gateway to ice core data held at the Antarctic Glaciological Data Center (AGDC), the World Data Center for Paleoclimatology, and the Arctic System Science's Data Coordination Center (ADCC).

Bauer, R.; Scambos, T.; Eakin, M.; Anderson, D.; McNeave, C.

2002-12-01

The Ice Core Data Gateway archives and distributes physical and geochemical data from ice cores collected in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Typical data sets include age-depth relationships, oxygen and hydrogen isotope concentrations, major element chemistry, accumulation rates and pollen. The data are in general presented as ASCII files with a short text metadata description. The archive is designed to provide access to ice core data sets over the long term, thereby making them available for comparison with future data: a critical component of change detection studies. By facilitating broad data access, the center promotes interdisciplinary scientific research. Investigators are encouraged to contribute data sets derived from ice cores to the Ice Core Data Gateway. Data center staff will work with you to compile data set documentation prior to making the data available to users. Contributing scientists are given prominent recognition in the documentation, and while the data center answers technical questions about format, citations for usage, etc., it can refer scientific questions to contributors if requested. Contributing your data to the Ice Core Data Gateway and associated data centers directly supports to NSF Office of Polar Programs Guidelines and Award Conditions for Scientific Data (http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?opp991). This effort is being coordinated with the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Initiative and U.S. component of the International Trans Antarctic Science Expedition (ITASE), and includes data from the Arctic System Science Program's Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 (GISP2) ice core.

17. Ice slurry ingestion reduces both core and facial skin temperatures in a warm environment.

PubMed

Onitsuka, Sumire; Zheng, Xinyan; Hasegawa, Hiroshi

2015-07-01

Internal body cooling by ingesting ice slurry has recently attracted attention. Because ice slurries are ingested through the mouth, it is possible that this results in conductive cooling of the facial skin and brain. However, no studies have investigated this possibility. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ice slurry ingestion on forehead skin temperature at the point of conductive cooling between the forehead skin and brain. Eight male subjects ingested either 7.5g/kg of ice slurry (-1°C; ICE), a cold sports drink (4°C; COOL), or a warm sports drink (37°C; CON) for 15min in a warm environment (30°C, 80% relative humidity). Then, they remained at rest for 1h. As physiological indices, rectal temperature (Tre), mean skin temperature, forehead skin temperature (Thead), heart rate, nude body mass, and urine specific gravity were measured. Subjective thermal sensation (TS) was measured at 5-min intervals throughout the experiment. With ICE, Tre and Thead were significantly reduced compared with CON and COOL conditions (p<0.05). The results of the other physiological indices were not significantly different. TS with ICE was significantly lower than that with CON and COOL (p<0.05) and was correlated with Tre or Thead (p<0.05). These results indicate that ice slurry ingestion may induce conductive cooling between forehead skin and brain, and reduction in core and forehead skin temperature reduced thermal sensation. PMID:25965023

18. Identifying deformation mechanisms in the NEEM ice core using EBSD measurements

Kuiper, Ernst-Jan; Weikusat, Ilka; Drury, Martyn R.; Pennock, Gill M.; de Winter, Matthijs D. A.

2015-04-01

Deformation of ice in continental sized ice sheets determines the flow behavior of ice towards the sea. Basal dislocation glide is assumed to be the dominant deformation mechanism in the creep deformation of natural ice, but non-basal glide is active as well. Knowledge of what types of deformation mechanisms are active in polar ice is critical in predicting the response of ice sheets in future warmer climates and its contribution to sea level rise, because the activity of deformation mechanisms depends critically on deformation conditions (such as temperature) as well as on the material properties (such as grain size). One of the methods to study the deformation mechanisms in natural materials is Electron Backscattered Diffraction (EBSD). We obtained ca. 50 EBSD maps of five different depths from a Greenlandic ice core (NEEM). The step size varied between 8 and 25 micron depending on the size of the deformation features. The size of the maps varied from 2000 to 10000 grid point. Indexing rates were up to 95%, partially by saving and reanalyzing the EBSP patterns. With this method we can characterize subgrain boundaries and determine the lattice rotation configurations of each individual subgrain. Combining these observations with arrangement/geometry of subgrain boundaries the dislocation types can be determined, which form these boundaries. Three main types of subgrain boundaries have been recognized in Antarctic (EDML) ice core¹². Here, we present the first results obtained from EBSD measurements performed on the NEEM ice core samples from the last glacial period, focusing on the relevance of dislocation activity of the possible slip systems. Preliminary results show that all three subgrain types, recognized in the EDML core, occur in the NEEM samples. In addition to the classical boundaries made up of basal dislocations, subgrain boundaries made of non-basal dislocations are also common. ¹Weikusat, I.; de Winter, D. A. M.; Pennock, G. M.; Hayles, M.; Schneijdenberg, C. T. W. M. Drury, M. R. Cryogenic EBSD on ice: preserving a stable surface in a low pressure SEM. J. Microsc., 2010, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2010.03471.x ²Weikusat, I.; Miyamoto, A.; Faria, S. H.; Kipfstuhl, S.; Azuma, N.; Hondoh. T. Subgrain boundaries in Antarctic ice quantified by X-ray Laue diffraction. J. of Glaciol., 2011, 57, 85-94

19. cm-scale variations of crystal orientation fabric in cold Alpine ice core from Colle Gnifetti

Kerch, Johanna; Weikusat, Ilka; Eisen, Olaf; Wagenbach, Dietmar; Erhardt, Tobias

2015-04-01

Analysis of the microstructural parameters of ice has been an important part of ice core analyses so far mainly in polar cores in order to obtain information about physical processes (e.g. deformation, recrystallisation) on the micro- and macro-scale within an ice body. More recently the influence of impurities and climatic conditions during snow accumulation on these processes has come into focus. A deeper understanding of how palaeoclimate proxies interact with physical properties of the ice matrix bears relevance for palaeoclimatic interpretations, improved geophysical measurement techniques and the furthering of ice dynamical modeling. Variations in microstructural parameters e.g. crystal orientation fabric or grain size can be observed on a scale of hundreds and tens of metres but also on a centimetre scale. The underlying processes are not necessarily the same on all scales. Especially for the short-scale variations many questions remain unanswered. We present results from a study that aims to investigate following hypotheses: 1. Variations in grain size and fabric, i.e. strong changes of the orientation of ice crystals with respect to the vertical, occur on a centimetre scale and can be observed in all depths of an ice core. 2. Palaeoclimate proxies like dust and impurities have an impact on the microstructural processes and thus are inducing the observed short-scale variations in grain size and fabric. 3. The interaction of proxies with the ice matrix leads to depth intervals that show correlating behaviour as well as ranges with anticorrelation between microstructural parameters and palaeoclimatic proxies. The respective processes need to be identified. Fabric Analyser measurements were conducted on more than 80 samples (total of 8 m) from different depth ranges of a cold Alpine ice core (72 m length) drilled in 2013 at Colle Gnifetti, Switzerland/Italy. Results were obtained by automatic image processing, providing estimates for grain size distributions and crystal orientation fabric, and comparison with data from continuous flow analysis of chemical impurities. A microstructural characterisation of the analysed core is presented with emphasis on the observed variations in crystal orientation fabric. The relevance of these results for palaeoclimate reconstruction and geophysical applications in ice are discussed.

20. Evidence of a warm early instrumental period found in temperature related water isotope records from high elevation Alpine ice cores

Bohleber, Pascal; Schöner, Wolfgang; Wagenbach, Dietmar

2015-04-01

The variability of water isotopes (delta-O18 or delta-D) preserved in Alpine glacier ice may provide mid-latitude temperature proxy records supplementing respective information from other archives. In order to archive long term records (i.e. exceeding 100 years) the limited glacier depth at suitable Alpine drill sites requires a relatively low net accumulation rate. In this respect, the cold glacier saddle Colle Gnifetti (CG) is the unique drilling site in the European Alps offering ice core records substantially exceeding the instrumental period. However, the unique low net accumulation at CG is characterised by strong spatio-temporal variability causing depositional noise that strongly challenges the interpretation of the ice core isotope records in terms of net temperature change. Here we present our findings from comparing stable water isotope records of the CG multi core array to a site-specific temperature time series. The latter is synthesized from high elevation stations of the instrumental HISTALP network considering among others the temperature shift from the accumulation bias towards growing seasons. Within the last century dedicated time series analysis reveals a common signal in the (supra-) decadal components of the instrumental temperature and isotope records. Extending the comparison over the entire 250 years instrumental period, systematic discrepancies are found within the early instrumental period (EIP). The delta-O18 record shows an overall decreasing trend from 1760 to 1890 AD, which is not reflected in the temperature record. However, using high Alpine summer temperature lacking the latest EIP adjustment, the long-term trends between isotope and instrumental data are in better agreement. The overall mean of the isotope based temperature in the EIP indicates substantially warmer levels than the EIP-corrected instrumental temperature. It differs, however, not significantly with respect to the non-EIP-corrected temperature mean. Although the main reason for the systematic discrepancies within the EIP is not settled, we discuss their implications with respect to performing a calibration of the ice core isotope thermometer against instrumental data over the entire instrumental period. In order to illustrate dating uncertainties and the intricate role of snow deposition, the inter-core isotope comparison is supplemented by impurity time series, including a tentative look at evidence of volcanic eruptions within the EIP. Finally, newest ice core isotope evidence is evaluated in the light of inconsistencies between the multi-decadal temperature variability derived from instrumental and other proxy sources, including the possibility of the EIP-correction of instrumental data being overestimated, at least, with respect to the high Alpine air temperature.

1. The Antarctic Ice.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

1985-01-01

The International Antarctic Glaciological Project has collected information on the East Antarctic ice sheet since 1969. Analysis of ice cores revealed climatic history, and radar soundings helped map bedrock of the continent. Computer models of the ice sheet and its changes over time will aid in predicting the future. (DH)

2. 30-Year Satellite Record Reveals Accelerated Arctic Sea Ice Loss, Antarctic Sea Ice Trend Reversal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cavalieri, Donald J.; Parkinson, C. L.; Vinnikov, K. Y.

2003-01-01

Arctic sea ice extent decreased by 0.30 plus or minus 0.03 x 10(exp 6) square kilometers per decade from 1972 through 2002, but decreased by 0.36 plus or minus 0.05 x 10(exp 6) square kilometers per decade from 1979 through 2002, indicating an acceleration of 20% in the rate of decrease. In contrast to the Arctic, the Antarctic sea ice extent decreased dramatically over the period 1973-1977, then gradually increased, with an overall 30-year trend of -0.15 plus or minus 0.08 x 10(exp 6) square kilometers per 10yr. The trend reversal is attributed to a large positive anomaly in Antarctic sea ice extent observed in the early 1970's.

3. Laser altimetry reveals complex pattern of Greenland Ice Sheet dynamics

PubMed Central

Csatho, Beata M.; Schenk, Anton F.; van der Veen, Cornelis J.; Babonis, Gregory; Duncan, Kyle; Rezvanbehbahani, Soroush; van den Broeke, Michiel R.; Simonsen, Sebastian B.; Nagarajan, Sudhagar; van Angelen, Jan H.

2014-01-01

We present a new record of ice thickness change, reconstructed at nearly 100,000 sites on the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) from laser altimetry measurements spanning the period 1993–2012, partitioned into changes due to surface mass balance (SMB) and ice dynamics. We estimate a mean annual GrIS mass loss of 243 ± 18 Gt⋅y−1, equivalent to 0.68 mm⋅y−1 sea level rise (SLR) for 2003–2009. Dynamic thinning contributed 48%, with the largest rates occurring in 2004–2006, followed by a gradual decrease balanced by accelerating SMB loss. The spatial pattern of dynamic mass loss changed over this time as dynamic thinning rapidly decreased in southeast Greenland but slowly increased in the southwest, north, and northeast regions. Most outlet glaciers have been thinning during the last two decades, interrupted by episodes of decreasing thinning or even thickening. Dynamics of the major outlet glaciers dominated the mass loss from larger drainage basins, and simultaneous changes over distances up to 500 km are detected, indicating climate control. However, the intricate spatiotemporal pattern of dynamic thickness change suggests that, regardless of the forcing responsible for initial glacier acceleration and thinning, the response of individual glaciers is modulated by local conditions. Recent projections of dynamic contributions from the entire GrIS to SLR have been based on the extrapolation of four major outlet glaciers. Considering the observed complexity, we question how well these four glaciers represent all of Greenland’s outlet glaciers. PMID:25512537

4. Complex Antarctic Ice-Shelf Height Changes Revealed By Eighteen Years of Satellite Radar Altimetry

Paolo, F. S.; Fricker, H. A.; Padman, L.

2014-12-01

Recent mass losses from the grounded Antarctic Ice Sheet have been associated with changes in its floating ice shelves, but the duration and variability of these changes is so far undocumented. Using data from three overlapping satellite radar altimetry missions (ERS-1, ERS-2 and Envisat) we construct a record, at high spatial and temporal resolution, of ice-shelf height changes for the 18-year period 1994-2012. The record reveals a complex pattern of ice-shelf height change resulting from the varying impacts of the Antarctic oceans and atmosphere on the ice sheet. We show that Antarctica-wide average ice-shelf height increased moderately up until ~2003 and then declined rapidly after ~2006. The Amundsen Sea ice shelves have experienced persistent surface lowering since the beginning of the record, with mean values ranging from ~-10 cm/year (Pine Island) to ~-30 cm/year (Dotson). Lowering is more rapid at the deep grounding lines than at the shallower ice shelf fronts, consistent with thermal erosion driven by warm Circumpolar Deep Water flowing under the ice shelves. On the eastern Antarctic Peninsula, surface lowering starts at the northernmost portion and develops southwards, consistent with a response to the observed trend of atmospheric warming. Contrary to previous ICESat-based estimates from 2003-2009, the Wilkes Land ice shelves show a positive rate of height change with a regional mean value over +3 cm/year. Although relatively stable with average rates of +0.5-2 cm/year, the three largest ice shelves (Ross, Filchner-Ronne and Amery) show large interannual and spatial variability. Our 18-year-long dataset demonstrates that results from single satellite missions, with typical duration of a few years, are insufficient to draw conclusions about long-term response of ice shelves to changes in oceanic and atmospheric conditions.

5. Investigating the preservation of nitrate isotopic composition in a tropical ice core from the Quelccaya Ice Cap, Peru

Buffen, Aron M.; Hastings, Meredith G.; Thompson, Lonnie G.; Mosley-Thompson, Ellen

2014-03-01

The nitrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of nitrate in ice cores offers unique potential for examining reactive nitrogen oxide (NOx) budgets and oxidation chemistry of past atmospheres. A low-latitude record is of particular interest given that the dominant natural sources of NOx and production of hydroxyl radical are most prevalent in the tropics. Any interpretation of nitrate in ice cores, however, must first consider that nitrate in snow is vulnerable to postdepositional loss and isotopic alteration. We report and assess the integrity of nitrate-δ15N, -δ18O, and -Δ17O in a 30 m ice core from a high-elevation site in the central Andes. Clear seasonality in δ15N, δ18O, and nitrate concentration exists throughout most of the record and cannot be explained by photolysis or evaporation based on our current understanding of these processes. In contrast, nitrate in the upper ~12 m of the core and in a snowpit shows very different behavior. This may reflect alteration facilitated by recent melting at the surface. The relationships between δ15N, δ18O, Δ17O, and concentration in the unaltered sections can be interpreted in terms of mixing of nitrate from discrete sources. Transport effects and an englacial contribution from nitrification cannot be ruled out at this time, but the observed isotopic compositions are consistent with expected signatures of known NOx sources and atmospheric oxidation pathways. Specifically, nitrate deposited during the wet season reflects biogenic soil emissions and hydroxyl/peroxy radical chemistry in the Amazon, while dry season deposition reflects a lightning source and ozone chemistry at higher levels in the troposphere.

6. Detailed history of atmospheric trace elements from the Quelccaya ice core (Southern Peru) during the last 1200 years

Uglietti, C.; Gabrielli, P.; Thompson, L. G.

2013-12-01

The recent increase in trace element concentrations, for example Cr, Cu, Zn, Ag, Pb, Bi, and U, in polar snow and ice has provided compelling evidence of a hemispheric change in atmospheric composition since the nineteenth century. This change has been concomitant with the expansion of the Industrial Revolution and points towards an anthropogenic source of trace elements in the atmosphere. There are very few low latitude trace element ice core records and these are believed to be sensitive to perturbations of regional significance. To date, these records have not been used to document a preindustrial anthropogenic impact on atmospheric composition at low latitudes. Ice cores retrieved from the tropical Andes are particularly interesting because they have the potential to reveal detailed information about the evolution and environmental consequences of mineral exploitation related to the Pre Inca Civilizations, the Inca Empire (1438-1533 AD) and the subsequent Spanish invasion and dominance (1532-1833 AD). The chemical record preserved in the ice of the Quelccaya ice cap (southern Peruvian Andes) offers the exceptional opportunity to geochemically constrain the composition of the tropical atmosphere at high resolution over the last ~1200 years. Quantification of twenty trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sn, Ti, Tl, U, V, and Zn) was performed by ICP-SFMS over 105 m of the Quelccaya North Dome core (5600 m asl, 128.57 m) by analyzing 2450 samples. This provides the first atmospheric trace element record in South America spanning continuously and at high resolution for the time period between 1990 and 790 AD. Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Mo, Sb, Sn, Pb and Zn show increases in concentration and crustal enrichment factor starting at different times between 1450 and 1550 AD, in concomitance with the expansions of the Inca Empire and, subsequently, the Spanish Empire well before the inception of the Industrial Revolution. This indicates that there have been additional anthropogenic sources that have impacted the South American atmosphere during the past ~550 years. Furthermore, As, Bi and Pb record shows, the two most significant increases have occurred in the 20th century, one beginning in ~1905 AD and peaking in the 1920s and the second beginning in ~1955 AD and peaking in the 1970s. Comparison with other trace element records from Greenland and Antarctica reveals concomitant peaks of different amplitude in Pb concentration and crustal enrichment factor, possibly pointing to an unexpected larger than regional scale significance for the Quelccaya ice core record during the last century. In conclusion, the Quelccaya ice core indicates that societal and industrial development influenced the atmospheric composition in South America, from different large scale sources, during the last ~550 years. This is the first time that a low latitude ice core record has been used to reconstruct pre-industrial anthropogenic forcing on the atmosphere.

7. Air fractionation in plate-like inclusions within the EPICA-DML deep ice core

Nedelcu, A.; Faria, S. H.; Kipfstuhl, S.; Schmidt, B.; Kuhs, W. F.

2009-04-01

On ice samples from the ice core recovered in the frame of the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica at the deep drilling site in Dronning Maud Land (75°00S; 00°04E) micro-Raman spectrochemical analysis was applied to typical relaxation features appearing after the extraction of an ice core. Essentially, these relaxation microinclusions are little planar polygonal cavities possessing hexagonal symmetry i.e. thin negative crystals lying on the basal plane of the hosting ice crystallite. Usually named plate-like inclusions, PLIs, they tend to change their aspect ratio becoming in general rounder, thicker or thinner depending on the equilibrium established between the structure-composition of the ice and the minute environmental temperature-pressure conditions around a specific PLI, but still preserving a very large aspect ratio (typically 20:1). Muguruma and others (1966) and Mae (1968) have reported studies on plate hexagonal voids, i.e. PLIs, produced (only) in tensile deformation tests of natural and artificial single ice crystals while the first report of PLIs in Antarctic ice cores was presented by Gow (1971). In spite of these early studies and the abundance of PLIs in stored ice core samples, extended investigations of these relaxation features are scarce. We present the results of the first successful study of the chemical composition of PLIs using microfocus Raman spectroscopy (Nedelcu and others, in press). We observe that the relaxation features contain mainly O2 and N2 in their interior, with N2/O2 ratios smaller than 3.7 (the nowadays atmospheric air N2/O2 ratio), indicating a general oxygen enrichment that is not so different from O2 enrichments reported in other investigations on polar ice samples (Nakahara and others, 1988, Ikeda and others, 1999). These results seem to lend support to the current hypothesis that O2 diffuses faster than N2 through the ice matrix (Ikeda-Fukazawa and others, 2001, 2005; Severinghaus and Battle, 2006). More than this, they suggest that the diffusion of chemical traces in the ice matrix may not be negligible, at least locally, on a timescale of few years. These results could be important for the interpretation of ice-core paleoclimate records. Muguruma, J., S. Mae and A. Higashi, 1966. Void formation by non-basal glide in ice single crystals, Philos. Mag., 13(123), 625-629. Mae, S., 1968. Void formation during non-basal glide in ice single crystals under tension, Philos. Mag., 18(151), 101-114. Gow, A. J., 1971. Relaxation of ice in deep drill cores from Antarctica, J. Glaciol., 76(11), 2533-2541. Nedelcu, A. F., S. H. Faria and W. F. Kuhs, in press. Raman spectra of plate-like inclusions in the EPICA-DML ice core. J. Glaciol., 55(189) Nakahara, J., Y. Shigesato, A. Higashi, T. Hondoh and C.C. Langway, 1988. Raman spectra of natural clathrates in deep ice cores, Philos. Mag. B, 57(3), 421-430. Ikeda, T., H. Fukazawa, S. Mae, L. Pepin, P. Duval, B. Champagnon, V. Y. Lipenkov and T. Hondoh, 1999. Extreme fractionation of gases caused by formation of clathrate hydrates in Vostok Antarctic ice, Geophys. Res. Lett., 26(1), 91-94. Ikeda-Fukazawa, T., T. Hondoh, T. Fukumura, H. Fukazawa and S. Mae, 2001. Variation in N2/O2 ratio of occluded air in Dome Fuji antarctic ice, J. Geophys. Res., 106(D16), 17799-17810. Ikeda-Fukazawa, T., K. Fukumizu, K. Kawamura, S. Aoki, T. Nakazawa and T. Hondoh, 2005. Effects of molecular diffusion on trapped gas composition in polar ice cores, Earth Planet.Sci.Lett.,229(3-4),183-192. Severinghaus, J. P., and M. O. Battle, 2006. Fractionation of gases in polar ice during bubble close-off: new constraints from firn air, Ne, Kr and Xe observations, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 244(1-2), 474-500.

8. Phylogenetic Analysis of Anaerobic Psychrophilic Enrichment Cultures Obtained from a Greenland Glacier Ice Core

PubMed Central

Sheridan, Peter P.; Miteva, Vanya I.; Brenchley, Jean E.

2003-01-01

The examination of microorganisms in glacial ice cores allows the phylogenetic relationships of organisms frozen for thousands of years to be compared with those of current isolates. We developed a method for aseptically sampling a sediment-containing portion of a Greenland ice core that had remained at −9°C for over 100,000 years. Epifluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry results showed that the ice sample contained over 6 × 107 cells/ml. Anaerobic enrichment cultures inoculated with melted ice were grown and maintained at −2°C. Genomic DNA extracted from these enrichments was used for the PCR amplification of 16S rRNA genes with bacterial and archaeal primers and the preparation of clone libraries. Approximately 60 bacterial inserts were screened by restriction endonuclease analysis and grouped into 27 unique restriction fragment length polymorphism types, and 24 representative sequences were compared phylogenetically. Diverse sequences representing major phylogenetic groups including alpha, beta, and gamma Proteobacteria as well as relatives of the Thermus, Bacteroides, Eubacterium, and Clostridium groups were found. Sixteen clone sequences were closely related to those from known organisms, with four possibly representing new species. Seven sequences may reflect new genera and were most closely related to sequences obtained only by PCR amplification. One sequence was over 12% distant from its closest relative and may represent a novel order or family. These results show that phylogenetically diverse microorganisms have remained viable within the Greenland ice core for at least 100,000 years. PMID:12676695

9. Phylogenetic analysis of anaerobic psychrophilic enrichment cultures obtained from a greenland glacier ice core

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sheridan, Peter P.; Miteva, Vanya I.; Brenchley, Jean E.

2003-01-01

The examination of microorganisms in glacial ice cores allows the phylogenetic relationships of organisms frozen for thousands of years to be compared with those of current isolates. We developed a method for aseptically sampling a sediment-containing portion of a Greenland ice core that had remained at -9 degrees C for over 100,000 years. Epifluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry results showed that the ice sample contained over 6 x 10(7) cells/ml. Anaerobic enrichment cultures inoculated with melted ice were grown and maintained at -2 degrees C. Genomic DNA extracted from these enrichments was used for the PCR amplification of 16S rRNA genes with bacterial and archaeal primers and the preparation of clone libraries. Approximately 60 bacterial inserts were screened by restriction endonuclease analysis and grouped into 27 unique restriction fragment length polymorphism types, and 24 representative sequences were compared phylogenetically. Diverse sequences representing major phylogenetic groups including alpha, beta, and gamma Proteobacteria as well as relatives of the Thermus, Bacteroides, Eubacterium, and Clostridium groups were found. Sixteen clone sequences were closely related to those from known organisms, with four possibly representing new species. Seven sequences may reflect new genera and were most closely related to sequences obtained only by PCR amplification. One sequence was over 12% distant from its closest relative and may represent a novel order or family. These results show that phylogenetically diverse microorganisms have remained viable within the Greenland ice core for at least 100,000 years.

10. Influence of regional precipitation patterns on stable isotopes in ice cores from the central Himalayas

Pang, H.; Hou, S.; Kaspari, S.; Mayewski, P. A.

2014-02-01

Several ice cores have been recovered from the Dasuopu (DSP) Glacier and the East Rongbuk (ER) Glacier in the central Himalayas since the 1990s. Although the distance between the DSP and the ER ice core drilling sites is only ~ 125 km, the stable isotopic record (δ18O or δD) of the DSP core is interpreted in previous studies as a temperature proxy, while the ER core is interpreted as a precipitation proxy. Thus, the climatological significance of the stable isotopic records of these Himalayan ice cores remains a subject of debate. Based on analysis of regional precipitation patterns over the region, we find that remarkable discrepancy in precipitation seasonality between the two sites may account for their disparate isotopic interpretations. At the ER core site, the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) precipitation is dominating due to topographic blocking of the moisture from westerlies by the high ridges of Mt. Qomolangma (Everest), which results in a negative correlation between the ER Δ18O or δD record and precipitation amount along the southern slope of the central Himalayas in response to the "amount effect". At the DSP core site, in comparison with the ISM precipitation, the wintertime precipitation associated with the westerlies is likely more important owing to its local favorable topographic conditions for interacting with the western disturbances. Therefore, the DSP stable isotopic record may be primarily controlled by the westerlies. Our results have important implications for interpreting the stable isotopic ice core records recovered from different climatological regimes of the Himalayas.

11. Warm climate isotopic simulations: what do we learn about interglacial signals in Greenland ice cores?

Sime, Louise C.; Risi, Camille; Tindall, Julia C.; Sjolte, Jesper; Wolff, Eric W.; Masson-Delmotte, Valérie; Capron, Emilie

2013-05-01

12. Ice core records of atmospheric CO2 around the last three glacial terminations

PubMed

Fischer; Wahlen; Smith; Mastroianni; Deck

1999-03-12

Air trapped in bubbles in polar ice cores constitutes an archive for the reconstruction of the global carbon cycle and the relation between greenhouse gases and climate in the past. High-resolution records from Antarctic ice cores show that carbon dioxide concentrations increased by 80 to 100 parts per million by volume 600 +/- 400 years after the warming of the last three deglaciations. Despite strongly decreasing temperatures, high carbon dioxide concentrations can be sustained for thousands of years during glaciations; the size of this phase lag is probably connected to the duration of the preceding warm period, which controls the change in land ice coverage and the buildup of the terrestrial biosphere. PMID:10073931

13. Annually resolved ice core records of tropical climate variability over the past ~1800 years.

PubMed

Thompson, L G; Mosley-Thompson, E; Davis, M E; Zagorodnov, V S; Howat, I M; Mikhalenko, V N; Lin, P-N

2013-05-24

Ice cores from low latitudes can provide a wealth of unique information about past climate in the tropics, but they are difficult to recover and few exist. Here, we report annually resolved ice core records from the Quelccaya ice cap (5670 meters above sea level) in Peru that extend back ~1800 years and provide a high-resolution record of climate variability there. Oxygen isotopic ratios (δ(18)O) are linked to sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific, whereas concentrations of ammonium and nitrate document the dominant role played by the migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone in the region of the tropical Andes. Quelccaya continues to retreat and thin. Radiocarbon dates on wetland plants exposed along its retreating margins indicate that it has not been smaller for at least six millennia. PMID:23558172

14. Time-series analysis of chemical trends in a dated ice core from Antarctica

SciTech Connect

Keskin, S.S.; Olmez, I.; Langway, C.C. Jr.

1994-12-31

Polar ice sheets contain valuable information about past atmospheric conditions. Atmospherically produced or transported substances from natural and anthropogenic sources are preserved stratigraphically within the ice layers as a result of both wet and dry deposition mechanisms. Substances deposited include aerosols and gaseous compounds. The analysis of trace elements contained in dated annual snow layers provides a measure of the elemental chemistry content of the atmosphere during the same time interval. The aerosol content of the atmosphere and ice sheets is one of the most important parameters for cloud/radiation interaction processes. Ice cores were obtained from the Byrd Station, West Antarctica, in November, 1989. This study presents results obtained from instrumental neutron activation analysis and ion chromatography on 30 samples over a 20 year period.

15. Tephrochronology of the Siple Dome ice core, West Antarctica: correlations and sources

Dunbar, Nelia W.; Kurbatov, Andrei V.

2011-06-01

A total of 24 tephra-bearing volcanic layers have been recognized between 550 and 987 m depth in the Siple Dome A (SDM-A) ice core, in addition to a number already recognized tephra in the upper 550 m ( Dunbar et al., 2003; Kurbatov et al., 2006). The uniform composition and distinctive morphological of the particles composing these tephra layers suggest deposition as a result of explosive volcanic eruptions and that the layers therefore represent time-stratigraphic markers in the ice core. Despite the very fine grain size of these tephra (mostly less than 20 microns), robust geochemical compositions were determined by electron microprobe analysis. The source volcanoes for these tephra layers are largely found within the Antarctic plate. Statistical geochemical correlations tie nine of the tephra layers to known eruptions from Mt. Berlin, a West Antarctic volcano that has been very active for the past 100,000 years. Previous correlations were made to an eruption of Mt. Takahe, another West Antarctic volcano, and one to Mt. Hudson, located in South America ( Kurbatov et al., 2006). The lowest tephra layer in the ice core, located at 986.21 m depth, is correlated to a source eruption with an age of 118.1 ± 1.3 ka, suggesting a chronological pinning point for the lower ice. An episode of anomalously high volcanic activity in the ice in the SDM-A core between 18 and 35 ka ( Gow and Meese, 2007) appears to be related to eruptive activity of Mt. Berlin volcano. At least some of the tephra layers found in the SDM-A core appear to be the result of very explosive eruptions that spread ash across large parts of West Antarctica, off the West Antarctic coast, as well as also being recognized in East Antarctica ( Basile et al., 2001; Narcisi et al., 2005, 2006). Some of these layers would be expected to should be found in other deep Antarctic ice cores, particularly ones drilled in West Antarctica, providing correlative markers between different cores. The analysis of the tephra layers in the Siple Dome core, along with other Antarctic cores, provides a timing framework for the relatively proximal Antarctic and South American volcanic eruptive events, allowing these to be distinguished from the tropical eruptions that may play a greater role in climate forcing.

16. 10Be climate fingerprints during the Eemian in the NEEM ice core, Greenland.

PubMed

Sturevik-Storm, Anna; Aldahan, Ala; Possnert, Göran; Berggren, Ann-Marie; Muscheler, Raimund; Dahl-Jensen, Dorthe; Vinther, Bo M; Usoskin, Ilya

2014-01-01

Several deep Greenland ice cores have been retrieved, however, capturing the Eemian period has been problematic due to stratigraphic disturbances in the ice. The new Greenland deep ice core from the NEEM site (77.45 °N, 51.06 °W, 2450 m.a.s.l) recovered a relatively complete Eemian record. Here we discuss the cosmogenic (10)Be isotope record from this core. The results show Eemian average (10)Be concentrations about 0.7 times lower than in the Holocene which suggests a warmer climate and approximately 65-90% higher precipitation in Northern Greenland compared to today. Effects of shorter solar variations on (10)Be concentration are smoothed out due to coarse time resolution, but occurrence of a solar maximum at 115.26-115.36 kyr BP is proposed. Relatively high (10)Be concentrations are found in the basal ice sections of the core which may originate from the glacial-interglacial transition and relate to a geomagnetic excursion about 200 kyr BP. PMID:25266953

17. 10Be climate fingerprints during the Eemian in the NEEM ice core, Greenland

PubMed Central

Sturevik-Storm, Anna; Aldahan, Ala; Possnert, Göran; Berggren, Ann-Marie; Muscheler, Raimund; Dahl-Jensen, Dorthe; Vinther, Bo M.; Usoskin, Ilya

2014-01-01

Several deep Greenland ice cores have been retrieved, however, capturing the Eemian period has been problematic due to stratigraphic disturbances in the ice. The new Greenland deep ice core from the NEEM site (77.45°N, 51.06°W, 2450 m.a.s.l) recovered a relatively complete Eemian record. Here we discuss the cosmogenic 10Be isotope record from this core. The results show Eemian average 10Be concentrations about 0.7 times lower than in the Holocene which suggests a warmer climate and approximately 65–90% higher precipitation in Northern Greenland compared to today. Effects of shorter solar variations on 10Be concentration are smoothed out due to coarse time resolution, but occurrence of a solar maximum at 115.26–115.36 kyr BP is proposed. Relatively high 10Be concentrations are found in the basal ice sections of the core which may originate from the glacial-interglacial transition and relate to a geomagnetic excursion about 200 kyr BP. PMID:25266953

18. PeV Neutrinos Observed by IceCube from Cores of Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stecker, Floyd W.

2013-01-01

I show that the high energy neutrino flux predicted to arise from active galactic nuclei cores can explain the PeV neutrinos detected by IceCube without conflicting with the constraints from the observed extragalactic cosmic-ray and gamma-ray backgrounds.

19. The GISP ice core record of volcanism since 7000 B.C.

SciTech Connect

Fiedel, S.J.

1995-01-13

Two technical comments are presented on an article by Zielinski concerning the GISP ice core record of volcanic activity in 7000 BC, including a detailed record of the volcanic contribution to sulfate concentrations. The authors describe concerns about (1) correct C14 dating for known eruptions correlated to calendar years and (2) the need for unambiguous volcanic source identifications. 24 refs., 1 tab.

20. Radioactive fallouts as temporal makers for glacier ice cores dating

Clemenza, M.; Cucciati, G.; Maggi, V.; Pattavina, L.; Previtali, E.

2012-06-01

In this paper, we intend to show how analytical methods used in nuclear physics, as gamma spectroscopy, are powerful tools for the dating of environmental archives. Specifically, we will show how events related to the release in the environment of great amount of radioactive isotopes ( e.g., atmospheric nuclear test explosions) can be used as temporal markers in alpine glaciers. The radio-isotope selected for the dating of ice carrots is 137Cs , because of its chemical and nuclear properties. The radioactive measurements have been conducted using a low-background high-purity germanium detector. The sensitivity for the prepared samples is 10mBq/kg. We will illustrate how dating curves (date versus depth of the sample) can be considered as an absolute calibrator for all the other chemical dating methods used on glacier samples analyses.

1. Greenland ice core evidence for spatial and temporal variability of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation

Chylek, Petr; Folland, Chris; Frankcombe, Leela; Dijkstra, Henk; Lesins, Glen; Dubey, Manvendra

2012-05-01

The Greenland ?18O ice core record is used as a proxy for Greenland surface air temperatures and to interpret Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) variability. An analysis of annual ?18O data from six Arctic ice cores (five from Greenland and one from Canada's Ellesmere Island) suggests a significant AMO spatial and temporal variability within a recent period of 660 years. A dominant AMO periodicity near 20 years is clearly observed in the southern (Dye3 site) and the central (GISP2, Crete and Milcent) regions of Greenland. This 20-year variability is, however, significantly reduced in the northern (Camp Century and Agassiz Ice Cap) region, likely due to a larger distance from the Atlantic Ocean, and a much lower snow accumulation. A longer time scale AMO component of 45-65 years, which has been seen clearly in the 20th century SST data, is detected only in central Greenland ice cores. We find a significant difference between the AMO cycles during the Little Ice Age (LIA) and the Medieval Warm Period (MWP). The LIA was dominated by a 20 year AMO cycle with no other decadal or multidecadal scale variability above the noise level. However, during the preceding MWP the 20 year cycle was replaced by a longer scale cycle centered near a period of 43 years with a further 11.5 year periodicity. An analysis of two coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation models control runs (UK Met Office HadCM3 and NOAA GFDL CM2.1) agree with the shorter and longer time-scales of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and temperature fluctuations with periodicities close to those observed. However, the geographic variability of these periodicities indicated by ice core data is not captured in model simulations.

2. Be-10 Variations in Dome Fuji Ice Core During the Last Deglaciation

Uchida, T.; Horiuchi, K.; Yasudomi, Y.; Sugawara, A.; Matsuzaki, H.; Motoyama, H.; Shibata, Y.; Minoura, K.

2007-12-01

Cosmogenic Be-10 is produced in the atmosphere by an interaction of cosmic ray particles and nitrogen and oxygen atoms. The Be-10 is then quickly attached to aerosols and falls on the surface of the land and sea. Assuming Be-10 in an ice core reflects the variations of the production rate of the nuclide, it is possible to know the history of the cosmic ray flux from an ice core record of the nuclide. Several Be-10 records in the Holocene epoch have been obtained from ice cores from Greenland (Beer et al., 1988, 1990; Finkel and Nishiizumi, 1997) and Antarctica (Raisbeck et al., 1990; Steig et al., 1996, Bard et al., 1997; Horiuchi et al., 2007). The records show Be-10 variations relevant to the known periodicities and amplitudes of the solar activity, which, as well as the intensity of the earth's magnetic field, controls the cosmic ray flux in the atmosphere (Lal and Peters, 1967; Masarik and Beer, 1999). However, the detailed Be-10 records of the last deglaciation are very few (Finkel and Nishiizumi, 1997) and much less investigated than those of the Holocene epoch. In this paper, we present a Be-10 record of the last deglaciation, which is obtained from an ice core retrieved from Dome Fuji station, Eastern Antarctica (77 19' S, 39 42' E). The Be-10 was analyzed by using an accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) of MALT at the University of Tokyo, Japan. One of the problems that should be considered when we investigate the past changes in the cosmic rays by using the Be-10 variations is contamination of local meteorological signals. The last deglaciation was marked by large, hemispheric, millennial-scale climate variations: the Blling-Allerd and Younger Dryas periods in the north and the Antarctic Cold Reversal in the south. Because these events were not coincident in the north and south (Blunier et al., 1998; Blunier and Brook, 2001), the nature of the Be-10 flux variations may be different in Greenland and Antarctica if climatic changes really influenced the Be-10 variations. However, the Be-10 flux variations in the Dome Fuji ice core show a fairly similar profile to those in the GISP2 (Greenland summit) ice core (Finkel and Nishiizumi, 1997). This fact strongly suggests that local effects are not significant for inland Antarctica (and Greenland summit), and shows a clear possibility of inter-hemispheric correlation between Greenland and Antarctica ice cores via Be-10 flux, even in drastic climatic transitions.

3. Oxygen-18 concentrations in recent precipitation and ice cores on the Tibetan Plateau

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tian, L.; Yao, T.; Schuster, P.F.; White, J.W.C.; Ichiyanagi, K.; Pendall, Elise; Pu, J.; Yu, W.

2003-01-01

A detailed study of the climatic significance of ??18O in precipitation was completed on a 1500 km southwest-northeast transect of the Tibetan Plateau in central Asia. Precipitation samples were collected at four meteorological stations for up to 9 years. This study shows that the gradual impact of monsoon precipitation affects the spatial variation of ??18O-T relationship along the transect. Strong monsoon activity in the southern Tibetan Plateau results in high precipitation rates and more depleted heavy isotopes. This depletion mechanism is described as a precipitation "amount effect" and results in a poor ??18O-T relationship at both seasonal and annual scales. In the middle of the Tibetan Plateau, the effects of the monsoon are diminished but continue to cause a reduced correlation of ??18O and temperature at the annual scale. At the monthly scale, however, a significant ??18O-T relationship does exist. To the north of the Tibetan Plateau beyond the extent of the effects of monsoon precipitation, ??18O in precipitation shows a strong temperature dependence. ??18O records from two shallow ice cores and historic air temperature data were compared to verify the modern ??18O-T relationship. ??18O in Dunde ice core was positively correlated with air temperature from a nearby meteorological station in the north of the plateau. The ??18O variation in an ice core from the southern Plateau, however, was inversely correlated with precipitation amount at a nearby meteorological station and also the accumulation record in the ice core. The long-term variation of ??18O in the ice core record in the monsoon regions of the southern Tibetan Plateau suggest past monsoon seasons were probably more expansive. It is still unclear, however, how changes in large-scale atmosphere circulation might influence summer monsoon precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau.

4. Reconstruction of recent climate change in Alaska from the Aurora Peak ice core, central Alaska

Tsushima, A.; Matoba, S.; Shiraiwa, T.; Okamoto, S.; Sasaki, H.; Solie, D. J.; Yoshikawa, K.

2014-04-01

A 180.17 m ice core was drilled at Aurora Peak in the central part of the Alaska Range, Alaska, in 2008 to allow reconstruction of centennial-scale climate change in the northern North Pacific. The 10 m-depth temperature in the borehole was -2.2 °C, which corresponded to annual mean air temperature at the drilling site. In this ice core, there were many melt-refrozen layers due to high temperature and/or strong insolation during summer seasons. We analyzed stable hydrogen isotopes (δD) and chemical species in the ice core. The ice core age was determined by annual counts of δD and seasonal cycles of Na+, and we used reference horizons of tritium peaks in 1963 and 1964, major volcanic eruptions of Mount Spurr in 1992 and Mount Katmai in 1912, and a large forest fire in 2004 as age controls. Here, we show that the chronology of the Aurora Peak ice core from 95.61 m w.eq. to the top corresponds to the period from 1900 to the summer season of 2008, with a dating error of ±3 years. We estimated that the mean accumulation rate from 1997 to 2007 (except for 2004) was 1.88 m w.eq per year. Our results suggest that temporal variation in δD and annual accumulation rates are strongly related to shifts in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation index (PDOI). The remarkable increase in annual precipitation since the 1970s has likely been the result of enhanced storm activity associated with shifts in the PDOI during winter in the Gulf of Alaska.

5. Reconstruction of recent climate change in Alaska from the Aurora Peak ice core, central Alaska

Tsushima, A.; Matoba, S.; Shiraiwa, T.; Okamoto, S.; Sasaki, H.; Solie, D. J.; Yoshikawa, K.

2015-02-01

A 180.17 m ice core was drilled at Aurora Peak in the central part of the Alaska Range, Alaska, in 2008 to allow reconstruction of centennial-scale climate change in the northern North Pacific. The 10 m depth temperature in the borehole was -2.2 °C, which corresponded to the annual mean air temperature at the drilling site. In this ice core, there were many melt-refreeze layers due to high temperature and/or strong insolation during summer seasons. We analyzed stable hydrogen isotopes (δD) and chemical species in the ice core. The ice core age was determined by annual counts of δD and seasonal cycles of Na+, and we used reference horizons of tritium peaks in 1963 and 1964, major volcanic eruptions of Mount Spurr in 1992 and Mount Katmai in 1912, and a large forest fire in 2004 as age controls. Here, we show that the chronology of the Aurora Peak ice core from 95.61 m to the top corresponds to the period from 1900 to the summer season of 2008, with a dating error of ± 3 years. We estimated that the mean accumulation rate from 1997 to 2007 (except for 2004) was 2.04 m w.eq. yr-1. Our results suggest that temporal variations in δD and annual accumulation rates are strongly related to shifts in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation index (PDOI). The remarkable increase in annual precipitation since the 1970s has likely been the result of enhanced storm activity associated with shifts in the PDOI during winter in the Gulf of Alaska.

6. Air bubble migration rates as a proxy for bubble pressure distribution in ice cores

Dadic, Ruzica; Schneebeli, Martin; Bertler, Nancy

2015-04-01

Air bubble migration can be used as a proxy to measure the pressure of individual bubbles and can help constrain the gradual close-off of gas bubbles and the resulting age distribution of gases in ice cores. The close-off depth of single bubbles can vary by tens of meters, which leads to a distribution of pressures for bubbles at a given depth. The age distribution of gases (along with gas-age-ice-age differences) decreases the resolution of the gas level reconstructions from ice cores and limits our ability to determine the phase relationship between gas and ice, and thus, the impact of rapid changes of greenhouse gases on surface temperatures. For times of rapid climate change, including the last 150 years, and abrupt climate changes further back in the past, knowledge of the age distribution of the gases trapped in air bubbles will enable us to refine estimates of atmospheric changes. When a temperature gradient is applied to gas bubbles in an ice sample, the bubbles migrate toward warmer ice. This motion is caused by sublimation from the warm wall and subsequent frost deposition on the cold wall. The migration rate depends on ice temperature and bubble pressure and is proportional to the temperature gradient. The spread in migration rates for bubbles in the same samples at given temperatures should therefore reflect the variations in bubble pressures within a sample. Air bubbles with higher pressures would have been closed off higher in the firn column and thus have had time to equilibrate with the surrounding ice pressure, while air bubbles that have been closed off recently would have pressures that are similar to todays atmospheric pressure above the firn column. For ice under pressures up to ~13-16 bar, the pressure distribution of bubbles from a single depth provides a record of the trapping function of air bubbles in the firn column for a certain time in the past. We will present laboratory experiments on air bubble migration, using Antarctic ice core samples from a range of depths, to show that air bubble migration is a valid proxy for bubble pressure and can thus be used to determine the trapping function of air bubbles and gas age distribution for past conditions.

7. `Pre-Vostok'' Greenhouse Gas Concentrations Reconstructed From the EPICA Dome C Ice Core

Stocker, T. F.; Siegenthaler, U.; Spahni, R.; Chappellaz, J.; Fischer, H.

2004-12-01

The new deep ice core recovered from Dome Concordia in the framework of EPICA, the European Project of Ice Coring in Antarctica, contains a continuous climate history of the past 740,000 years [EPICA Community Members, 2004]. We present the current status of measurements of CO2, CH4 and N2O on air trapped in the bubbles of the Dome C ice core. CO2 is measured using laser absorption spectroscopy on samples of less than 10 g of ice which are mechanically crushed or milled. CH4 and N2O are extracted using a melt-refreeze technique and then measured by gas chromatography. The ice core contains an uncontaminated climate record down to Marine Isotope Stage 14 (MIS 14) as verified by a consistent gas age/ice age difference determined at terminations V and VI. CO2 and CH4 results from MIS 11 show that the normal levels of greenhouse gases prevailed during this exceptionally long interglacial. This demonstrates that the length of the interglacial was not due to exceptionally high greenhouse gas levels. MIS 13 and earlier interglacials, however, show significantly colder interglacials. In addition, the glacials are shorter which results in a more balanced sequence of cold and warm phases. Measurements of the greenhouse gas concentrations are central in understanding the mechanisms in the climate system which cause the significant change of character of the ice age cycles at around 400 kyr BP. We will present greenhouse gas measurements covering the first of the "pre-Vostok" interglacials from MIS 11 to MIS 14 (410 to 550 kyr BP) for CO2, and from MIS 11 to MIS 16 (410 to 620 kyr BP) for CH4. These measurements will resolve the "EPICA Challenge" [Wolff et al., 2004] put out to modelers to predict the expected greenhouse gas levels prior to 400 kyr BP based on the knowledge of the orbital parameters, and known paleoclimatic proxies (sea level from marine sediment records, dust load and isotopic concentration of precipitation in Antarctica from the EPICA Dome C ice core). \\scriptsize EPICA Community Members, Nature, 429, 623-628, 2004. Wolff, E.W., et al., EOS; Trans. Am. Geophys. Un., in press, 2004.

8. Recent climate tendencies on an East Antarctic ice shelf inferred from a shallow firn core network

PubMed Central

Schlosser, E; Anschütz, H; Divine, D; Martma, T; Sinisalo, A; Altnau, S; Isaksson, E

2014-01-01

Nearly three decades of stable isotope ratios and surface mass balance (SMB) data from eight shallow firn cores retrieved at Fimbul Ice Shelf, East Antarctica, in the Austral summers 2009–2011 have been investigated. An additional longer core drilled in 2000/2001 extends the series back to the early eighteenth century. Isotope ratios and SMB from the stacked record of all cores were also related to instrumental temperature data from Neumayer Station on Ekström Ice Shelf. Since the second half of the twentieth century, the SMB shows a statistically significant negative trend, whereas the δ18O of the cores shows a significant positive trend. No trend is found in air temperature at the nearest suitable weather station, Neumayer (available since 1981). This does not correspond to the statistically significant positive trend in Southern Annular Mode (SAM) index, which is usually associated with a cooling of East Antarctica. SAM index and SMB are negatively correlated, which might be explained by a decrease in meridional exchange of energy and moisture leading to lower precipitation amounts. Future monitoring of climate change on the sensitive Antarctic ice shelves is necessary to assess its consequences for sea level change. Key Points Mass balance and stable oxygen isotope ratios from shallow firn cores Decreasing trend in surface mass balance, no trend in stable isotopes Negative correlation between SAM and SMB PMID:25821663

9. Chronological refinement of an ice core record at Upper Fremont Glacier in south central North America

SciTech Connect

Schuster, Paul F.; White, David E.; Naftz, David L.; Cecil, L. DeWayne

2000-02-27

The potential to use ice cores from alpine glaciers in the midlatitudes to reconstruct paleoclimatic records has not been widely recognized. Although excellent paleoclimatic records exist for the polar regions, paleoclimatic ice core records are not common from midlatitude locations. An ice core removed from the Upper Fremont Glacier in Wyoming provides evidence for abrupt climate change during the mid-1800s. Volcanic events (Krakatau and Tambora) identified from electrical conductivity measurements (ECM) and isotopic and chemical data from the Upper Fremont Glacier were reexamined to confirm and refine previous chronological estimates of the ice core. At a depth of 152 m the refined age-depth profile shows good agreement (1736{+-}10 A.D.) with the {sup 14}C age date (1729{+-}95 A.D.). The {delta}{sup 18}O profile of the Upper Fremont Glacier (UFG) ice core indicates a change in climate known as the Little Ice Age (LIA). However, the sampling interval for {delta}{sup 18}O is sufficiently large (20 cm) such that it is difficult to pinpoint the LIA termination on the basis of {delta}{sup 18}O data alone. Other research has shown that changes in the {delta}{sup 18}O variance are generally coincident with changes in ECM variance. The ECM data set contains over 125,000 data points at a resolution of 1 data point per millimeter of ice core. A 999-point running average of the ECM data set and results from f tests indicates that the variance of the ECM data decreases significantly at about 108 m. At this depth, the age-depth profile predicts an age of 1845 A.D. Results indicate the termination of the LIA was abrupt with a major climatic shift to warmer temperatures around 1845 A.D. and continuing to present day. Prediction limits (error bars) calculated for the profile ages are {+-}10 years (90% confidence level). Thus a conservative estimate for the time taken to complete the LIA climatic shift to present-day climate is about 10 years, suggesting the LIA termination in alpine regions of central North America may have occurred on a relatively short (decadal) timescale. (c) 2000 American Geophysical Union.

10. Chronological refinement of an ice core record at Upper Fremont Glacier in south central North America

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schuster, P.F.; White, D.E.; Naftz, D.L.; Cecil, L.D.

2000-01-01

The potential to use ice cores from alpine glaciers in the midlatitudes to reconstruct paleoclimatic records has not been widely recognized. Although excellent paleoclimatic records exist for the polar regions, paleoclimatic ice core records are not common from midlatitude locations. An ice core removed from the Upper Fremont Glacier in Wyoming provides evidence for abrupt climate change during the mid-1800s. Volcanic events (Krakatau and Tambora) identified from electrical conductivity measurements (ECM) and isotopic and chemical data from the Upper Fremont Glacier were reexamined to confirm and refine previous chronological estimates of the ice core. At a depth of 152 m the refined age-depth profile shows good agreement (1736 ?? 10 A.D.) with the 14C age date (1729 ?? 95 A.D.). The ??18O profile of the Upper Fremont Glacier (UFG) ice core indicates a change in climate known as the Little Ice Age (LIA). However, the sampling interval for ??18O is sufficiently large (20 cm) such that it is difficult to pinpoint the LIA termination on the basis of ??18O data alone. Other research has shown that changes in the ??18O variance are generally coincident with changes in ECM variance. The ECM data set contains over 125,000 data points at a resolution of 1 data point per millimeter of ice core. A 999-point running average of the ECM data set and results from f tests indicates that the variance of the ECM data decreases significantly at about 108 m. At this depth, the age-depth profile predicts an age of 1845 A.D. Results indicate the termination of the LIA was abrupt with a major climatic shift to warmer temperatures around 1845 A.D. and continuing to present day. Prediction limits (error bars) calculated for the profile ages are ??10 years (90% confidence level). Thus a conservative estimate for the time taken to complete the LIA climatic shift to present-day climate is about 10 years, suggesting the LIA termination in alpine regions of central North America may have occurred on a relatively short (decadal) timescale. Copyright 2000 by the American Geophysical Union.

11. Investigation of a deep ice core from the Elbrus Western Plateau, the Caucasus, Russia

Mikhalenko, V.; Sokratov, S.; Kutuzov, S.; Ginot, P.; Legrand, M.; Preunkert, S.; Lavrentiev, I.; Kozachek, A.; Ekaykin, A.; Faïn, X.; Lim, S.; Schotterer, U.; Lipenkov, V.; Toropov, P.

2015-07-01

A 182 m ice core has been recovered from a borehole drilled through the glacier to the bedrock at the Western Plateau of Mt Elbrus (43°20'53.9'' N, 42°25'36.0'' E; 5115 m a.s.l.), the Caucasus, Russia, in 2009. This is the first ice core in the region which represents a paleoclimate record practically undisturbed by seasonal melting. Relatively high snow accumulation rate at the drilling site enabled analysis of the intra-seasonal climate proxies' variability. Borehole temperatures ranged from -17 °C at 10 m depth and -2.4 °C at 182 m. A detailed radio-echo sounding survey showed that the glacier thickness ranged from 45 m near marginal zone of the plateau up to 255 m at the central part. The ice core has been analyzed for stable isotopes (δ18O and δ D), major ions (K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+, SO42-, NO3-, Cl-, F-), succinic acid (HOOCCH2COOH), and tritium content. The mean annual net accumulation rate was estimated from distinct annual oscillations of δ18O, δ D, succinic acid, and NH4+ and is 1455 mm w.e. for the last 140 years. Using annual layer counting also for the dating of the ice core, a good agreement with the absolute markers of the tritium 1963 bomb test time horizon located at the core depth of 50.7 m w.e. and the sulfate peak of the Katmai eruption (1912) at 87.7 m w.e. was obtained. According to mathematical modeling results, the bottom ice age at the maximal glacier depth is predicted to be about 660 years BP. As the 2009 borehole was situated downstream of this point, the estimated bottom ice age of the drilling site does not exceed 350-400 years BP. Taking into account the information that we have acquired on the Western Plateau Elbrus glacier and first results of the ice core analysis, these data can be used to reconstruct the atmospheric history of the European region.

12. Volcanic eruptions recorded in the Illimani ice core (Bolivia): 1918-1998 and Tambora periods

de Angelis, M.; Simes, J.; Bonnaveira, H.; Taupin, J.-D.; Delmas, R. J.

2003-05-01

Acid layers of volcanic origin detected in polar snow and ice layers are commonly used to document past volcanic activity on a global scale or, conversely, to date polar ice cores. Although most cataclysmic eruptions of the last two centuries (Pinatubo, El Chichon, Agung, Krakatoa, Cosiguina, Tambora, etc.) occurred in the tropics, cold tropical glaciers have not been used for the reconstruction of past volcanism. The glaciochemical study of a 137 m ice core drilled in 1999 close to the summit of Nevado Illimani (Eastern Bolivian Andes, 1637' S, 6746' W, 6350 m a.s.l.) demonstrates, for the first time, that such eruptions are recorded by both their tropospheric and stratospheric deposits. An 80-year ice sequence (1918-1998) and the Tambora years have been analyzed in detail. In several cases, ash, chloride and fluoride were also detected. The ice records of the Pinatubo (1991), Agung (1963) and Tambora (1815) eruptions are discussed in detail. Less important eruptions located in the Andes are also recorded and may also disturb background aerosol composition on a regional scale.

13. Volcanic eruptions recorded in the Illimani ice core (Bolivia): 1918 1998 and Tambora periods

de Angelis, M.; Simes, J.; Bonnaveira, H.; Taupin, J.-D.; Delmas, R. J.

2003-10-01

Acid layers of volcanic origin detected in polar snow and ice layers are commonly used to document past volcanic activity on a global scale or, conversely, to date polar ice cores. Although most cataclysmic eruptions of the last two centuries (Pinatubo, El Chichon, Agung, Krakatoa, Cosiguina, Tambora, etc.) occurred in the tropics, cold tropical glaciers have not been used for the reconstruction of past volcanism. The glaciochemical study of a 137 m ice core drilled in 1999 close to the summit of Nevado Illimani (Eastern Bolivian Andes, 1637' S, 6746' W, 6350 m asl) demonstrates, for the first time, that such eruptions are recorded by both their tropospheric and stratospheric deposits. An 80-year ice sequence (1918-1998) and the Tambora years have been analyzed in detail. In several cases, ash, chloride and fluoride were also detected. The ice records of the Pinatubo (1991), Agung (1963) and Tambora (1815) eruptions are discussed in detail. The potential impact of less important regional eruptions is discussed.

14. Towards a bipolar layer-counted ice-core chronology for the 41-75 ka time interval

Svensson, Anders; Bigler, Matthias; Blunier, Thomas; Dahl-Jensen, Dorthe; Fischer, Hubertus; Kipfstuhl, Sepp; Rasmussen, Sune; Schwander, Jakob; Seierstad, Inger; Steffensen, Jørgen Peder; Vallelonga, Paul; Vinther, Bo; Wegner, Anna; Wilhelms, Frank; Winstrup, Mai

2015-04-01

Precise chronologies have been developed for Greenland and Antarctic ice cores based on counting of annual layers in high-resolution water isotope and impurity profiles. Antarctic ice cores are layer-counted back to 31 ka (WAIS Divide ice core) whereas Greenland ice cores are dated back to 60 ka (NGRIP ice core, GICC05 time scale). Beyond 60 ka, in Marine Isotope Stage 4 (MIS4), annual layers in Greenland are thin (less than 1 cm in NGRIP in the coldest periods) and annual layer counting is more uncertain. In the Antarctic EDML ice core annual layers are somewhat thicker over most of MIS4 although they are still marginal for counting. Greenland and Antarctic ice cores are tightly linked at the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion (41 ka) and at the Toba YTT eruption (74 ka) providing end constrains for the investigated time interval. In this work, annual layer counting has been performed in parallel in the NGRIP and EDML ice cores for the time interval 41-75 ka using high-resolution records of visual stratigraphy, dust concentrations, and continuous chemistry. For NGRIP the GICC05 time scale is adapted for the period 41-60 ka. The NGRIP and EDML ice cores are then synchronized by identifying series of bipolar volcanic eruptions in acidity records of electrolytic conductivity, sulfur concentrations, and electric measurements of the solid ice (ECM and DEP). The synchronization is constrained by the layer counting that provides interval durations between volcanic markers. In some periods, a pattern of several bipolar volcanic events provides robust synchronization, but there are longer intervals for which there are no synchronization due to the lack of unambiguous bipolar markers. Over periods of robust synchronization the North-South phasing of climate (water isotopes) and dust concentrations can be investigated at decadal precision. During MIS4 the resulting time scale shows a North-South phasing somewhat different from that of the modelled AICC2012 time scale.

15. Sulfur Isotope Composition of Volcanic Sulfate in Polar Ice Cores (Invited)

Cole-Dai, J.; Savarino, J.; Thiemens, M. H.

2011-12-01

Explosive volcanic eruptions often emit copious amounts of sulfur gases into the atmosphere. Similar to that of anthropogenic aerosols, volcanic aerosols can influence climate by altering the atmosphere's radiative properties. Traces of sulfate aerosols from past explosive eruptions are preserved in the snow strata of polar ice sheets and can be retrieved with ice cores. We have been measuring sulfur isotope composition of volcanic sulfate in Antarctica and Greenland ice cores to investigate the kinetics of atmospheric oxidation chemistry and to determine the climatic impact of the eruptions. We have found that the chemical conversion process of volcanic sulfur dioxide into sulfuric acid and sulfate aerosols in the stratosphere proceeds through oxidation reaction pathways different from those for sulfur dioxide in the troposphere. Recent laboratory experiments and modeling efforts by other investigators support the hypothesis that short wavelength ultra-violet radiation above the stratospheric ozone layer plays a key role in the chemical conversion or oxidation and can cause mass independent fractionation (MIF) of sulfur isotopes (33S, 34S, 36S). The discovery of the sulfur MIF isotope signatures in the volcanic sulfate offers a unique and dependable way to distinguish the signals of large, stratospheric eruptions in the ice core volcanic records from those of eruptions with little or no climate impact. Identification of the climate-impacting eruptions helps to improve our understanding of the volcano-climate connection.

16. Sulfur Isotope Composition of Volcanic Sulfate in Polar Ice Cores (Invited)

Cole-Dai, J.; Savarino, J.; Thiemens, M. H.

2013-12-01

Explosive volcanic eruptions often emit copious amounts of sulfur gases into the atmosphere. Similar to that of anthropogenic aerosols, volcanic aerosols can influence climate by altering the atmosphere's radiative properties. Traces of sulfate aerosols from past explosive eruptions are preserved in the snow strata of polar ice sheets and can be retrieved with ice cores. We have been measuring sulfur isotope composition of volcanic sulfate in Antarctica and Greenland ice cores to investigate the kinetics of atmospheric oxidation chemistry and to determine the climatic impact of the eruptions. We have found that the chemical conversion process of volcanic sulfur dioxide into sulfuric acid and sulfate aerosols in the stratosphere proceeds through oxidation reaction pathways different from those for sulfur dioxide in the troposphere. Recent laboratory experiments and modeling efforts by other investigators support the hypothesis that short wavelength ultra-violet radiation above the stratospheric ozone layer plays a key role in the chemical conversion or oxidation and can cause mass independent fractionation (MIF) of sulfur isotopes (33S, 34S, 36S). The discovery of the sulfur MIF isotope signatures in the volcanic sulfate offers a unique and dependable way to distinguish the signals of large, stratospheric eruptions in the ice core volcanic records from those of eruptions with little or no climate impact. Identification of the climate-impacting eruptions helps to improve our understanding of the volcano-climate connection.

17. Reassessment of Crete (Greenland) ice core acidity/volcanism link to climate change

SciTech Connect

Crowley, T.J.; Criste, T.A.; Smith, N.R. )

1993-02-05

Previous comparisons of the Crete (Greenland) ice core acidity record with climate variations of the last 1,400 years suggested that changes in volcanism may have significantly influenced climate on this time scale. However, the ice core acidity record consists of volcanically-induced spikes superimposed on a background acidity of nonvolcanic origin that varied significantly in amplitude. Herein the authors produce a record of Crete volcanism based solely on an objective definition of individual volcanic events in the ice core record. There are 92 acidity peaks in the 1,420-year record. Since at least 26% of the post-1,600 eruptions are of local (Icelandic) origin, they estimate a mean recurrence interval of 20.8 years for hemispheric-scale eruptions rich in sulphate. On decadal time scales, volcanism has varied by a factor of three-four over the last 1,400 years. However, the climate-volcanism correlation is considerably less impressive (r = [minus]0.23) than previously concluded (r = [minus]0.52). The good correspondence between volcanism and climate previously reported are due to background acidity levels that show a significant Little Ice Age increase. The background increase may reflect changes in ocean productivity. 24 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.

18. Greenland ice reveals imprint of the Early Cenozoic passage of the Iceland mantle plume

Rogozhina, I.; Petrunin, A. G.; Vaughan, A. P.; Kaban, M. K.; Mulvaney, R.; Steinberger, B. M.; Koulakov, I.; Thomas, M.; Johnson, J. V.

2013-12-01

Modelling and observation of ice sheet basal conditions suggests that elevated values of geothermal heat flow (GHF) result in enhanced basal melting. For the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS), radar soundings and deep ice core measurements indicate unexpectedly high local values of GHF in areas where thick and stable Early Proterozoic lithosphere suggests they should be low. Rapid basal ice melt and accelerated ice flow, linked to abnormal GHF, indicate that regional heat flow patterns strongly influence the present-day thermodynamic state of the GIS and may affect its evolution in the future. Using a coupled model of climate-driven GIS and lithosphere, constrained by a wide range of interdisciplinary data, we detect a laterally continuous west-to-east area of high GHF in central-northern Greenland. The area of elevated heat flow closely coincides with a west-to-east negative anomaly in seismic velocity, which recent high-resolution tomography models tie to the present-day location of the Iceland mantle plume. Plate paleoreconstructions and analysis of magmatism in eastern and western Greenland suggest passage of the Greenland lithosphere over a mantle plume between around 80 and 35 Ma. Independent evidence under the GIS for magmatism along the putative mantle plume track comes from local gravity anomalies, igneous rock fragments recovered from the bedrock beneath the deep ice core GISP2, and radar sounding evidence of a caldera-like bedrock structure under the central GIS. We argue that long-lived, non-stationary effects of the mantle plume still affect the thermal state of the present-day Greenland lithosphere and are the origin of rapid basal ice melting over vast areas of central and northern Greenland.

19. Shift of atmospheric transport patterns over the last 50 years observed from sea-salt records in northern Greenland ice cores

Mieding, B.; Fischer, H.

2003-04-01

Chemical records from polar regions represent a most important archive for paleoatmospheric research. The information archived in aerosol chemistry records of polar ice cores is influenced by a series of factors such as aerosol production, long range transport, aerosol deposition and postdepositional changes. For the interpretation especially the influence of atmospheric circulation patterns is most relevant. In order to extract the net atmospheric information stored in three high resolution northern Greenland ice core records, their interannual variability is investigated, and contrasted to northern hemispheric NCEP reanalysis data. This analysis reveals that sea salt records are significantly influenced by atmospheric circulation patterns. Over the time span from 1950-1970 correlation analysis with annual and wintertime averages of sea level pressure and geopotential height at the 500 mbar level identifies the north Atlantic as significant centers of action responsible for sea salt export onto the Greenland ice sheet. After 1970 a clear shift of these centers to northern and western Pacific is recognizable.

20. Towards understanding North Pacific climate variabilty with instrumental and ice core records

Kelsey, Eric P.

Reconstructing climate variability prior to the instrumental era is critical to advance our understanding of the Earth's climate system. Although many paleoclimate records from the North Atlantic basin have been studied, relatively few paleoclimate records have been recovered in the North Pacific leaving a gap in our knowledge concerning North Pacific climate variability. The Eclipse and Mount Logan Prospector-Russell ice cores are favorably located in the St. Elias Mountains, Yukon, Canada to document North Pacific climate variability over the late Holocene. Detailed analysis reveals a consistent relationship of surface air temperature (SAT) anomalies associated with extreme Arctic Oscillation (AO) and Pacific-North America (PNA) index values, and a consistent relationship of North Pacific sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies associated with extreme Mt. Logan annual [Na+] and Eclipse cold season accumulation values. Spatial SAT anomaly patterns are most consistent for AO and PNA index values ≥1.5 and ≤-1.5 during the period 1872-2010. The highest and lowest ˜10% of Eclipse warm and cold season stable isotopes are associated with distinct atmospheric circulation patterns. The most-fractionated isotope values occur with a weaker Aleutian Low, and the least-fractionated isotope values occur with an amplification of the Aleutian Low and northwestern North American ridge. The assumption of stationarity between ice core records and sea-level pressure was tested for the Eclipse cold season accumulation and Mt. Logan annual sodium concentration records for 1872-2001. A stationary relationship was found for ≥95% of years when Mt. Logan sodium concentrations were ≤1.32 microg/L, with positive SLP anomalies in the eastern North Pacific. This high frequency supports the use of low sodium values at Mt. Logan for a reconstruction of SLP prior to 1872. Negative SLP anomalies in the North Pacific occurred for extreme high sodium concentration years and positive SLP anomalies occurred in the North Pacific for 70-90% of the highest accumulation seasons at Eclipse. These results contribute to our knowledge of North Pacific climate variability and can be applied to improve future North Pacific climate reconstructions.

1. Multi-decadal variability in the Greenland ice core records obtained using intrinsic timescale decomposition

Zhou, Jiansong; Tung, Ka-Kit; Li, King-Fai

2015-10-01

By performing a new adaptive time series decomposition on the composite average of multiple ice core records obtained from the Arctic and Greenland, we extracted a robust quasi-oscillatory signal with a period of ~70 years throughout the preceding millennium, and showed that it is strongly connected to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). In the same decomposition there exists the Greenland signature of the Little Ice Age and Medieval Warm Period. Throughout the warm and cold periods the AMO properties remained robust. It implies that the evolution of the AMO has its own coherent mechanism and was little affected by these large climatic excursions.

2. A 2680 year volcanic record from the DT-401 East Antarctic ice core

Ren, Jiawen; Li, Chuanjin; Hou, Shugui; Xiao, Cunde; Qin, Dahe; Li, Yuansheng; Ding, Minghu

2010-06-01

Volcanic signals recorded in the Antarctic and Greenland ice cores can provide useful information on past explosive volcanism and its impact. In this study, we carried out a continuous sulfate analysis of a 102.65 m East Antarctic ice core (DT-401, dated as 2682 years) and identified 36 extensive volcanic eruption signals using Cole-Dai's method, which gives an average of 1.4 eruptions per century, consistent with the results from the Plateau Remote (PR-B) ice core. When the record is divided into three parts, the latest millennium (1999-1000 A.D.), the middle millennium (999-1 A.D.), and the earliest 682 years (0 A.D. to 682 B.C.), it is found that there were more volcanic eruptions that occurred during the latest millennium (19 eruptions) than during the middle millennium (10 eruptions) of the record and that the intensities of the eruptions in the latest millennium are markedly larger than those in the middle one. There were only seven events recorded in the earliest 682 years, but their intensities were greater, and nearly half of the eruptions had a similar intensity to Tambora's (1815 A.D.), which differs from the PR-B record. It is also found that volcanism and its average accumulation rate were lower during the "Little Ice Age" than during the "Medieval Warm Period." Comparison of volcanic records between DT-401 and other Antarctica ice cores (PR-B, Dome C, DT-263, and Byrd) show that in the East Antarctica area with its lower accumulation rates, postdepositional effects may play an important role in the deposition of the sulfate.

3. Black carbon concentration in Byrd Station ice core - From 13,000 to 700 years before present

Chylek, P.; Johnson, B.; Wu, H.

1992-08-01

The concentration of black carbon in 22 ice core samples from Byrd Station (West Antarctica) covering the time period from about 13,000 to 700 years before present has been determined. For the first time, black carbon concentrations were obtained in an ice core which included a part of the last climatic transition. An average black carbon concentration of 0.1 micrograms/kg during the Wisconsin-Holocene climatic transition. After the transition the black carbon concentration in the ice core oscillated between 0.1 and 0.95 micrograms/kg, with an average concentration of 0.5 micrograms/kg. The increase in black carbon concentration occurred several hundred years after changes in delta-O-18, CO2 and CH4 characterizing the end of the last (Wisconsin) ice age. Expansion of the land biomass during the early Holocene was responsible for the observed increase of black carbon concentration in the Byrd Station ice core.

4. Kelp genes reveal effects of subantarctic sea ice during the Last Glacial Maximum.

PubMed

Fraser, Ceridwen I; Nikula, Raisa; Spencer, Hamish G; Waters, Jonathan M

2009-03-01

The end of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) dramatically reshaped temperate ecosystems, with many species moving poleward as temperatures rose and ice receded. Whereas reinvading terrestrial taxa tracked melting glaciers, marine biota recolonized ocean habitats freed by retreating sea ice. The extent of sea ice in the Southern Hemisphere during the LGM has, however, yet to be fully resolved, with most palaeogeographic studies suggesting only minimal or patchy ice cover in subantarctic waters. Here, through population genetic analyses of the widespread Southern Bull Kelp (Durvillaea antarctica), we present evidence for persistent ice scour affecting subantarctic islands during the LGM. Using mitochondrial and chloroplast genetic markers (COI; rbcL) to genetically characterize some 300 kelp samples from 45 Southern Ocean localities, we reveal a remarkable pattern of recent recolonization in the subantarctic. Specifically, in contrast to the marked phylogeographic structure observed across coastal New Zealand and Chile (10- to 100-km scales), subantarctic samples show striking genetic homogeneity over vast distances (10,000-km scales), with a single widespread haplotype observed for each marker. From these results, we suggest that sea ice expanded further and ice scour during the LGM impacted shallow-water subantarctic marine ecosystems more extensively than previously suggested. PMID:19204277

5. Kelp genes reveal effects of subantarctic sea ice during the Last Glacial Maximum

PubMed Central

Fraser, Ceridwen I.; Nikula, Raisa; Spencer, Hamish G.; Waters, Jonathan M.

2009-01-01

The end of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) dramatically reshaped temperate ecosystems, with many species moving poleward as temperatures rose and ice receded. Whereas reinvading terrestrial taxa tracked melting glaciers, marine biota recolonized ocean habitats freed by retreating sea ice. The extent of sea ice in the Southern Hemisphere during the LGM has, however, yet to be fully resolved, with most palaeogeographic studies suggesting only minimal or patchy ice cover in subantarctic waters. Here, through population genetic analyses of the widespread Southern Bull Kelp (Durvillaea antarctica), we present evidence for persistent ice scour affecting subantarctic islands during the LGM. Using mitochondrial and chloroplast genetic markers (COI; rbcL) to genetically characterize some 300 kelp samples from 45 Southern Ocean localities, we reveal a remarkable pattern of recent recolonization in the subantarctic. Specifically, in contrast to the marked phylogeographic structure observed across coastal New Zealand and Chile (10- to 100-km scales), subantarctic samples show striking genetic homogeneity over vast distances (10,000-km scales), with a single widespread haplotype observed for each marker. From these results, we suggest that sea ice expanded further and ice scour during the LGM impacted shallow-water subantarctic marine ecosystems more extensively than previously suggested. PMID:19204277

6. Expression and Partial Characterization of an Ice-Binding Protein from a Bacterium Isolated at a Depth of 3,519 m in the Vostok Ice Core, Antarctica

PubMed Central

Achberger, Amanda Marie; Brox, Timothy Ian; Skidmore, Mark Leslie; Christner, Brent Craig

2011-01-01

Cryopreservation of microorganisms in ancient glacial ice is possible if lethal levels of macromolecular damage are not incurred and cellular integrity is not compromised via intracellular ice formation or recrystallization. Previously, a bacterium (isolate 3519-10) recovered from a depth of 3,519 m below the surface in the Vostok ice core was shown to secrete an ice-binding protein (IBP) that inhibits the recrystallization of ice. To explore the advantage that IBPs confer to ice-entrapped cells, experiments were designed to examine the expression of 3519-10’s IBP gene and protein at different temperatures, assess the effect of the IBP on bacterial viability in ice, and determine how the IBP influences the physical structure of the ice. Total RNA isolated from cultures grown between 4 and 25°C and analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR indicated constitutive expression of the IBP gene. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of 3519-10’s extracellular proteins revealed a polypeptide of the predicted size of the 54-kDa IBP at all temperatures tested. In the presence of 100 μg mL−1 of extracellular protein from 3519-10, the survival of Escherichia coli was increased by greater than 100-fold after 5 freeze-thaw cycles. Microscopic analysis of ice formed in the presence of the IBP indicated that per square millimeter field of view, there were ~5 times as many crystals as in ice formed in the presence of washed 3519-10 cells and non-IBP producing bacteria, and ~10 times as many crystals as in filtered deionized water. Presumably, the effect that the IBP has on bacterial viability and ice crystal structure is due to its activity as an inhibitor of ice recrystallization. A myriad of molecular adaptations are likely to play a role in bacterial persistence under frozen conditions, but the ability of 3519-10’s IBP to control ice crystal structure, and thus the liquid vein network within the ice, may provide one explanation for its successful survival deep within the Antarctic ice sheet for thousands of years. PMID:22207866

7. Model-based constraints on interpreting 20th century trends in ice core 10Be

Field, Christy V.; Schmidt, Gavin A.

2009-06-01

Beryllium-10 ice-core records are useful for understanding solar magnetic field changes over time, and in particular over the 20th century, during which there are a variety of relevant observations. However, differences between 10Be snow concentration records from different locations complicate the process of developing a coherent understanding of changes in cosmogenic isotope production. We use the Goddard Institute for Space Studies ModelE general circulation model to simulate the production and transport of beryllium isotopes for this time period. We compare our results with surface air observations, and with ice-core records from Dye 3, Taylor Dome, and South Pole. We find that unforced weather-related (internal) variability causes modeled trends in 10Be snow concentration to vary from the ensemble mean by 50% and greater at all three ice-core locations. Lower levels of internal variability at Taylor Dome and South Pole relative to Dye 3 make the simulated 10Be values at these locations better estimates of the ensemble-mean trend in 10Be snow concentration. In addition, the ensemble mean concentration trend at Dye 3 was significantly different from the expected modeled trend based on applied production changes alone. Overall, the results imply that during the 20th century, 10Be data from multiple cores are likely to be required to make meaningful inferences about 10Be production changes. The model simulations imply that data from Antarctica are likely to be more robust.

8. The total air content in the NGRIP ice core from 120 to 10 kyr BP.

Eicher, Olivier; Baumgartner, Matthias; Schilt, Adrian; Schmitt, Jochen; Stocker, Thomas; Fischer, Hubertus

2014-05-01

With a melt-refreezing technique we measured the concentration of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) of the enclosed air along the ice core of the North Greenland Ice Core Project (NGRIP). A valuable byproduct of those measurements is an estimation of the total air content (TAC). The total air content depends, among others, on altitude, surface temperature, close off depth and insolation parameters. Due to unknown temperatures in some parts of the measuring system, our TAC raw data have been calibrated to additional measurements with an uncertainty of 0.5 ml/kg. Here we present a large dataset of 2323 new TAC data points from NGRIP. Our results cover the time interval from 120 to 10 kyr BP (3082 to 1481 m depth) and the TAC values vary between 75 to 105 ml/kg at standard temperature and pressure (STP). We compare the data to other available proxies such as dust and δ18O, measured on the ice core, and to the summer insolation at the core location. We find the insolation to be imprinted in the TAC record, supporting previous TAC studies. Interestingly, for some of the millennial scale variations known as Dansgaard Oeschger (DO) events, a corresponding signal in the TAC can be observed. Our analysis will provide further information on potential drivers of TAC changes.

9. Recent Increase in Elemental Carbon Concentration and Deposition in a Svalbard Ice Core

Ruppel, M.; Isaksson, E. D.; Ström, J.; Svensson, J.; Beaudon, E.; Korhola, A.

2013-12-01

Black carbon (BC) is an aerosol produced by incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels. Due to its strong light absorption it warms the atmosphere. Climate effects of BC are intensified in the Arctic where its deposition on snow and ice decreases surface albedo, causing earlier spring melt and associated feedbacks. Despite the significant role of BC in Arctic climate warming, there is little information on its concentrations and climate effects in the Arctic in time periods preceding direct observational data. Here we present first results on BC (here operationally defined as elemental carbon (EC)) concentrations and deposition on a Svalbard (European Arctic) glacier (Holtedahlfonna) from 1700 to 2004. The inner part of a 125 m deep ice core was melted, filtered and analyzed for apparent elemental carbon using a thermal optical method. EC concentrations (μg L-1) and the deposition (mg m-2 yr-1) were generally low in the pre-industrial era. Concentrations peaked around 1910 and again around 1950, whereas only the 1910 peak was recorded in the EC deposition, followed by decreasing deposition values. Strikingly, both EC concentration and deposition started to increase rapidly from the 1970s until 2004. This rise is not seen in any thus far published European or Arctic ice core, and it seems to contradict atmospheric BC measurements from the Arctic which indicate decreasing atmospheric BC concentrations since the beginning of the observations at the end of 1980s. However, the magnitude of the measured concentrations is in accordance with previous ice core EC measurements from the European Alps and a BC concentration and deposition peak around 1910 has also been recorded in Greenland ice cores. Work is continuing to disentangle the cause of the increasing EC values in the recent decades suggested by the present ice core. Contribution from any local sources has been ruled out. Back trajectory modeling is carried out to establish the EC source areas. The present results might indicate some long-range transport of EC to Svalbard, since BC emissions have decreased or stayed constant in Europe and North America for the last decades, whereas the emissions from China, India and parts of the former USSR have increased at the same time. Regardless of the cause of the increasing EC values, these results have significant implications to the past radiative transfer at the coring site. This project will continue with modeling of the past EC surface radiative forcing in the Holtedahlfonna area based on the present results.

10. Applications of a rapid endospore viability assay for monitoring UV inactivation and characterizing arctic ice cores.

PubMed

2006-10-01

We have developed a rapid endospore viability assay (EVA) in which endospore germination serves as an indicator for viability and applied it to (i) monitor UV inactivation of endospores as a function of dose and (ii) determine the proportion of viable endospores in arctic ice cores (Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 [GISP2] cores; 94 m). EVA is based on the detection of dipicolinic acid (DPA), which is released from endospores during germination. DPA concentrations were determined using the terbium ion (Tb3+)-DPA luminescence assay, and germination was induced by L-alanine addition. The concentrations of germinable endospores were determined by comparison to a standard curve. Parallel EVA and phase-contrast microscopy experiments to determine the percentage of germinable spores yielded comparable results (54.3% +/- 3.8% and 48.9% +/- 4.5%, respectively), while only 27.8% +/- 7.6% of spores produced CFU. EVA was applied to monitor the inactivation of spore suspensions as a function of UV dose, yielding reproducible correlations between EVA and CFU inactivation data. The 90% inactivation doses were 2,773 J/m2, 3,947 J/m2, and 1,322 J/m2 for EVA, phase-contrast microscopy, and CFU reduction, respectively. Finally, EVA was applied to quantify germinable and total endospore concentrations in two GISP2 ice cores. The first ice core contained 295 +/- 19 germinable spores/ml and 369 +/- 36 total spores/ml (i.e., the percentage of germinable endospores was 79.9% +/- 9.3%), and the second core contained 131 +/- 4 germinable spores/ml and 162 +/- 17 total spores/ml (i.e., the percentage of germinable endospores was 80.9% +/- 8.8%), whereas only 2 CFU/ml were detected by culturing. PMID:17021233

11. Five millennia of surface temperatures and ice core bubble characteristics from the WAIS Divide deep core, West Antarctica

Fegyveresi, John M.; Alley, Richard B.; Fitzpatrick, Joan J.; Cuffey, Kurt M.; McConnell, Joseph R.; Voigt, Donald E.; Spencer, Matthew K.; Stevens, Nathan T.

2016-03-01

Bubble number densities from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide deep core in West Antarctica record relatively stable temperatures during the middle Holocene followed by late Holocene cooling. We measured bubble number density, shape, size, and arrangement on new samples of the main WAIS Divide deep core WDC06A from ~580 m to ~1600 depth. The bubble size, shape, and arrangement data confirm that the samples satisfy the requirements for temperature reconstructions. A small correction for cracks formed after core recovery allows extension of earlier work through the "brittle ice" zone, and a site-specific calibration reduces uncertainties. Using an independently constructed accumulation rate history and a steady state bubble number density model, we determined a temperature reconstruction that agrees closely with other independent estimates, showing a stable middle Holocene, followed by a cooling of ~1.25°C in the late Holocene. Over the last ~5 millennia, accumulation has been higher during warmer times by ~12%°C-1, somewhat stronger than for thermodynamic control alone, suggesting dynamic processes.

12. Tephra studies on the deep Talos Dome ice core, East Antarctic Plateau

Narcisi, B.; Petit, J.; Delmonte, B.; Stenni, B.

2011-12-01

In the context of the TALDICE (TALos Dome Ice CorE) project conducted by a consortium of five European nations led by Italy, a 1620-m long ice core has been drilled at Talos Dome (72°49'S, 159°11'E; 2315 m; www.taldice.org), on the eastern edge of the East Antarctic plateau during the field seasons 2004-2008. Owing to its relatively high accumulation rate, this near-coastal core preserves a detailed undisturbed paleoclimate record covering the past 250,000 years, back to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 7.5. The Talos Dome ice is a significant volcanic ash archive. During core inspection of the TALDICE core, more than 100 macroscopic tephra layers were located and inventoried, with an average tephra frequency one order of magnitude greater than the tephra frequency in deep cores from inland East Antarctic plateau over the last two glacial cycles. TALDICE prominent tephra layers, studied by scanning electron microscopy, Coulter Counter and electron microprobe analysis, display an alkaline geochemical character indicating an origin in nearby volcanoes of the Melbourne Volcanic Province (McMurdo Volcanic Group). Our tephra record helps reconstruct an improved history of explosive eruptions in northern Victoria Land, supplementing the stratigraphic record obtained by outcrop studies and documenting previously unknown temporal trends and specific episodes. Investigations on less prominent tephra horizons are in progress with the aim of complementing the Holocene volcanic record of local visible beds and establishing the detailed tephrostratigraphy for the region. To date about ten discrete ice sections showing anomalously coarse grain size has proved to contain significant concentrations of unreworked volcanic glass. Single shard major element analyses of some invisible volcanic horizons indicate subalkaline compositions, which are incompatible with Antarctic volcanism and suggesting long-distance tephra transport from either South American and/or New Zealand volcanoes. Ongoing comparison between geochemical results and literature data on Holocene tephrostratigraphies of potential source volcanoes will likely suggest correlation of TALDICE invisible tephras with known radiometrically-dated eruptions, with potential implications for ice core timescale and stratigraphic correlations over wide areas.

13. Multilayer Formation and Evaporation of Deuterated Ices in Prestellar and Protostellar Cores

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taquet, Vianney; Charnley, Steven B.; Sipila, Olli

2014-01-01

Extremely large deuteration of several molecules has been observed toward prestellar cores and low-mass protostars for a decade. New observations performed toward low-mass protostars suggest that water presents a lower deuteration in the warm inner gas than in the cold external envelope. We coupled a gas-grain astrochemical model with a one-dimensional model of a collapsing core to properly follow the formation and the deuteration of interstellar ices as well as their subsequent evaporation in the low-mass protostellar envelopes with the aim of interpreting the spatial and temporal evolutions of their deuteration. The astrochemical model follows the formation and the evaporation of ices with a multilayer approach and also includes a state-of-the-art deuterated chemical network by taking the spin states of H2 and light ions into account. Because of their slow formation, interstellar ices are chemically heterogeneous and show an increase of their deuterium fractionation toward the surface. The differentiation of the deuteration in ices induces an evolution of the deuteration within protostellar envelopes. The warm inner region is poorly deuterated because it includes the whole molecular content of ices, while the deuteration predicted in the cold external envelope scales with the highly deuterated surface of ices. We are able to reproduce the observed evolution of water deuteration within protostellar envelopes, but we are still unable to predict the superhigh deuteration observed for formaldehyde and methanol. Finally, the extension of this study to the deuteration of complex organics, important for the prebiotic chemistry, shows good agreement with the observations, suggesting that we can use the deuteration to retrace their mechanisms and their moments of formation.

14. Multilayer formation and evaporation of deuterated ices in prestellar and protostellar cores

SciTech Connect

Taquet, Vianney; Charnley, Steven B.; Sipilä, Olli

2014-08-10

Extremely large deuteration of several molecules has been observed toward prestellar cores and low-mass protostars for a decade. New observations performed toward low-mass protostars suggest that water presents a lower deuteration in the warm inner gas than in the cold external envelope. We coupled a gas-grain astrochemical model with a one-dimensional model of a collapsing core to properly follow the formation and the deuteration of interstellar ices as well as their subsequent evaporation in the low-mass protostellar envelopes with the aim of interpreting the spatial and temporal evolutions of their deuteration. The astrochemical model follows the formation and the evaporation of ices with a multilayer approach and also includes a state-of-the-art deuterated chemical network by taking the spin states of H{sub 2} and light ions into account. Because of their slow formation, interstellar ices are chemically heterogeneous and show an increase of their deuterium fractionation toward the surface. The differentiation of the deuteration in ices induces an evolution of the deuteration within protostellar envelopes. The warm inner region is poorly deuterated because it includes the whole molecular content of ices, while the deuteration predicted in the cold external envelope scales with the highly deuterated surface of ices. We are able to reproduce the observed evolution of water deuteration within protostellar envelopes, but we are still unable to predict the super-high deuteration observed for formaldehyde and methanol. Finally, the extension of this study to the deuteration of complex organics, important for the prebiotic chemistry, shows good agreement with the observations, suggesting that we can use the deuteration to retrace their mechanisms and their moments of formation.

15. Depositional phasing of volcanic aerosols in the WAIS Divide ice core over the past 2400 years

Koffman, B. G.; Kreutz, K. J.; Breton, D. J.; Dunbar, N. W.; Kurbatov, A.

2011-12-01

Explosive volcanic events originating in the tropics are an intermittent but significant factor in climate forcing, with the potential to cause global cooling for up to several years. Evidence of prehistoric eruptions in the form of tephra has been documented in sedimentary records throughout the globe, including the polar ice sheets. The chemical record of volcanic aerosols is also found in ice core records. While the record of tropical volcanism observed in Antarctic ice cores (based on sulfate deposition) is consistent regionally, little to no evidence of insoluble aerosols (ash particles) from tropical eruptions has been found. The upper 577 m (2400 years) of the WAIS Divide deep ice core (WDC06A) was melted using the UMaine WAIS Melt Monitor system, which allows accurate mm-scale depth co-registration of electrical conductivity and particle data, with subsequent collection of discrete samples for expanded particle, glaciochemical and geochemical analysis. The concentration and size distribution of microparticles were measured using a flow-through Klotz Abakus laser particle detector, developed by Ruth et al (2002) and calibrated with Coulter-Counter measurements. High-resolution analysis of ice spanning these volcanic intervals indicates that insoluble aerosols consistently arrive sooner than soluble aerosols (i.e., sulfate) at the WAIS Divide site (e.g., the Kuwae, Vanuatu eruption of ~1452 C.E.; Figure 1). We have observed this phasing difference for multiple tropical eruptions, including Agung (1963 C.E.), Krakatau/Tarawera (1886/1883), Tambora (1815), Kuwae (~1452) and Unknown (~1259). This phasing difference, which is on the order of 6-18 months, appears to be related to the eruptive column height and atmospheric transport of material.

16. Properties of grain boundary networks in the NEEM ice core analyzed by combined transmission and reflection optical microscopy

Binder, Tobias; Weikusat, Ilka; Garbe, Christoph; Svensson, Anders; Kipfstuhl, Sepp

2014-05-01

Microstructure analysis of ice cores is vital to understand the processes controlling the flow of ice on the microscale. To quantify the microstructural variability (and thus occurring processes) on centimeter, meter and kilometer scale along deep polar ice cores, a large number of sections has to be analyzed. In the last decade, two different methods have been applied: On the one hand, transmission optical microscopy of thin sections between crossed polarizers yields information on the distribution of crystal c-axes. On the other hand, reflection optical microscopy of polished and controlled sublimated section surfaces allows to characterize the high resolution properties of a single grain boundary, e.g. its length, shape or curvature (further developed by [1]). Along the entire NEEM ice core (North-West Greenland, 2537 m length) drilled in 2008-2011 we applied both methods to the same set of vertical sections. The data set comprises series of six consecutive 6 x 9 cm2 sections in steps of 20 m - in total about 800 images. A dedicated method for automatic processing and matching both image types has recently been developed [2]. The high resolution properties of the grain boundary network are analyzed. Furthermore, the automatic assignment of c-axis misorientations to visible sublimation grooves enables us to quantify the degree of similarity between the microstructure revealed by both analysis techniques. The reliability to extract grain boundaries from both image types as well as the appearance of sublimation groove patterns exhibiting low misorientations is investigated. X-ray Laue diffraction measurements (yielding full crystallographic orientation) have validated the sensitivity of the surface sublimation method for sub-grain boundaries [3]. We introduce an approach for automatic extraction of sub-grain structures from sublimation grooves. A systematic analysis of sub-grain boundary densities indicates a possible influence of high impurity contents (amongst others visible in ice-penetrating radar measurements) on the generation of sub-grain boundaries. [1] S. Kipfstuhl et al., 2006, Journal of Glaciology, 52, 398-406 [2] T. Binder et al., 2013, Journal of Microscopy, 250, 130-141 [3] I. Weikusat et al., 2011, Journal of Glaciology, 57, 111-120

17. Fabrics revealed in basal glacier ice through anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility data

Fleming, E.; Lovell, H.; Benn, D.; Stevenson, C.; Hambrey, M.; Petronis, M. S.; Fairchild, I. J.

2012-12-01

The properties of basal ice are important for understanding interactions between glaciers and their substrates and is therefore of significant importance for understanding glacier motion and the processes operating at the glacier bed. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) uses the magnetic properties of minerals to reveal subtle fabrics. AMS can provide considerable information regarding the kinematics of deformation within rocks and sediment and has recently been applied to glacial geology to investigate subglacially deformed sediments. In this study, we present, as far as we are aware, the first AMS study from basal ice to investigate deformation within a glacier. Basal ice samples, field descriptions and structural measurements were collected from north-eastern and south-western exposures at the tidewater margin of Tunabreen, a surging glacier in Svalbard. AMS data indicate that the magnetic lineations (k1) are aligned parallel or sub-parallel to glacier flow direction from aerial photographs and parallel to the direction of extension and shear revealed from structural observations at the ice outcrop (folds, lineations, macrofabric). The magnetic foliation, given by the K1/K2 plane, dips gently up glacier, generally parallel to visible foliations within the ice. The magnetic fabric is interpreted as being formed by a preferred alignment of paramagnetic and ferromagnetic grains within detrital debris located at ice crystal boundaries. We hypothesise that as the glacier flowed, simple shear affected the basal ice causing stretching and extension. As such, detrital minerals in the spaces between ice crystals rotated into a preferred orientation reflecting the strain. On the north-western section, the imbrications of magnetic lineations away from the glacier margins suggest that, as well as longitudinal extension, there is a component of lateral shear. In contrast, at the south-eastern margin, the divergence of magnetic lineation away from flow reveals lateral spreading due to interactions between an advancing surge front into an irregular fjord bathymetry. The results suggest that AMS can be used as a petrofabric indicator in ice and subsequently has potential to be used as a tool for measuring strain direction and possibly magnitude within basal ice.a) The visualisation of a magnetic fabric through a susceptibility ellipsoid showing the K1 (long), K2 (medium) and K3 (short) susceptibility axes and relationships to glacier flow. b) The plotting of AMS data on an equal area, lower hemisphere stereonet.

18. Ice core studies of anthropogenic sulfate and nitrate trends in the Arctic

Goto-Azuma, Kumiko; Koerner, Roy M.

2001-03-01

Ice core studies have shown that sulfate and nitrate concentrations in Arctic snow have increased significantly since the end of the 19th century due to the influx of anthropogenic pollutants transported from industrialized regions. Trends of increasing sulfate and nitrate concentrations in snow are evident in all the ice core data from Greenland, the Canadian Arctic, and Svalbard. Temporal patterns, however, show spatial variation. In the area around Dye 3, south Greenland, significant increases in sulfate are found beginning in the 1890s. Increases in nitrate began 50 years later. A similar pattern is seen at Penny Ice Cap, Baffin Island, in the Canadian low Arctic. In contrast, both sulfate and nitrate concentrations started to increase significantly in the 1940s on Agassiz Ice Cap, Ellesmere Island, in the Canadian high Arctic; and Snfjellafonna, Svalbard. At Summit, central Greenland, and sites in north Greenland, sharp sulfate increases occurred at about the turn of the 20th century and again about 1940 or 1950, where the latter increase is the greater of the two. At these central and north Greenland sites, significant increases in nitrate began about 1940 or 1950. The difference between the magnitude and timing of increasing trends of the sulfate ions at these sites can be attributed to their having different source regions and pathways for these pollutant ions. The pollutant sources appear to be North America for south Greenland and Baffin Island, Eurasia, for Ellesmere Island and Svalbard, and both North America and Eurasia for central and north Greenland.

19. Anomalous sulfur isotope compositions of volcanic sulfate over the last millennium in Antarctic ice cores

Baroni, MéLanie; Savarino, JoëL.; Cole-Dai, Jihong; Rai, Vinai K.; Thiemens, Mark H.

2008-10-01

The reconstruction of past volcanism from glaciological archives is based on the measurement of sulfate concentrations in ice. This method does not allow a proper evaluation of the climatic impact of an eruption owing to the uncertainty in classifying an event between stratospheric or tropospheric. This work develops a new method, using anomalous sulfur isotope composition of volcanic sulfate in order to identify stratospheric eruptions over the last millennium. The advantages and limits of this new method are established with the examination of the 10 largest volcanic signals in ice cores from Dome C and South Pole, Antarctica. Of the 10, seven are identified as stratospheric eruptions. Among them, three have been known to be stratospheric (Tambora, Kuwae, the 1259 Unknown Event) and they exhibit anomalous sulfur isotope compositions. Three unknown events (circa 1277, 1230, 1170 A.D.) and the Serua eruption have been identified as stratospheric eruptions, which suggests for the first time that they could have had significant climatic impact. However, the Kuwae and the 1259 Unknown Event stratospheric eruptions exhibit different anomalous sulfur isotope compositions between South Pole and Dome C samples. Differences in sulfate deposition and preservation patterns between the two sites can help explain these discrepancies. This study shows that the presence of an anomalous sulfur isotope composition of volcanic sulfate in ice core indicates a stratospheric eruption, but the absence of such composition does not necessarily lead to the conclusion of a tropospheric process because of differences in the sulfate deposition on the ice sheet.

20. High-resolution Greenland ice core data show abrupt climate change happens in few years.

PubMed

Steffensen, Jørgen Peder; Andersen, Katrine K; Bigler, Matthias; Clausen, Henrik B; Dahl-Jensen, Dorthe; Fischer, Hubertus; Goto-Azuma, Kumiko; Hansson, Margareta; Johnsen, Sigfús J; Jouzel, Jean; Masson-Delmotte, Valérie; Popp, Trevor; Rasmussen, Sune O; Röthlisberger, Regine; Ruth, Urs; Stauffer, Bernhard; Siggaard-Andersen, Marie-Louise; Sveinbjörnsdóttir, Arny E; Svensson, Anders; White, James W C

2008-08-01

The last two abrupt warmings at the onset of our present warm interglacial period, interrupted by the Younger Dryas cooling event, were investigated at high temporal resolution from the North Greenland Ice Core Project ice core. The deuterium excess, a proxy of Greenland precipitation moisture source, switched mode within 1 to 3 years over these transitions and initiated a more gradual change (over 50 years) of the Greenland air temperature, as recorded by stable water isotopes. The onsets of both abrupt Greenland warmings were slightly preceded by decreasing Greenland dust deposition, reflecting the wetting of Asian deserts. A northern shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone could be the trigger of these abrupt shifts of Northern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation, resulting in changes of 2 to 4 kelvin in Greenland moisture source temperature from one year to the next. PMID:18566247

1. Effects of sudden mixing in the solar core on solar neutrinos and ice ages.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ezer, D.; Cameron, A. G. W.

1972-01-01

Some numerical experiments with a solar model have been conducted in connection with the hypothesis regarding the effects of mixing in the solar core. Questions concerning a plausible mechanism by which such a mixing could be produced are explored. The variation of solar luminosity throughout the numerical experiments is shown. In connection with a great change in luminosity after a second mixing, it is suggested that the earth is presently undergoing an ice age.

2. Volcanic ash retrieved from the GRIP ice core is not from Thera

Keenan, Douglas J.

2003-11-01

Tephra found in an ice core from Greenland (GRIP) has been claimed to be from the Minoan eruption of Thera (Santorini), Greece. If true, this would date the eruption, thereby resolving a decades-long debate in chronology. Herein, it is shown that the methods used to match the Greenlandic tephra with Thera are flawed and that the geochemical data imply the tephra is not from Thera.

3. Re-evaluating the 1257 AD eruption using annually-resolved ice core chemical analyses

Simonsen, M. F.; Kjær, H. A.; Vallelonga, P. T.; Neff, P. D.; Bertler, N. A. N.; Svensson, A.; Seierstad, I.; Albert, P. G.; Bourne, A. J.; Kurbatov, A.

2014-12-01

The source of the 1257 AD volcanic eruption has recently been proposed to be Samalas in Indonesia. The eruption was one of the largest of the Holocene and has been recorded in ice cores in both hemispheres from sulfate and acidity measurements. The estimate of its sulfate load varies from 2 to 8 times that of Tambora. This is also the only volcano for which tephras have been assigned in ice cores from both Antarctica and Greenland (GISP2). Due to this unique assignment of a bipolar tephra layer in ice cores, the origins of the sulfate and tephras have been disputed and it has been proposed that at least one of the tephras was due to an additional volcanic eruption local to either Greenland or Antarctica. We have re-evaluated the acid and tephra deposition from the 1257 AD volcano in two ice cores, one from Greenland (NGRIP. 75.1° N, 42.3° W) and one from Antarctica (RICE, Roosevelt Island. 79.36° S, -161.71° W). Annually-resolved continuous flow analysis (CFA) measurements determined relevant parameters such as melt water conductivity, sulphate and acidity. The acidity peak at RICE (~20 uM H+) is approximately double that found at NGRIP (10 uM H+). The only visible tephra layer found in the corresponding depth range was deposited at 1250 AD, 9 years before the acidity peak. The high resolution of the data offers a precise evaluation of the delay between the deposition of tephra and acid (sulfate) in each hemisphere. The comparison between poles allows some evaluation of the spread of deposition from the volcanic eruption.

4. Presentation of the dynamical core of neXtSIM, a new sea ice model

Bouillon, Sylvain; Rampal, Pierre

2015-07-01

The dynamical core of a new sea ice model is presented. It is based on the Elasto-Brittle rheology, which is inspired by progressive damage models used for example in rock mechanics. The main idea is that each element can be damaged when the local internal stress exceeds a Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. The model is implemented with a finite element method and a Lagrangian advection scheme. Simulations of 10 days are performed over the Arctic at a resolution of 7 km. The model, which has only a few parameters, generates discontinuous sea ice velocity fields and strongly localized deformation features that occupy a few percent of the total sea ice cover area but accommodate most of the deformation. For the first time, a sea ice model is shown to reproduce the multifractal scaling properties of sea ice deformation. The sensitivity to model parameters and initial conditions is presented, as well as the ability of the Lagrangian advection scheme at preserving discontinuous fields.

5. Significant recent warming over the northern Tibetan Plateau from ice core δ18O records

An, W.; Hou, S.; Zhang, W.; Wang, Y.; Liu, Y.; Wu, S.; Pang, H.

2016-02-01

Stable oxygen isotopic records in ice cores provide valuable information about past temperature, especially for regions with scarce instrumental measurements. This paper presents the δ18O result of an ice core drilled to bedrock from Mt. Zangser Kangri (ZK), a remote area on the northern Tibetan Plateau (TP). We reconstructed the temperature series for 1951-2008 from the δ18O records. In addition, we combined the ZK δ18O records with those from three other ice cores in the northern TP (Muztagata, Puruogangri, and Geladaindong) to reconstruct a regional temperature history for the period 1951-2002 (RTNTP). The RTNTP showed significant warming at 0.51 ± 0.07 °C (10 yr)-1 since 1970, a higher rate than the trend of instrumental records of the northern TP (0.43 ± 0.08 °C (10 yr)-1) and the global temperature trend (0.27 ± 0.03°C (10 yr)-1) at the same time. In addition, the ZK temperature record, with extra length until 2008, seems to suggest that the rapid elevation-dependent warming continued for this region during the last decade, when the mean global temperature showed very little change. This could provide insights into the behavior of the recent warming hiatus at higher elevations, where instrumental climate records are lacking.

6. 9,400 years of cosmic radiation and solar activity from ice cores and tree rings.

PubMed

Steinhilber, Friedhelm; Abreu, Jose A; Beer, Jürg; Brunner, Irene; Christl, Marcus; Fischer, Hubertus; Heikkilä, Ulla; Kubik, Peter W; Mann, Mathias; McCracken, Ken G; Miller, Heinrich; Miyahara, Hiroko; Oerter, Hans; Wilhelms, Frank

2012-04-17

Understanding the temporal variation of cosmic radiation and solar activity during the Holocene is essential for studies of the solar-terrestrial relationship. Cosmic-ray produced radionuclides, such as (10)Be and (14)C which are stored in polar ice cores and tree rings, offer the unique opportunity to reconstruct the history of cosmic radiation and solar activity over many millennia. Although records from different archives basically agree, they also show some deviations during certain periods. So far most reconstructions were based on only one single radionuclide record, which makes detection and correction of these deviations impossible. Here we combine different (10)Be ice core records from Greenland and Antarctica with the global (14)C tree ring record using principal component analysis. This approach is only possible due to a new high-resolution (10)Be record from Dronning Maud Land obtained within the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica in Antarctica. The new cosmic radiation record enables us to derive total solar irradiance, which is then used as a proxy of solar activity to identify the solar imprint in an Asian climate record. Though generally the agreement between solar forcing and Asian climate is good, there are also periods without any coherence, pointing to other forcings like volcanoes and greenhouse gases and their corresponding feedbacks. The newly derived records have the potential to improve our understanding of the solar dynamics and to quantify the solar influence on climate. PMID:22474348

7. Evidence for an early Holocene climate optimum in the Antarctic deep ice-core record

SciTech Connect

Ciais, P.; Lipenkov, V.; Nicolaiev, V.

1992-01-01

In the interpretation of the Antarctic deep ice-core data, little attention has been given to the Holocene part of the records. As far as translation of the stable isotope content in terms of temperature is concerned, this can be understood because expected temperature changes may be obscured by isotopic noise of various origins and because no {sup 14}C dating has yet been available for this type of sequence. In this article, we focus on the Dome C and Vostok cores and on a new 850-m long ice core drilled out at Komsomolskaia by the Soviet Antarctic Expeditions. These three sites are located in East Antarctica, on the Antarctic plateau, in a region essentially undisturbed by ice-flow conditions, so that their detailed intercomparison may allow us to identify the climatically significant isotopic signal. Our results compare well with the proximal records of Southern Hemisphere high latitudes and support the existence of a warmer {open_quotes}climatic optimum{close_quotes} between 10 and 6 ka y BP. Maximum temperatures are reached just at the end of the last deglaciation, which confirms previous observations at high latitudes, in contrast with later dates for the Atlantic and hypsithermal optima in Europe and North America. 60 refs., 6 figs.

8. 9,400 years of cosmic radiation and solar activity from ice cores and tree rings

PubMed Central

Steinhilber, Friedhelm; Beer, Jürg; Brunner, Irene; Christl, Marcus; Fischer, Hubertus; Heikkilä, Ulla; Kubik, Peter W.; Mann, Mathias; McCracken, Ken G.; Miller, Heinrich; Miyahara, Hiroko; Oerter, Hans

2012-01-01

Understanding the temporal variation of cosmic radiation and solar activity during the Holocene is essential for studies of the solar-terrestrial relationship. Cosmic-ray produced radionuclides, such as 10Be and 14C which are stored in polar ice cores and tree rings, offer the unique opportunity to reconstruct the history of cosmic radiation and solar activity over many millennia. Although records from different archives basically agree, they also show some deviations during certain periods. So far most reconstructions were based on only one single radionuclide record, which makes detection and correction of these deviations impossible. Here we combine different 10Be ice core records from Greenland and Antarctica with the global 14C tree ring record using principal component analysis. This approach is only possible due to a new high-resolution 10Be record from Dronning Maud Land obtained within the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica in Antarctica. The new cosmic radiation record enables us to derive total solar irradiance, which is then used as a proxy of solar activity to identify the solar imprint in an Asian climate record. Though generally the agreement between solar forcing and Asian climate is good, there are also periods without any coherence, pointing to other forcings like volcanoes and greenhouse gases and their corresponding feedbacks. The newly derived records have the potential to improve our understanding of the solar dynamics and to quantify the solar influence on climate. PMID:22474348

9. Anomalously-dense firn in an ice-shelf channel revealed by wide-angle radar

Drews, R.; Brown, J.; Matsuoka, K.; Witrant, E.; Philippe, M.; Hubbard, B.; Pattyn, F.

2015-10-01

The thickness of ice shelves, a basic parameter for mass balance estimates, is typically inferred using hydrostatic equilibrium for which knowledge of the depth-averaged density is essential. The densification from snow to ice depends on a number of local factors (e.g. temperature and surface mass balance) causing spatial and temporal variations in density-depth profiles. However, direct measurements of firn density are sparse, requiring substantial logistical effort. Here, we infer density from radio-wave propagation speed using ground-based wide-angle radar datasets (10 MHz) collected at five sites on Roi Baudouin Ice Shelf (RBIS), Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Using a novel algorithm including traveltime inversion and raytracing with a prescribed shape of the depth-density relationship, we show that the depth to internal reflectors, the local ice thickness and depth-averaged densities can reliably be reconstructed. For the particular case of an ice-shelf channel, where ice thickness and surface slope change substantially over a few kilometers, the radar data suggests that firn inside the channel is about 5 % denser than outside the channel. Although this density difference is at the detection limit of the radar, it is consistent with a similar density anomaly reconstructed from optical televiewing, which reveals 10 % denser firn inside compared to outside the channel. The denser firn in the ice-shelf channel should be accounted for when using the hydrostatic ice thickness for determining basal melt rates. The radar method presented here is robust and can easily be adapted to different radar frequencies and data-acquisition geometries.

10. Simulating ice core 10Be on the glacial-interglacial timescale

Elsässer, C.; Wagenbach, D.; Levin, I.; Stanzick, A.; Christl, M.; Wallner, A.; Kipfstuhl, S.; Seierstad, I. K.; Wershofen, H.; Dibb, J.

2015-02-01

10Be ice core measurements are an important tool for paleoclimate research, e.g., allowing for the reconstruction of past solar activity or changes in the geomagnetic dipole field. However, especially on multi-millennial timescales, the share of production and climate-induced variations of respective 10Be ice core records is still up for debate. Here we present the first quantitative climatological model of the 10Be ice concentration up to the glacial-interglacial timescale. The model approach is composed of (i) a coarse resolution global atmospheric transport model and (ii) a local 10Be air-firn transfer model. Extensive global-scale observational data of short-lived radionuclides as well as new polar 10Be snow-pit measurements are used for model calibration and validation. Being specifically configured for 10Be in polar ice, this tool thus allows for a straightforward investigation of production- and non-production-related modulation of this nuclide. We find that the polar 10Be ice concentration does not immediately record the globally mixed cosmogenic production signal. Using geomagnetic modulation and revised Greenland snow accumulation rate changes as model input, we simulate the observed Greenland Summit (GRIP and GISP2) 10Be ice core records over the last 75 kyr (on the GICC05modelext timescale). We show that our basic model is capable of reproducing the largest portion of the observed 10Be changes. However, model-measurement differences exhibit multi-millennial trends (differences up to 87% in case of normalized to the Holocene records) which call for closer investigation. Focusing on the (12-37) b2k (before the year AD 2000) period, mean model-measurement differences of 30% cannot be attributed to production changes. However, unconsidered climate-induced changes could likely explain the model-measurement mismatch. In fact, the 10Be ice concentration is very sensitive to snow accumulation changes. Here the reconstructed Greenland Summit (GRIP) snow accumulation rate record would require revision of +28% to solely account for the (12-37) b2k model-measurement differences.

11. Reconstructing the history of water ice formation from HDO/H2O and D2O/HDO ratios in protostellar cores

Furuya, K.; van Dishoeck, E. F.; Aikawa, Y.

2016-02-01

Recent interferometer observations have found that the D2O/HDO abundance ratio is higher than that of HDO/H2O by about one order of magnitude in the vicinity of low-mass protostar NGC 1333-IRAS 2A, where water ice has sublimated. Previous laboratory and theoretical studies show that the D2O/HDO ice ratio should be lower than the HDO/H2O ice ratio, if HDO and D2O ices are formed simultaneously with H2O ice. In this work, we propose that the observed feature, D2O/HDO > HDO/H2O, is a natural consequence of chemical evolution in the early cold stages of low-mass star formation as follows: 1) majority of oxygen is locked up in water ice and other molecules in molecular clouds, where water deuteration is not efficient; and 2) water ice formation continues with much reduced efficiency in cold prestellar/protostellar cores, where deuteration processes are highly enhanced as a result of the drop of the ortho-para ratio of H2, the weaker UV radiation field, etc. Using a simple analytical model and gas-ice astrochemical simulations, which traces the evolution from the formation of molecular clouds to protostellar cores, we show that the proposed scenario can quantitatively explain the observed HDO/H2O and D2O/HDO ratios. We also find that the majority of HDO and D2O ices are likely formed in cold prestellar/protostellar cores rather than in molecular clouds, where the majority of H2O ice is formed. This work demonstrates the power of the combination of the HDO/H2O and D2O/HDO ratios as a tool to reveal the past history of water ice formation in the early cold stages of star formation, and when the enrichment of deuterium in the bulk of water occurred. Further observations are needed to explore if the relation, D2O/HDO > HDO/H2O, is common in low-mass protostellar sources.

12. Atmospheric CO2 and d13C-CO2 reconstruction of the Little Ice Age from Antarctic ice cores.

Rubino, Mauro; David, Etheridge; Trudinger, Cathy; Allison, Colin; Rayner, Peter; Mulvaney, Robert; Steele, Paul; Langenfeld, Ray; Sturges, William; Curran, Mark; Smith, Andrew

2015-04-01

The decrease of atmospheric CO2 concentration recorded in Antarctic ice around 1600 AD is one of the most significant atmospheric changes to have occurred during the last millennia, before the onset of the industrial period. Together with the temperature decrease, the CO2 drop has been used to derive the sensitivity of carbon stores to climate. However, the cause of it is still under debate because models are not yet able to reproduce either its magnitude, or its timing. Here we present new measurements of the CO2 concentration decrease recorded in an ice core from a medium accumulation rate site in Antarctica (DML). We show that the new record is compatible (differences <2 ppm) with the CO2 record from the high accumulation rate DSS site on Law Dome (East Antarctica), when the different age distributions are taken into account. We have also measured the d13C-CO2 change in DML ice, filling a gap around 1600 AD in the DSS d13C record. We use a double deconvolution of the CO2 and d13C records together to provide quantitative evidence that the CO2 decrease was caused by a change in the net flux to the terrestrial biosphere. Finally, we provide a new interpretation of a published record showing increasing atmospheric carbonyl sulphide during the CO2 decrease, suggesting that cooler LIA climate affected terrestrial biospheric fluxes. Altogether our findings support the hypothesis that reduced soil heterotrophic respiration is likely to have given the most significant contribution to the LIA CO2 decrease implying a positive CO2-climate feedback.

13. A new direction for Antarctic ice cores: reconstructing Pacific decadal variability and Australian drought history from the Law Dome ice core.

Vance, Tessa; Roberts, Jason; Plummer, Chris; Kiem, Anthony; van Ommen, Tas

2015-04-01

Decadal scale SST oscillations in the Pacific significantly influence rainfall variability and drought risk across and beyond the Pacific region. Understanding long-term decadal SST behavior in the Pacific is necessary to assess past and future climate, particularly drought risk. However, short instrumental records through much of the Pacific region, in particular the South Pacific, make such assessments difficult. A new reconstruction of Pacific decadal variability covering the last millennium has been produced from the Law Dome ice core, a high snow accumulation site in East Antarctica. The Law Dome ice core samples (at sub-annual resolution) a broad mid-latitude swathe of the Indian and South West Pacific region. This region exhibits wind speed and direction anomalies that are coherent with the phase of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO), an index measuring the decadal-scale Pacific SST state. This is the first millennial length IPO reconstruction and is based on the annual accumulation (snowfall) and sub-annual sea salt (wind proxy) records from Law Dome. To demonstrate the versatility of this new IPO reconstruction, we used it to explore drought history in eastern Australia, a region where drought risk is elevated during IPO positive phases. To do this, we super-imposed the 1000 year IPO reconstruction on a Law Dome proxy for eastern Australian rainfall (previously shown to represent rainfall with high significance during IPO positive phases (r =0.406-0.677, p <0.0001-0.01). Eight 'mega-droughts' (dry periods >5 years duration) were identified over the last millennium. Six mega-droughts occurred between AD 1000-1320 including one 39 y drought (AD 1174-1212). Water resources and infrastructure planning in Australia has been based on very limited statistical certainty around drought risk due to the short (~100 year) instrumental record and lack of rainfall proxies. This study shows that, similar to SW North America, Australia also experienced mega-droughts during the medieval period. Knowledge of the occurrence, duration and frequency of such mega-droughts will greatly improve drought risk assessment in Australia. Importantly, this new IPO reconstruction will help with assessing climate risk over the longer term in the wider Pacific Basin, particularly in the data-sparse Southern Hemisphere. In addition, the hydrological application of producing an annually dated drought record to calculate long-term drought risk represents a new use of Antarctic ice core records.

14. Ice core from Akademii Nauk ice cap, Severnaya Zemlya (Russian Arctic), dated with a Nye model modified for a growing glacier

Fritzsche, Diedrich; Opel, Thomas; Meyer, Hanno

2010-05-01

15. Metagenomics Reveals Microbial Community Composition And Function With Depth In Arctic Permafrost Cores

Jansson, J.; Tas, N.; Wu, Y.; Ulrich, C.; Kneafsey, T. J.; Torn, M. S.; Hubbard, S. S.; Chakraborty, R.; Graham, D. E.; Wullschleger, S. D.

2013-12-01

The Arctic is one of the most climatically sensitive regions on Earth and current surveys show that permafrost degradation is widespread in arctic soils. Biogeochemical feedbacks of permafrost thaw are expected to be dominated by the release of currently stored carbon back into the atmosphere as CO2 and CH4. Understanding the dynamics of C release from permafrost requires assessment of microbial functions from different soil compartments. To this end, as part of the Next Generation Ecosystem Experiment in the Arctic, we collected two replicate permafrost cores (1m and 3m deep) from a transitional polygon near Barrow, AK. At this location, permafrost starts from 0.5m in depth and is characterized by variable ice content and higher pH than surface soils. Prior to sectioning, the cores were CT-scanned to determine the physical heterogeneity throughout the cores. In addition to detailed geochemical characterization, we used Illumina MiSeq technology to sequence 16SrRNA genes throughout the depths of the cores at 1 cm intervals. Selected depths were also chosen for metagenome sequencing of total DNA (including phylogenetic and functional genes) using the Illumina HiSeq platform. The 16S rRNA gene sequence data revealed that the microbial community composition and diversity changed dramatically with depth. The microbial diversity decreased sharply below the first few centimeters of the permafrost and then gradually increased in deeper layers. Based on the metagenome sequence data, the permafrost microbial communities were found to contain members with a large metabolic potential for carbon processing, including pathways for fermentation and methanogenesis. The surface active layers had more representatives of Verrucomicrobia (potential methane oxidizers) whereas the deep permafrost layers were dominated by several different species of Actinobacteria. The latter are known to have a diverse metabolic capability and are able to adapt to stress by entering a dormant yet viable state. In addition, several isolates were obtained from different depths throughout the cores, including methanogens from some of the deeper layers. Together these data present a new view of potential geochemical cycles carried out by microorganisms in permafrost and reveal how community members and functions are distributed with depth.

16. A 2800-year Siberian ice core record of vanillic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid

Grieman, M. M.; Saltzman, E. S.; McConnell, J. R.; Fritzsche, D.; Opel, T.

2014-12-01

Biomass burning plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry, the global carbon cycle, and climate. The relationship between burning and climate, and the factors that influence burning emissions over long timescales are not well understood. Therefore, well-dated records are needed to establish a history of biomass burning. In this study we examine the distribution of vanillic (VA) and p-hydroxybenzoic (p-HBA) acids in a Siberian Arctic ice core (Akademii Nauk) covering the past 2800 years. These molecules are produced by the incomplete combustion of lignin, incorporated into atmospheric aerosols, and transported/deposited on ice sheets. VA and p-HBA are generated from the combustion of conifers and grasses, respectively, but are not uniquely derived from these sources. These records should be considered qualitative because a wide range of aerosols is generated from various plant materials under different combustion conditions. The records may also reflect changes in source region locations, transport efficiency, and atmospheric removal prior to deposition. Ice core samples were analyzed using ion chromatography with electrospray MS/MS detection. VA and p-HBA levels were markedly elevated during three time periods. The most recent of these periods occurred from AD 1450-1720 (140-220 m). The timing of two earlier peaks is less well constrained. They are estimated to be from 300-700 AD (400-500 m) and from 800-400 BC (610-670 m). The similarity between VA and p-HBA suggests that the two compounds are derived from a common source. These three periods of elevated VA and p-HBA are not evident in nitrate, ammonium, or black carbon measurements from the same ice core or with high latitude sedimentary charcoal records from North America, Europe, or eastern Siberia.

17. Gas Hydrate-Sediment Morphologies Revealed by Pressure Core Analysis

Holland, M.; Schultheiss, P.; Roberts, J.; Druce, M.

2006-12-01

Analysis of HYACINTH pressure cores collected on IODP Expedition 311 and NGHP Expedition 1 showed gas hydrate layers, lenses, and veins contained in fine-grained sediments as well as gas hydrate contained in coarse-grained layers. Pressure cores were recovered from sediments on the Cascadia Margin off the North American West Coast and in the Krishna-Godavari Basin in the Western Bay of Bengal in water depths of 800- 1400 meters. Recovered cores were transferred to laboratory chambers without loss of pressure and nondestructive measurements were made at in situ pressures and controlled temperatures. Gamma density, P-wave velocity, and X-ray images showed evidence of grain-displacing and pore-filling gas hydrate in the cores. Data highlights include X-ray images of fine-grained sediment cores showing wispy subvertical veins of gas hydrate and P-wave velocity excursions corresponding to grain-displacing layers and pore-filling layers of gas hydrate. Most cores were subjected to controlled depressurization experiments, where expelled gas was collected, analyzed for composition, and used to calculate gas hydrate saturation within the core. Selected cores were stored under pressure for postcruise analysis and subsampling.

18. Diversity and physiology of culturable bacteria associated with a coastal Antarctic ice core.

PubMed

Antony, Runa; Krishnan, K P; Laluraj, C M; Thamban, Meloth; Dhakephalkar, P K; Engineer, Anupama S; Shivaji, S

2012-06-20

Microbiological studies of polar ice at different depths may provide important comparisons, as they preserve records of microbial cells and past climate. In this study, we examined bacterial abundance, diversity and glaciochemical composition from three depths of an ice core from coastal Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica. Higher bacterial abundance corresponded with high in situ sea-salt Na(+) and dust concentration, suggesting that bacteria might have been transported and deposited into ice along with dust particles and marine aerosols. Fourteen bacterial isolates belonging to the genera Methylobacterium, Brevundimonas, Paenibacillus, Bacillus and Micrococcus were retrieved. Frequent isolation of similar bacterial genera from different cold environments suggests that they possess features that enable survival and metabolism for extended periods of time at sub-zero temperatures. The highest number and diversity of recoverable bacteria was obtained from 49 m depth corresponding to 1926 AD and consisted of bacteria from 4 different genera whereas at 11 m (1989 AD) and 33 m (1953 AD) samples only species belonging to the genera Bacillus was recovered. Among the Bacillus species, Bacillus aryabhattai which has been reported only from the upper stratosphere, was isolated and is the first record from the Earth's surface. Methylobacterium was the most dominant genera at 49 m depth and its prevalence is attributable to a combination of high in situ methanesulfonate concentration, specialized metabolism and environmental hardiness of Methylobacterium. Some of the isolated bacteria were found to respire and grow using methanesulfonate, suggesting that they may utilize this substrate to sustain growth in ice. In addition, NO(3)(-) (2.93-3.69 μM), NH(4)(+) (1.45-3.90 μM) and PO(4)(3-) (0.01-0.75 μM) present in the ice could be potential sources fueling bacterial metabolism in this environment. It could be deduced from the study that variation in bacterial abundance and diversity was probably associated with the prevailing in situ conditions in ice. PMID:22537873

19. McCall Glacier record of Arctic climate change: Interpreting a northern Alaska ice core with regional water isotopes

Klein, E. S.; Nolan, M.; McConnell, J.; Sigl, M.; Cherry, J.; Young, J.; Welker, J. M.

2016-01-01

We explored modern precipitation and ice core isotope ratios to better understand both modern and paleo climate in the Arctic. Paleoclimate reconstructions require an understanding of how modern synoptic climate influences proxies used in those reconstructions, such as water isotopes. Therefore we measured periodic precipitation samples at Toolik Lake Field Station (Toolik) in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range in the Alaskan Arctic to determine δ18O and δ2H. We applied this multi-decadal local precipitation δ18O/temperature regression to ∼65 years of McCall Glacier (also in the Brooks Range) ice core isotope measurements and found an increase in reconstructed temperatures over the late-20th and early-21st centuries. We also show that the McCall Glacier δ18O isotope record is negatively correlated with the winter bidecadal North Pacific Index (NPI) climate oscillation. McCall Glacier deuterium excess (d-excess, δ2H - 8*δ18O) values display a bidecadal periodicity coherent with the NPI and suggest shifts from more southwestern Bering Sea moisture sources with less sea ice (lower d-excess values) to more northern Arctic Ocean moisture sources with more sea ice (higher d-excess values). Northern ice covered Arctic Ocean McCall Glacier moisture sources are associated with weak Aleutian Low (AL) circulation patterns and the southern moisture sources with strong AL patterns. Ice core d-excess values significantly decrease over the record, coincident with warmer temperatures and a significant reduction in Alaska sea ice concentration, which suggests that ice free northern ocean waters are increasingly serving as terrestrial precipitation moisture sources; a concept recently proposed by modeling studies and also present in Greenland ice core d-excess values during previous transitions to warm periods. This study also shows the efficacy and importance of using ice cores from Arctic valley glaciers in paleoclimate reconstructions.

20. Redefining deuterium excess in ice cores: Antarctic-wide evidence for ITCZ and polar jet variability during abrupt climate change

Markle, B. R.; Steig, E. J.; Schoenemann, S. W.; Sowers, T. A.; Buizert, C.; Ding, Q.; Fudge, T. J.; White, J. W.

2013-12-01

We examine a new, high-resolution ice core record of water isotopes (δ18O and deuterium excess) and atmospheric methane from West Antarctica, focusing on the millennial events of the most recent glacial period. High temporal resolution and a small gas-age/ice-age difference enable unprecedented precision in the analysis of phasing between these records. Our analysis reveals large amplitude millennial variability in the deuterium excess, a proxy for moisture source conditions and atmospheric circulation, which is out of phase with local site temperatures. On the other hand, this variability is in phase with atmospheric methane, which likely records changes in tropical hydrology and co-varies with Greenland temperatures during abrupt millennial Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO) events. Using a logarithmic definition of the deuterium excess, we show that these changes were probably near symmetric around Antarctica; the historical (linear) definition of the parameter appears to misrepresent millennial to multi-millennial variability at high East Antarctic ice core sites. Modeling experiments show that asymmetric warming of the hemispheres, a defining characteristic of these millennial events, should shift the position of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and in turn the Southern sub-polar jet. Postulated ITCZ shifts can, in principle, help to explain the rapid rise in methane that accompanies abrupt Northern Hemisphere warming events by varying tropical rainfall patterns. Our observations are the first to show that these tropical changes may have directly influenced moisture sources and atmospheric circulation in the high southern latitudes, as recorded by the deuterium excess. We support these paleoclimate observations with isotope tracing atmospheric modeling experiments.

1. Mount Logan ice core record of tropical and solar influences on Aleutian Low variability: 500-1998 A.D.

Osterberg, Erich C.; Mayewski, Paul A.; Fisher, David A.; Kreutz, Karl J.; Maasch, Kirk A.; Sneed, Sharon B.; Kelsey, Eric

2014-10-01

Continuous, high-resolution paleoclimate records from the North Pacific region spanning the past 1500 years are rare; and the behavior of the Aleutian Low (ALow) pressure center, the dominant climatological feature in the Gulf of Alaska, remains poorly constrained. Here we present a continuous, 1500 year long, calibrated proxy record for the strength of the wintertime (December-March) ALow from the Mount Logan summit (PR Col; 5200 m asl) ice core soluble sodium time series. We show that ice core sodium concentrations are statistically correlated with North Pacific sea level pressure and zonal wind speed. Our ALow proxy record reveals a weak ALow from circa 900-1300 A.D. and 1575-1675 A.D., and a comparatively stronger ALow from circa 500-900 A.D., 1300-1575 A.D., and 1675 A.D. to present. The Mount Logan ALow proxy record shows strong similarities with tropical paleoclimate proxy records sensitive to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and is consistent with the hypothesis that the Medieval Climate Anomaly was characterized by more persistent La Niña-like conditions while the Little Ice Age was characterized by at least two intervals of more persistent El Niño-like conditions. The Mount Logan ALow proxy record is significantly (p < 0.05) correlated and coherent with solar irradiance proxy records over various time scales, with stronger solar irradiance generally associated with a weaker ALow and La Niña-like tropical conditions. However, a step-like increase in ALow strength during the Dalton solar minimum circa 1820 is associated with enhanced Walker circulation. Furthermore, rising CO2 forcing or internal variability may be masking the twentieth century rise in solar irradiance.

2. Recent Climate in Greenland Through Ice Cores and Self-organizing Maps

Reusch, D. B.; McConnell, J. R.; Alley, R. B.

2007-12-01

Recent years have seen a large increase in the availability of high-quality ice cores from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) and the subsequent development of many new high-resolution proxy climate records. Here we apply a relatively new, nonlinear approach using self-organizing maps (SOMs) to study the spatial and temporal variability seen in accumulation records from 50-plus GIS sites covering part or all of the period 1957-2002. SOMs provide an unsupervised classification of complex geophysical data sets, e.g., time series of the atmospheric circulation or sea-ice extent, into a fixed number of distinct generalized patterns, or modes, that represent the probability density function (PDF) of the input data. These patterns collectively provide a nonlinear classification of the continuum of the PDF into a two-dimensional, spatially organized grid form. In contrast to principal component analysis, SOMs do not force orthogonality or require subjective rotations to produce interpretable patterns. Results from analyses of annual accumulation show that the SOM readily captures the high spatial diversity seen in climate records from the GIS, including nonlinear gradients in latitude and elevation. For example, sites in the northern and central regions (e.g. Humboldt, NASA-U) tend to be unrelated to sites in the south and east (e.g., Das1, STUNUA). Sites within the south/southeast also show richer patterns of variability than simply above or below average accumulation. Understanding these relationships, and the spatial complexity of Greenland's climate, is key to improving our ice core-based reconstructions of past climate and projecting possible future changes in the GIS. The SOM algorithm is widely held to be robust in the presence of incomplete input data, a characteristic typical of multi-site/project ice core analyses. Here we examine the sensitivity of the SOM-derived accumulation patterns and reconstructed site records to changes in the number of sites and record lengths. This explores the information available from this climate dataset and gives insight to which sites "matter" the most in understanding ice sheet history (as well as testing the analysis technique itself). When combined with ongoing SOM-based analyses of the atmospheric circulation, we anticipate new insights into the complex climate of this region, including relationships with phenomena such as the North Atlantic Oscillation/Arctic Oscillation.

3. Globally synchronous ice core volcanic tracers and abrupt cooling during the last glacial period

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bay, R.C.; Bramall, N.E.; Price, P.B.; Clow, G.D.; Hawley, R.L.; Udisti, R.; Castellano, E.

2006-01-01

We perform a Monte Carlo pattern recognition analysis of the coincidence between three regional volcanic histories from ice coring of Greenland and Antarctica over the period 2 to 45 ka, using SO4 anomalies in Greenland and East Antarctica determined by continuous core chemistry, together with West Antarctic volcanic ash layers determined by remote optical borehole logging and core assays. We find that the Antarctic record of volcanism correlates with Glacial abrupt climate change at a 95% to >99.8% (???3??) significance level and that volcanic depositions at the three locations match at levels exceeding 3??, likely indicating that many common horizons represent single eruptive events which dispersed material world wide. These globally coincident volcanics were associated with abrupt cooling, often simultaneous with onsets or sudden intensifications of millennial cold periods. The striking agreement between sites implies that the consistency of current timescales obtained by isotopic and glaciological dating methods is better than estimated. Copyright 2006 by the American Geogphysical Union.

4. 30-Year Satellite Record Reveals Contrasting Arctic and Antarctic Decadal Sea Ice Variability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cavalieri, D. J.; Parkinson, C. L.; Vinnikov, K. Y.

2003-01-01

A 30-year satellite record of sea ice extents derived mostly from satellite microwave radiometer observations reveals that the Arctic sea ice extent decreased by 0.30+0.03 x 10(exp 6) square kilometers per 10 yr from 1972 through 2002, but by 0.36 plus or minus 0.05 x 10(exp 6) square kilometers per 10yr from 1979 through 2002, indicating an acceleration of 20% in the rate of decrease. In contrast, the Antarctic sea ice extent decreased dramatically over the period 1973-1977, then gradually increased. Over the full 30-year period, the Antarctic ice extent decreased by 0.15 plus or minus 0.08 x 10(exp 6) square kilometers per 10 yr. The trend reversal is attributed to a large positive anomaly in Antarctic sea ice extent in the early 1970's, an anomaly that apparently began in the late 1960's, as observed in early visible and infrared satellite images.

5. Solving the riddle of interglacial temperatures over the last 1.5 million years with a future IPICS "Oldest Ice" ice core

Fischer, Hubertus

2014-05-01

The sequence of the last 8 glacial cycles is characterized by irregular 100,000 year cycles in temperature and sea level. In contrast, the time period between 1.5-1.2 million years ago is characterized by more regular cycles with an obliquity periodicity of 41,000 years. Based on a deconvolution of deep ocean temperature and ice volume contributions to benthic δ18O (Elderfield et al., Science, 2012), it is suggested that glacial sea level became progressively lower over the last 1.5 Myr, while glacial deep ocean temperatures were very similar. At the same time many interglacials prior to the Mid Brunhes event showed significantly cooler deep ocean temperatures than the Holocene, while at the same time interglacial ice volume remained essentially the same. In contrast, interglacial sea surface temperatures in the tropics changed little (Herbert et al., Science,2010) and proxy reconstructions of atmospheric CO2 using δ11B in planktic foraminifera (Hönisch et al., Science, 2009) suggest that prior to 900,000 yr before present interglacial CO2 levels did not differ substantially from those over the last 450,000 years. Accordingly, the conundrum arises how interglacials can differ in deep ocean temperature without any obvious change in ice volume or greenhouse gas forcing and what caused the change in cyclicity of glacial interglacial cycles over the Mid Pleistocene Transition. Probably the most important contribution to solve this riddle is the recovery of a 1.5 Myr old ice core from Antarctica, which among others would provide an unambiguous, high-resolution record of the greenhouse gas history over this time period. Accordingly, the international ice core community, as represented by the International Partnership for Ice Core Science (IPICS), has identified such an 'Oldest Ice' ice core as one of the most important scientific targets for the future (http://www.pages.unibe.ch/ipics/white-papers). However, finding stratigraphically undisturbed ice, which covers this time period in Antarctica, is not an easy task. Based on a simple ice and heat flow model and glaciological observations (Fischer et al., Climate of the Past, 2013), we conclude that sites in the vicinity of major domes and saddle positions on the East Antarctic Plateau will most likely have such old ice in store and represent the best study areas for dedicated reconnaissance studies in the near future. In contrast to previous ice core drill site selections, however, significantly reduced ice thickness is required to avoid bottom melting. The most critical parameter is the largely unknown geothermal heat flux at the bottom of the ice sheet. For example for the geothermal heat flux and accumulation conditions at Dome C, an ice thickness lower than but close to about 2500 m would be required to find 1.5 My old ice. If sites with lower geothermal heat flux can be found, also a higher ice thickness is allowed, alleviating the problem of potential flow disturbances in the bottom-most ice to affect a 1.5 Myr climate record.

6. Rare earth elements in an ice core from Mt. Everest: Seasonal variations and potential sources

Zhang, Qianggong; Kang, Shichang; Kaspari, Susan; Li, Chaoliu; Qin, Dahe; Mayewski, Paul A.; Hou, Shugui

2009-10-01

Rare earth element (REE) concentrations in ice samples from the upper 8.4 m of a Mt. Everest ice core retrieved from the col of the East Rongbuk Glacier (28.03°N, 86.96°E, 6518 m a.s.l.) on the northeast ridge of Mt. Everest in September 2002 are presented. REEs display large seasonal variations, with high concentrations in the non-monsoon season and low concentrations in the summer monsoon season. This seasonality is useful for ice core dating. When normalized to a shale standard, the Mt. Everest REEs exhibit a consistent shale-like pattern with a slight enrichment of middle REEs during both seasons. However, individual monsoon REE patterns display differences, possibly resulting from diversified sources. Non-monsoon REE patterns are stable and are associated with the westerlies. Investigation of potential sources for the Everest REEs suggests an absence of anthropogenic contributions and minimal input from local provenances. REEs in Mt. Everest samples are most likely representative of a stable well-mixed REE background of the upper troposphere consisting of a mixture of aerosols transported by the atmospheric circulation from the west windward arid regions such as the Thar Desert, West Asia, the Sahara Desert and other uncertain provenances.

7. Late glacial stage and holocene tropical ice core records from huascaran, peru.

PubMed

Thompson, L G; Mosley-Thompson, E; Davis, M E; Lin, P N; Henderson, K A; Cole-Dai, J; Bolzan, J F; Liu, K B

1995-07-01

Two ice cores from the col of Huascarán in the north-central Andes of Peru contain a paleoclimatic history extending well into the Wisconsinan (Würm) Glacial Stage and include evidence of the Younger Dryas cool phase. Glacial stage conditions at high elevations in the tropics appear to have been as much as 8 degrees to 12 degrees C cooler than today, the atmosphere contained about 200 times as much dust, and the Amazon Basin forest cover may have been much less extensive. Differences in both the oxygen isotope ratio zeta(18)O (8 per mil) and the deuterium excess (4.5 per mil) from the Late Glacial Stage to the Holocene are comparable with polar ice core records. These data imply that the tropical Atlantic was possibly 5 degrees to 6 degrees C cooler during the Late Glacial Stage, that the climate was warmest from 8400 to 5200 years before present, and that it cooled gradually, culminating with the Little Ice Age (200 to 500 years before present). A strong warming has dominated the last two centuries. PMID:17787701

8. The IceCube data acquisition system for galactic core collapse supernova searches

SciTech Connect

Baum, Volker; Collaboration: IceCube Collaboration

2014-11-18

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory was designed to detect highly energetic neutrinos. The detector was built as a lattice of 5160 photomultiplier tubes monitoring one cubic kilometer of clear Antarctic ice. Due to low photomultiplier dark noise rates in the cold and radio-pure ice, IceCube is also able to detect bursts of O(10MeV) neutrinos expected to be emitted from core collapse supernovae. The detector will provide the world’s highest statistical precision for the lightcurves of galactic supernovae by observing an induced collective rise in all photomultiplier rates [1]. This paper presents the supernova data acquisition system, the search algorithms for galactic supernovae, as well as the recently implemented HitSpooling DAQ extension. HitSpooling will overcome the current limitation of transmitting photomultiplier rates in intervals of 1.6384 ms by storing all recorded time-stamped hits for supernova candidate triggers. From the corresponding event-based information, the average neutrino energy can be estimated and the background induced by detector noise and atmospheric muons can be reduced.

9. Non-Target Analyses of organic compounds in ice cores using HPLC-ESI-UHRMS

Zuth, Christoph; Müller-Tautges, Christina; Eichler, Anja; Schwikowski, Margit; Hoffmann, Thorsten

2015-04-01

To study the global climatic and environmental changes it is necessary to know the environmental and especially atmospheric conditions of the past. By analysing climate archives, such as for example ice cores, unique environmental information can be obtained. In contrast to the well-established analysis of inorganic species in ice cores, organic compounds have been analysed in ice cores to a much smaller extent. Because of current analytical limitations it has become commonplace to focus on 'total organic carbon' measurements or specific classes of organic molecules, as no analytical methods exist that can provide a broad characterization of the organic material present[1]. On the one hand, it is important to focus on already known atmospheric markers in ice cores and to quantify, where possible, in order to compare them to current conditions. On the other hand, unfortunately a wealth of information is lost when only a small fraction of the organic material is examined. However, recent developments in mass spectrometry in respect to higher mass resolution and mass accuracy enable a new approach to the analysis of complex environmental samples. The qualitative characterization of the complex mixture of water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) in the ice using high-resolution mass spectrometry allows for novel insights concerning the composition and possible sources of aerosol derived WSOC deposited at glacier sites. By performing a non-target analysis of an ice core from the Swiss Alps using previous enrichment by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and high performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-UHRMS) 475 elemental formulas distributed onto 659 different peaks were detected. The elemental formulas were classified according to their elemental composition into CHO-, CHON-, CHOS-, CHONS-containing compounds and 'others'. Several methods for the analysis of complex data sets of high resolution mass spectrometry were applied to the results of the non-target analysis. By various classifications in Van Krevelen plots[2], amino acids and degradation products of proteins as well as degradation products of lignins have been determined as the main components of the ice core. Furthermore, the majority of WSOC molecular formulas identified in this non-target analysis had molar H/C and O/C ratios similar to mono- and di-carboxylic acids and SOAs[3]. Studies of the carbon oxidation state as a metric for describing the chemistry of atmospheric organic aerosol showed that a majority of the elemental formulas can be associated with the combustion of biomass as a major source of the WSOC[4]. References: [1] Grannas et al., J. Geophys Res.,2006, 111 [2] Sleighter, RL, Hatcher, PG, J. Mass Spectrom., 2007, 42, 559-574 [3] Wozniak et al., Atmos. Chem. Phys., 2008, 8, 5099-5111 [4] Kroll et al., Nature Chemistry, 2011, 3, 133-139

10. Factors affecting the reproducibility of trace element analyses of ice core samples

Rhodes, R. H.; Baker, J.; Millet, M.; Bertler, N.

2010-12-01

Ice cores provide high-resolution records of past atmospheric and environmental conditions. Increasingly, conventional stable isotope and major ion analyses of ice cores are being complimented by determination of ultra-trace levels of trace elements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Typically, these analyses are performed on acidified, melted, ice without removal of particulates by centrifugation or filtration. We have carried out a systematic investigation of the factors influencing the reproducibility of trace element determinations in ice core samples, which can be considered to contain three inorganic chemical components: marine salt, aerosol and mineral dust. The prevalent method of ICP-MS analysis of ice core samples involves analysing acidified samples (typically to 1% HNO3). To mimic these conditions, we undertook systematic leaching experiments on geochemically well-characterised, powdered, rock standards to examine how trace element measurements varied depending on the length of the acidification time, whether samples were frozen after acidification or not, dust lithology and the dust concentration. Four certified standards were leached at a dust concentration of 10 ppm in 1% HNO3 and leachates were sampled at regular time intervals up to a period of several months. The standards encompass a range of lithologies and textures, including basalt (BHVO-2), dolerite (W-2), granite (JG-2) and Fe-Mn oxyhydroxide (Nod P-1) materials. The basalt, dolerite and granite all have silicate mineralogies and showed some similar trace element trends during leaching. For example, the concentration of Al in the leachates increased by between 125% and 280% during the first 12 hr and did not stop rising after 8 weeks of leaching. In contrast, rare earth element and Y concentrations in the leachates became constant after just 2 hr. However, total element recovery differed between lithologies. After 12 hr of acidification the recovery of elements from Na to Mn was less than 10% for basalt and dolerite but was significantly higher for the granite, reaching up to 57% for Mg. For the Nod P-1 standard, nearly all elements reached a constant leachate concentration after 12 hr, but recovery of different elements varied from 3.5% to 80%. These patterns of trace element leaching were similar at different dust concentrations, however, freezing of acidified samples promotes leaching of elements such as Zr and Ti. These results reflect variable and time-dependent leaching of different elements from different mineral constituents in the rock standards which has important implications for ultra-trace element analysis of ice core material: (1) trace element concentrations and ratios will generally not reflect that of the source dust material; (2) trace element concentrations and ratios will vary considerably (more than an order of magnitude) depending on the acidification time; (3) trace element concentrations determined on ice core material containing mineral dust will not be reproducible unless dust is removed prior to acidification and ICP-MS analysis.

11. High permafrost ice contents in Holocene slope deposits as observed from shallow geophysics and a coring program in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Canada

Carbonneau, A.; Allard, M.; L'Hérault, E.; LeBlanc, A.

2011-12-01

A study of permafrost conditions was undertaken in the Hamlet of Pangnirtung, Nunavut, by the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) and Université Laval's Centre d'études nordiques (CEN) to support decision makers in their community planning work. The methods used for this project were based on geophysical and geomorphological approaches, including permafrost cores drilled in surficial deposits and ground penetrating radar surveys using a GPR Pulse EKKO 100 extending to the complete community area and to its projected expansion sector. Laboratory analysis allowed a detailed characterization of permafrost in terms of water contents, salinity and grain size. Cryostratigraphic analysis was done via CT-Scan imagery of frozen cores using medical imaging softwares such as Osiris. This non destructive method allows a 3D imaging of the entire core in order to locate the amount of the excess ice, determine the volumetric ice content and also interpret the ice-formation processes that took place during freezing of the permafrost. Our new map of the permafrost conditions in Pangnirtung illustrates that the dominant mapping unit consist of ice-rich colluvial deposits. Aggradationnal ice formed syngenitically with slope sedimentation. Buried soils were found imbedded in this colluvial layer and demonstrates that colluviation associated with overland-flow during snowmelt occurred almost continuously since 7080 cal. BP. In the eastern sector of town, the 1 to 4 meters thick colluviums cover till and a network of ice wedges that were revealed as spaced hyperbolic reflectors on GPR profiles. The colluviums also cover ice-rich marine silt and bedrock in the western sector of the hamlet; marine shells found in a permafrost core yielded a radiocarbon date of 9553 cal. BP which provides a revised age for the local deglaciation and also a revised marine submergence limit. Among the applied methods, shallow drilling in coarse grained permafrost, core recovery and CT-Scan allowed the discovery of the importance of Holocene slope processes on shaping the surface of the terrain and leading to the observed cryostructures and ice contents in the near surface permafrost.

12. Low-energy neutrino search for dark matter in the Galactic Center with IceCube-DeepCore

SciTech Connect

Flis, Samuel; Collaboration: IceCube Collaboration

2014-11-18

The cubic-kilometer sized IceCube neutrino observatory, constructed in the glacial ice at the South Pole, offers new opportunities for neutrino physics to reach lower neutrino energies with its in-fill array 'DeepCore'. A set of analysis techniques where the outer layers of IceCube are used as a veto makes it possible to reject atmospheric muons and thereby allows low-energy neutrino searches to be performed above the horizon. With these techniques the Galactic Center, an important target in searches for self-annihilating dark matter, becomes accessible for IceCube. In this contribution, we present the status of the Galactic Center dark matter analysis, using more than 10 months of data taken with the 79-string configuration of IceCube-DeepCore, as well as the new veto techniques used in the analysis.

13. Improved stratigraphic dating at a low accumulation Alpine ice core through laser ablation trace element profiling at sub-mm depth resolution

Bohleber, Pascal; Spaulding, Nicole; Mayewski, Paul; Sneed, Sharon; Handley, Mike; Erhardt, Tobias; Wagenbach, Dietmar

2015-04-01

The small scale Colle Gnifetti glacier saddle (4450 m asl, Monte Rosa region) is the only ice core drilling site in the European Alps with a net accumulation low enough to offer multi-millennia climate records. However, a robust interpretation of such long term records (i.e. mineral dust, stable water isotopes) at the Colle Gnifetti (CG) multi core array is strongly challenged by depositional noise associated with a highly irregular annual layer stratigraphy. In combination with a relatively large vertical strain rate and rapid layer thinning, annual layer counting gets increasingly ambiguous as of approximately 100 years. In addition, this prevents clear attribution of likely volcanic horizons to historical eruption dates. To improve stratigraphic dating under such intricate conditions, we deployed laser ablation (LA) ICP-MS at sub-mm sample resolution. We present here the first LA impurity profiles from a new Colle Gnifetti ice core drilled 73 m to bedrock in 2013 at a site where the net snow accumulation is around 20 cm w.e. per year. We contrast the LA signal variability (including Ca, Fe, Na) to continuous flow analyses (CFA) records at cm-resolution (Ca, Na, melt water conductivity, micro- particle) recorded over the whole core length. Of special concern are the lower 28 m to bedrock, which have been continuously profiled in LA Ca, thus offering the direct comparison of Ca-signals between CFA and LA. By this means, we first validate at upper depths LA based annual layer identification through agreement with CFA based counting efforts before demonstrating the LA based counting still works at depths where CFA derived annual layers become spurious since embedded in strong, multi-year cycles. Finally, LA ice core profiling of our CG core has potential for not only dating improvement but also reveals benefits in resolving highly thinned basal ice sections including accounting for micro-structural features such as grain boundaries.

14. IceCube, DeepCore, PINGU and the indirect search for supersymmetric dark matter

SciTech Connect

Bergeron, Paul; Profumo, Stefano E-mail: profumo@ucsc.edu

2014-01-01

The discovery of a particle that could be the lightest CP-even Higgs of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM) and the lack of evidence so far for supersymmetry at the LHC have many profound implications, including for the phenomenology of supersymmetric dark matter. In this study, we re-evaluate and give an update on the prospects for detecting supersymmetric neutralinos with neutrino telescopes, focussing in particular on the IceCube/DeepCore Telescope as well as on its proposed extension, PINGU. Searches for high-energy neutrinos from the Sun with IceCube probe MSSM neutralino dark matter models with the correct Higgs mass in a significant way. This is especially the case for neutralino dark matter models producing hard neutrino spectra, across a wide range of masses, while PINGU is anticipated to improve the detector sensitivity especially for models in the low neutralino mass range.

15. Aurora Basin North (ABN) &amp;ndash; a new 2000 year ice core record from East Antarctica

Curran, Mark

2015-04-01

Southern Hemisphere climate reconstructions are limited by quantity and spatial coverage of well resolved paleo-climate records from the last 2000 years. This was the motivation to drill an ice core at a new site in East Antarctica, 550km inland and about half way between the coastal Law Dome and inland Dome C sites. Drilling of a 303m ice core was completed in Jan 2014 and here we present the first results from the top 80m of this new ice core. The ABN project is focussed on understanding the variability over the last 2000 years of a range of climate parameters including, temperature, snowfall, volcanic forcing, solar forcing, greenhouse gas forcing, sea ice extent, atmospheric variability (ENSO, SAM, IPO), dust sources from Australia, and biomass burning events.

16. Changes in Black Carbon Deposition to Antarctica from Two Ice Core Records, A.D. 1850-2000

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bisiaux, Marion M.; Edward, Ross; McConnell, Joseph R.; Curran, Mark A. J.; VanOmmen, Tas D.; Smith, Andrew M.; Neumann, Thomas A.; Pasteris, Daniel R.; Penner, Joyce E.; Taylor, Kendrick

2012-01-01

Continuous flow analysis was based on a steady sample flow and in-line detection of BC and other chemical substances as described in McConnell et al. (2007). In the cold room, previously cut one meter ice core sticks of 3x3cm, are melted continuously on a heated melter head specifically designed to eliminate contamination from the atmosphere or by the external parts of the ice. The melted ice from the most inner part of the ice stick is continuously pumped by a peristaltic pump and carried to a clean lab by Teflon lines. The recorded signal is continuous, integrating a sample volume of about 0.05 mL, for which the temporal resolution depends on the speed of melting, ice density and snow accumulation rate at the ice core drilling site. For annual accumulation derived from the WAIS and Law Dome ice cores, we assumed 3.1 cm water equivalent uncertainty in each year's accumulation from short scale spatial variability (glaciological noise) which was determined from several measurements of annual accumulation in multiple parallel ice cores notably from the WAIS Divide ice core site (Banta et al., 2008) and from South Pole site (McConnell et al., 1997; McConnell et al., 2000). Refractory black carbon (rBC) concentrations were determined using the same method as in (Bisiaux et al., 2011) and adapted to continuous flow measurements as described by (McConnell et al., 2007). The technique uses a single particle intracavity laser induced incandescence photometer (SP2, Droplet Measurement Technologies, Boulder, Colorado) coupled to an ultrasonic nebulizer/desolvation (CETAC UT5000) Flow Injection Analysis (FIA). All analyses, sample preparation etc, were performed in a class 100 cleanroom using anti contamination "clean techniques". The samples were not acidified.

17. Changes in atmospheric carbonyl sulfide over the last 54,000 years inferred from measurements in Antarctic ice cores

Aydin, M.; Campbell, J. E.; Fudge, T. J.; Cuffey, K. M.; Nicewonger, M. R.; Verhulst, K. R.; Saltzman, E. S.

2016-02-01

We measured carbonyl sulfide (COS) in air extracted from ice core samples from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide, Antarctica, with the deepest sample dated to 54,300 years before present. These are the first ice core COS measurements spanning the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the last glacial/interglacial transition, and the early Holocene. The WAIS Divide measurements from the LGM and the last transition are the first COS measurements in air extracted from full clathrate (bubble-free) ice. This study also includes new COS measurements from Taylor Dome, Antarctica, including some in bubbly glacial ice that are concurrent with the WAIS Divide data from clathrate glacial ice. COS hydrolyzes in ice core air bubbles, and the recovery of an atmospheric record requires correcting for this loss. The data presented here suggest that the in situ hydrolysis of COS is significantly slower in clathrate ice than in bubbly ice. The clathrate ice measurements are corrected for the hydrolysis loss during the time spent as bubbly ice only. The corrected WAIS Divide record indicates that atmospheric COS was 250-300 parts per trillion (ppt) during the LGM and declined by 80-100 ppt during the last glacial/interglacial transition to a minimum of 160-210 ppt at the beginning of the Holocene. This decline was likely caused by an increase in the gross primary productivity of terrestrial plants, with a possible contribution from a reduction in ocean sources. COS levels were above 300 ppt in the late Holocene, indicating that large changes in the COS biogeochemical cycle occurred during the Holocene.

18. Phylogenetic and physiological diversity of microorganisms isolated from a deep greenland glacier ice core

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miteva, V. I.; Sheridan, P. P.; Brenchley, J. E.

2004-01-01

We studied a sample from the GISP 2 (Greenland Ice Sheet Project) ice core to determine the diversity and survival of microorganisms trapped in the ice at least 120,000 years ago. Previously, we examined the phylogenetic relationships among 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences in a clone library obtained by PCR amplification from genomic DNA extracted from anaerobic enrichments. Here we report the isolation of nearly 800 aerobic organisms that were grouped by morphology and amplified rDNA restriction analysis patterns to select isolates for further study. The phylogenetic analyses of 56 representative rDNA sequences showed that the isolates belonged to four major phylogenetic groups: the high-G+C gram-positives, low-G+C gram-positives, Proteobacteria, and the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides group. The most abundant and diverse isolates were within the high-G+C gram-positive cluster that had not been represented in the clone library. The Jukes-Cantor evolutionary distance matrix results suggested that at least 7 isolates represent new species within characterized genera and that 49 are different strains of known species. The isolates were further categorized based on the isolation conditions, temperature range for growth, enzyme activity, antibiotic resistance, presence of plasmids, and strain-specific genomic variations. A significant observation with implications for the development of novel and more effective cultivation methods was that preliminary incubation in anaerobic and aerobic liquid prior to plating on agar media greatly increased the recovery of CFU from the ice core sample.

19. Variations of ion concentrations in the deep ice core and surface snow at NEEM, Greenland

Goto-Azuma, K.; Wegner, A.; Hansson, M.; Hirabayashi, M.; Kuramoto, T.; Miyake, T.; Motoyama, H.; NEEM Aerosol Consortium members

2012-04-01

Discrete samples were collected from the CFA (Continuous Flow Analysis) melt fractions during the field campaign carried out at NEEM, Greenland in 2009-2011, and were distributed to different laboratories. Ionic species were analyzed at National Institute of Polar Research (Japan) and Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (Germany). Here we present and compare the ion concentration data obtained by both institutes. Most of the ions show good agreement between the two institutes. As is indicated with the CFA data (Bigler and the NEEM Aerosol Consortium members, EGU 2012), ion chromatograph data also display that calcium and sodium, mainly originated from terrestrial dust and sea-salt, respectively, show large variations associated with Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO) events. Chloride, fluoride, sulfate, sodium, potassium and magnesium also show such variations, as has been already reported for other Greenland ice cores. New ion data obtained from the NEEM deep core also show large variability of oxalate and phosphate concentrations during DO events. Acetate, which is thought to be mainly derived from biomass burning, as is oxalate, appears to show variability associated with DO events, but to a lesser extent. On the other hand, nitrate, ammonium and methanesulfonate do not show such variations. Together with ion data from the deep ice core, we present those from the pits dug during the NEEM field campaign to discuss seasonal variations of ionic species. The seasonal and millennial scale variations of ions are thought to be caused by changes in atmospheric circulation and source strength.

20. Deposition history of brominated flame retardant compounds in an ice core from Holtedahlfonna, Svalbard, Norway.

PubMed

Hermanson, Mark H; Isaksson, Elisabeth; Forsström, Sanja; Teixeira, Camilla; Muir, Derek C G; Pohjola, Veijo A; van de Wal, Roderik S V

2010-10-01

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been found in Arctic wildlife, lake sediment, and air. To identify the atmospheric BFR deposition history on Svalbard, Norway, we analyzed 19 BFRs, including hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), and 15 polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners (PBDE) in the upper 34 m of an ice core (representing 1953-2005) from Holtedahlfonna, the western-most ice sheet on Svalbard. All of the non-PBDE compounds were detected in nearly continuous profiles in the core. Seven PBDEs were not observed above background (28, 47, 66, 100, 99, 154, 153), while 4 were found in 1 or 2 of 6 segments (17, 85, 138, 183). BDEs-49, 71, 190, 209 had nearly continuous profiles but only BDE-209 in large amounts. The greatest inputs were HBCD and BDE-209, 910, and 320 pg cm(-2) yr(-1) from 1995-2005. DBDPE, BTBPE, and PBEB show nearly continuous input growth in recent core segments, but all were <6 pg cm(-2) yr(-1). Long-range atmospheric processes may have moved these particle-bound BFRs to the site, probably during the Arctic haze season. Average air mass trajectories over 10 years show >75% of atmospheric flow to Holtedahlfonna coming from Eurasia during haze periods (March and April). PMID:20839863

1. Fluorescense Measurements of Microbial Life in the WAIS Divide Ice Core

Rohde, R. A.; Bramall, N. E.; Price, B.; Bay, R. C.

2009-12-01

We present a combination of autofluorescence studies and direct biological examinations to characterize the abundance and type of microbes in the WAIS Divide Ice Core. Rapid one-dimensional fluorescence scans were conducted on 2/3rds of the 580 meters thus far archived from WAIS Divide in order to characterize both the bulk abundance of microbes and the fraction that were phototrophs. These scans show a greater than 90% loss of cells during the ~120 m over which snow and firn are compacted into ice, with additional slow declines thereafter. In addition, detailed mapping was conducted on a dozen selected pieces from the core to further characterize the microbial abundance and distribution within each piece. Typical cell distributions were found to be highly heterogeneous, with clumping commonly observed. This work also established that contamination from drill fluid frequently penetrates approximately 2.5 mm from the exterior surface of the core. After the fluorescence scans were completed, these selected pieces were melted and their biological content studied via direct examination. These observations have allowed us to calibrate fluorescence to cell counts directly and characterize representative microbial types.

2. A new Himalayan ice core CH4 record: possible hints at the preindustrial latitudinal gradient

Hou, S.; Chappellaz, J.; Raynaud, D.; Masson-Delmotte, V.; Jouzel, J.; Bousquet, P.; Hauglustaine, D.

2013-11-01

Two ice cores recovered from the Himalayan East Rongbuk (ER) Glacier on the northeast saddle of Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) (28°01' N, 86°58' E, 6518 m above sea level) give access to a tentative record of past Himalayan atmospheric mixing ratio of CH4 spanning the past 1200 yr. The major part of the record is affected by artifacts probably due to in situ production. After selecting what may represent the true atmospheric mixing ratio, an average of 749 ± 25 ppbv of CH4 is estimated for the late preindustrial Holocene, which is ~ 36 ± 17 (~ 73 ± 18) ppbv higher than the atmospheric levels recorded in the Greenland (Antarctic) ice cores. A comparison of these new data with model simulations of the CH4 latitudinal gradient suggests either that the models do not get a correct balance between high and low latitude CH4 sources, or that the filtered CH4 profile from the ER cores remains biased by small artifacts.

3. A new Himalayan ice core CH4 record: possible hints on the preindustrial latitudinal gradient

Hou, S.; Chappellaz, J.; Raynaud, D.; Masson-Delmotte, V.; Jouzel, J.; Bousquet, P.; Hauglustaine, D.

2013-05-01

Two ice cores recovered from the Himalayan East Rongbuk (ER) Glacier on the northeast saddle of Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) (28° 01' N, 86° 58' E, 6518 m a.s.l.) give access to a tentative record of past Himalayan atmospheric mixing ratio of CH4 spanning the past 1200 yr. The major part of the record is affected by artefacts probably due to in-situ production. After selecting what may represent the true atmospheric mixing ratio, an average of 749 ± 25 ppbv of CH4 is estimated for the late preindustrial Holocene, which is ~ 36 ± 17 (~ 73 ± 18) ppbv higher than the atmospheric levels recorded respectively in Greenland and Antarctic ice cores. A comparison of these new data with model simulations of the CH4 latitudinal gradient suggests either that the models do not get a correct balance between high and low latitude CH4 sources, or that the filtered CH4 profile from the ER cores remains infected by small artefacts.

4. Isotopic composition of ice cores and meltwater from upper fremont glacier and Galena Creek rock glacier, Wyoming

USGS Publications Warehouse

DeWayne, Cecil L.; Green, J.R.; Vogt, S.; Michel, R.; Cottrell, G.

1998-01-01

Meltwater runoff from glaciers can result from various sources, including recent precipitation and melted glacial ice. Determining the origin of the meltwater from glaciers through isotopic analysis can provide information about such things as the character and distribution of ablation on glaciers. A 9.4 m ice core and meltwater were collected in 1995 and 1996 at the glacigenic Galena Creek rock glacier in Wyoming's Absaroka Mountains. Measurements of chlorine-36 (36Cl), tritium (3H), sulphur-35 (35S), and delta oxygen-18 (??18O) were compared to similar measurements from an ice core taken from the Upper Fremont Glacier in the Wind River Range of Wyoming collected in 1991-95. Meltwater samples from three sites on the rock glacier yielded 36Cl concentrations that ranged from 2.1 ?? 1.0 X 106 to 5.8??0.3 X 106 atoms/l. The ice-core 36Cl concentrations from Galena Creek ranged from 3.4??0.3 X 105 to 1.0??0.1 X 106 atoms/l. Analysis of an ice core from the Upper Fremont Glacier yielded 36Cl concentrations of 1.2??0.2 X 106 and 5.2??0.2 X 106 atoms/l for pre- 1940 ice and between 2 X 106 and 3 X 106 atoms/l for post-1980 ice. Purdue's PRIME Lab analyzed the ice from the Upper Fremont Glacier. The highest concentration of 36Cl in the ice was 77 ?? 2 X 106 atoms/l and was deposited during the peak of atmospheric nuclear weapons testing in the late 1950s. This is an order of magnitude greater than the largest measured concentration from both the Upper Fremont Glacier ice core that was not affected by weapons testing fallout and the ice core collected from the Galena Creek rock glacier. Tritium concentrations from the rock glacier ranged from 9.2??0.6 to 13.2??0.8 tritium units (TU) in the meltwater to -1.3??1.3 TU in the ice core. Concentrations of 3H in the Upper Fremont Glacier ice core ranged from 0 TU in the ice older than 50 years to 6-12 TU in the ice deposited in the last 10 years. The maximum 3H concentration in ice from the Upper Fremont Glacier deposited in the early 1960s during peak weapons testing fallout for this isotope was 360 TU. One meltwater sample from the rock glacier was analyzed for 35S with a measured concentration of 5.4??1.0 millibecquerel per liter (mBeq/l). Modern precipitation in the Rocky Mountains contains 35S from 10 to 40 mBeq/L. The ??18O results in meltwater from the Galena Creek rock glacier (-17.40??0.1 to -17.98??0.1 per mil) are similar to results for modern precipitation in the Rocky Mountains. Comparison of these isotopic concentrations from the two glaciers suggest that the meltwater at the Galena Creek site is composed mostly of melted snow and rain that percolates through the rock debris that covers the glacier. Additionally, this water from the rock debris is much younger (less than two years) than the reported age of about 2000 years for the subsurface ice at the mid-glacier coring site. Thus the meltwater from the Galena Creek rock glacier is composed primarily of melted surface snow and rain water rather than melted glacier ice, supporting previous estimates of slow ablation rates beneath the surface debris of the rock glacier.

5. Millennial and Sub-millennial Variability of Total Air Content from the WAIS Divide Ice Core

Edwards, Jon; Brook, Edward; Fegyveresi, John; Lee, James; Mitchell, Logan; Sowers, Todd; Alley, Richard; McConnell, Joe; Severinghaus, Jeff; Baggenstos, Daniel

2014-05-01

The analysis of ancient air bubbles trapped in ice is integral to the reconstruction of climate over the last 800 ka. While mixing ratios of greenhouse gases along with isotopic ratios are being studied in ever increasing resolution, one aspect of the gas record that continues to be understudied is the total air content (TAC) of the trapped bubbles. Published records of TAC are often too low in temporal resolution to adequately capture sub-millennial scale variability. Here we present a high-resolution TAC record (10-50 year sampling resolution) from the WAIS Divide ice core, measured at Oregon State and Penn State Universities. The records cover a variety of climatic conditions over the last 56 ka and show millennial variability of up to 10% and sub-millennial variability between 2.5 and 3.5%. We find that using the pore close off volume parameterization (Delomotte et al., J. Glaciology, 1999, v.45), along with the site temperature derived from isotopes, our TAC record implies unrealistically large changes in surface pressure or elevation. For example, the TAC decreases by ~10% between 19.5ka and 17.3ka, and would imply an elevation increase of nearly 800m. The total accumulation of ice over this period is just 280m (Fudge et al. Nature 2013), making the calculated elevation interpretation implausible. To resolve this discrepancy, we investigate the millennial and sub-millennial variability in our TAC record as a function of changes in firn densification and particularly layering. The firn is the uppermost layer of an ice sheet where snow is compressed into ice, trapping ancient air. Thus firn processes are important for the interpretation of total air content as well as other gas records. We compare our TAC record with proxies for dust, temperature and accumulation to determine how processes other than elevation affect TAC.

6. Aromatic acids from biomass burning in the WAIS Divide ice core

Saltzman, E. S.; Grieman, M. M.; McConnell, J.; Cole-Dai, J.

2014-12-01

Biomass burning plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry, carbon cycling, and climate. The global long-term history of biomass burning is not well established, making it difficult to study the relationship between burning, climate change, and atmospheric chemistry. Here we present the Antarctic ice core records of vanillic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic from the WAIS Divide ice core covering the past 2.4-30 kyrs BP. These molecules are derived from incomplete combustion of plant lignin and transported/deposited as aerosols onto the ice sheet. Vanillic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids are associated with combustion of conifers and grasses, respectively, but are not uniquely derived from these plant types. Analyses were done using ion chromatography with electrospray MS/MS detection in negative ion SRM mode. Vanillic p-hydroxybenzoic acid exhibited a range from baseline levels near 0.01 ppb (detection limit) to >0.5 ppb. Vanillic acid exhibited striking millennial scale variability during late glacial period, with 6 major peaks between 25 and 13.5 kyrs BP, with a spacing of 1.5-3 kyrs and durations of up to 1 kyr. There are no comparable peaks during the early-mid Holocene. A late Holocene vanillic acid peak starts at 3 kyrs BP. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid shares the same major peaks as vanillic acid from 25-13.5 kyrs BP, but exhibits additional variability of comparable magnitude throughout the WAIS Divide 2.4-30 kyr record. These paleo records should be viewed as qualitative burning proxies because 1) a wide range of aerosol composition and sizes can be generated from combustion of various plant materials under different conditions, and 2) the ice core levels of aromatic acids may reflect changes in source regions, transport and atmospheric removal efficiency, and postdepositional mobilization. The major peaks in the WAIS Divide aromatic acid records most likely do not represent changes in global biomass burning emissions, because they are not highly correlated with variations in atmospheric methane. Such caveats notwithstanding, these records provide a surprising new picture of the long-term variability in the deposition of burning-derived aerosols to the Antarctic ice sheet.

7. The decrease in Greenland ice-core δ15N of nitrate in the industrial period: influenced by changes in atmospheric acidity?

Geng, L.; Cole-Dai, J.; Alexander, B.; Steig, E. J.; Schauer, A. J.; Savarino, J.

2012-12-01

Previous study in a central Greenland ice core has revealed a decreasing trend in δ15N of nitrate (δ15N (nitrate)) starting as early as 1850 C.E.. Lake sediment cores from North America show a similar trend in δ15N of total nitrogen starting around 1895 C.E.. The decrease in δ15N has been proposed to be due to the increasing deposition of anthropogenically derived (i.e., fossil fuel combustion) nitrate in the industrial period. However, this interpretation is questioned by measurements of δ15N in NOx and atmospheric nitrate. Here, we present new, annually-resolved records of δ15N (nitrate) and major ion concentrations (Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) obtained from two central Greenland ice cores. The results (Figure 1) indicate that the significant decrease in δ15N is coincident with an increase in acidity (H+ concentration estimated based on ionic balance) beginning around 1895 C.E., which is about 50 years earlier than the start of the increase in nitrate concentration (~1945 C.E.) . This observation suggests that it is likely the acidity change, instead of the input of anthropogenic nitrate, triggered the decrease in ice-core δ15N (nitrate). Atmospheric aerosol acidity influences the partitioning of atmospheric nitrate between its gaseous (HNO3) and particulate (p-NO3-) phases, resulting in a depletion of δ15N in HNO3 relative to p-NO3-. If atmospheric nitrate is transported to central Greenland preferentially in its gaseous form (HNO3), which is an open question, a decrease in ice-core δ15N (nitrate) would be expected with an increase in atmospheric acidity. We will examine the relationships between δ15N (nitrate) and the ice-core records of acidity, and HNO3, to discern the processes from changes in atmospheric acidity to the observed variability in ice core δ15N (nitrate) during the Industrial era.igure 1. The annual NO3- (blue curve), H+ (black curve) concentrations, and annual δ15N (nitrate) (red curve, y-axis is reversely plotted). Gray dots represent the annual data; the curves are plotted from 3-year running averages.

8. Increase in elemental carbon values between 1970 and 2004 observed in a 300-year ice core from Holtedahlfonna (Svalbard)

Ruppel, M. M.; Isaksson, I.; Ström, J.; Beaudon, E.; Svensson, J.; Pedersen, C. A.; Korhola, A.

2014-10-01

Black carbon (BC) is a light-absorbing particle that warms the atmosphere-Earth system. The climate effects of BC are amplified in the Arctic, where its deposition on light surfaces decreases the albedo and causes earlier melt of snow and ice. Despite its suggested significant role in Arctic climate warming, there is little information on BC concentrations and deposition in the past. Here we present results on BC (here operationally defined as elemental carbon (EC)) concentrations and deposition on a Svalbard glacier between 1700 and 2004. The inner part of a 125 m deep ice core from Holtedahlfonna glacier (79°8' N, 13°16' E, 1150 m a.s.l.) was melted, filtered through a quartz fibre filter and analysed for EC using a thermal-optical method. The EC values started to increase after 1850 and peaked around 1910, similar to ice core records from Greenland. Strikingly, the EC values again increase rapidly between 1970 and 2004 after a temporary low point around 1970, reaching unprecedented values in the 1990s. This rise is not seen in Greenland ice cores, and it seems to contradict atmospheric BC measurements indicating generally decreasing atmospheric BC concentrations since 1989 in the Arctic. For example, changes in scavenging efficiencies, post-depositional processes and differences in the vertical distribution of BC in the atmosphere are discussed for the differences between the Svalbard and Greenland ice core records, as well as the ice core and atmospheric measurements in Svalbard. In addition, the divergent BC trends between Greenland and Svalbard ice cores may be caused by differences in the analytical methods used, including the operational definitions of quantified particles, and detection efficiencies of different-sized BC particles. Regardless of the cause of the increasing EC values between 1970 and 2004, the results have significant implications for the past radiative energy balance at the coring site.

9. Unexpected increase in elemental carbon values over the last 30 years observed in a Svalbard ice core

Ruppel, M. M.; Isaksson, E.; Ström, J.; Beaudon, E.; Svensson, J.; Pedersen, C. A.; Korhola, A.

2014-05-01

Black carbon (BC) is a light-absorbing particle that warms the atmosphere-Earth system. The climate effects of BC are amplified in the Arctic where its deposition on light surfaces decreases the albedo and causes earlier melt of snow and ice. Despite its suggested significant role in Arctic climate warming there is little information on BC concentrations and deposition in the past. Here we present results on BC (here operationally defined as elemental carbon (EC)) concentrations and deposition on a Svalbard glacier between 1700 and 2004. The inner part of a 125 m deep ice core from Holtedahlfonna glacier (79°8' N, 13°16' E, 1150 m a.s.l.) was melted, filtered through a quartz fibre filter and analysed for EC using a thermal optical method. The EC values started to increase after 1850 and peaked around 1910, similar to ice core records from Greenland. Strikingly, the EC values again increase rapidly between 1970 and 2004. This rise is not seen in Greenland ice cores and it seems to contradict atmospheric BC measurements indicating generally decreasing atmospheric BC concentrations since 1989 in the Arctic. Several hypotheses, such as changes in scavenging efficiencies, post-depositional processes and differences in the vertical distribution of BC in the atmosphere, are discussed for the differences between the Svalbard and Greenland ice core records, and the ice core and atmospheric measurements in Svalbard. In addition, the divergent BC trends between Greenland and Svalbard ice cores may be caused by differences in the analytical methods used, including the operational definitions of quantified particles, and detection efficiencies of different-sized BC particles. Regardless of the cause of the increasing EC values in the recent decades, the results have significant implications for the past radiative energy balance at the coring site.

10. The transport history of two Saharan dust events archived in an Alpine ice core

Sodemann, H.; Palmer, A. S.; Schwierz, C.; Schwikowski, M.; Wernli, H.

2005-08-01

Mineral dust from the Saharan desert can be transported across the Mediterranean towards the Alpine region several times a year. Occasionally, the dust is deposited with snowfall on Alpine glaciers and appears then as yellow or red layers in ice cores. Two such significant dust events were identified in an ice core drilled at the high-accumulation site Piz Zupó in the Swiss Alps (46°22' N, 9°55' E, 3850 m a.s.l.). From stable oxygen isotopes and major ion concentrations, the events were approximately dated as October and March 2000. In order to link the dust record in the ice core to the meteorological situation that led to the dust events, a novel methodology based on back-trajectory analysis was developed. It allowed for the identification of source regions, the atmospheric transport pathways, and wet deposition periods for both dust events. Furthermore, differences in the chemical signature of the two dust events could be interpreted with respect to contributions from the dust sources and aerosol scavenging during the transport. The dust deposition during the October event took place during 13-16 October 2000. Mobilisation areas of dust were mainly identified in the Algerian and Libyan deserts. A combination of an upper-level potential vorticity streamer and a midlevel jet across Algeria first brought moist Atlantic air and later mixed air from the tropics and Saharan desert across the Mediterranean towards the Alps. The March event consisted of two different deposition phases which took place during 18-20 and 23-26 March 2000. The first phase was associated with an exceptional transport pattern past Iceland and towards the Alps from northerly directions. The second phase was similar to the October event. A significant peak of methanesulphonic acid associated with the March dust event was most likely caused by incorporation of biogenic aerosol while passing through the marine boundary layer of the western Mediterranean during a local phytoplankton bloom. From this study, we conclude that the whole sequence of mobilisation, transport, and deposition of mineral aerosol should be considered for a detailed understanding of the chemical signal recorded in the ice core at Piz Zupó.

11. The ice-core record - Climate sensitivity and future greenhouse warming

Lorius, C.; Raynaud, D.; Jouzel, J.; Hansen, J.; Le Treut, H.

1990-09-01

The prediction of future greenhouse-gas-warming depends critically on the sensitivity of earth's climate to increasing atmospheric concentrations of these gases. Data from cores drilled in polar ice sheets show a remarkable correlation between past glacial-interglacial temperature changes and the inferred atmospheric concentration of gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. These and other palaeoclimate data are used to assess the role of greenhouse gases in explaining past global climate change, and the validity of models predicting the effect of increasing concentrations of such gases in the atmosphere.

12. The ice-core record - Climate sensitivity and future greenhouse warming

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lorius, C.; Raynaud, D.; Jouzel, J.; Hansen, J.; Le Treut, H.

1990-01-01

The prediction of future greenhouse-gas-warming depends critically on the sensitivity of earth's climate to increasing atmospheric concentrations of these gases. Data from cores drilled in polar ice sheets show a remarkable correlation between past glacial-interglacial temperature changes and the inferred atmospheric concentration of gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. These and other palaeoclimate data are used to assess the role of greenhouse gases in explaining past global climate change, and the validity of models predicting the effect of increasing concentrations of such gases in the atmosphere.

13. Combined ice core and climate-model evidence for the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet during Marine Isotope Stage 5e.

Steig, Eric J.; Huybers, Kathleen; Singh, Hansi A.; Steiger, Nathan J.; Frierson, Dargan M. W.; Popp, Trevor; White, James W. C.

2015-04-01

It has been speculated that collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet explains the very high eustatic sea level rise during the last interglacial period, marine isotope stage (MIS) 5e, but the evidence remains equivocal. Changes in atmospheric circulation resulting from a collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) would have significant regional impacts that should be detectable in ice core records. We conducted simulations using general circulation models (GCMs) at varying levels of complexity: a gray-radiation aquaplanet moist GCM (GRaM), the slab ocean version of GFDL-AM2 (also as an aquaplanet), and the fully-coupled version of NCAR's CESM with realistic topography. In all the experiments, decreased elevation from the removal of the WAIS leads to greater cyclonic circulation over the West Antarctic region. This creates increased advection of relatively warm marine air from the Amundsen-Bellingshausen Seas towards the South Pole, and increased cold-air advection from the East Antarctic plateau towards the Ross Sea and coastal Marie Byrd Land. The result is anomalous warming in some areas of the East Antarctic interior, and significant cooling in Marie Byrd Land. Comparison of ice core records shows good agreement with the model predictions. In particular, isotope-paleotemperature records from ice cores in East Antarctica warmed more between the previous glacial period (MIS 6) and MIS 5e than coastal Marie Byrd Land. These results add substantial support to other evidence for WAIS collapse during the last interglacial period.

14. Zeroing tests of luminescence sediment dating in the Arctic Ocean: Review and new results from Alaska-margin core tops and central-ocean dirty sea ice

Berger, Glenn W.

2009-07-01

Additional numeric dating techniques are needed for sediments in the Arctic Ocean that span at least the last half million years. Almost all presently suitable geochronometers are relative-dating methods, requiring significant assumptions about sedimentation rates (such as continuous deposition and preservation). An alternative 'absolute' geochronometer, luminescence sediment dating, assumes daylight exposure of siliciclastic grains before burial. Early tests and applications of thermoluminescence (TL) techniques in the western Arctic Ocean showed some promise, but trans-ocean application to core tops of more sensitive photon-stimulated-luminescence (PSL) multi-aliquot procedures revealed large regional variations in accuracy. Recent applications of single-aliquot PSL procedures to core tops and dirty sea ice refine our understanding of the limitations and capabilities of PSL dating in this ocean. Dirty sea ice is the source of most of the bottom sediment. Particular procedures for multi-aliquot and single-aliquot PSL dating produce near-zero ages for silt grains from 4 available dirty sea-ice samples. This suggests that TL and PSL age overestimates obtained previously from core-top samples were due mainly to bottom-current reworking (mixing or stripping) of silt grains in abyssal darkness, rather than due to sedimentation of relict-age grains from sea ice. Single-aliquot PSL dating of silt grains from core tops at two different-depth sites at the Alaskan margin reveals large variations in accuracy. This re-emphasizes the critical sensitivity of fine-silt PSL dating accuracy to the effects of bottom-current processes. These recent applications are beginning to provide a more precise knowledge of just where and how PSL methods are likely to be accurate in the Arctic Ocean.

15. Neutrino flavor oscillations in the IceCube DeepCore Array

Giordano, Gerardo

A large number of experiments of different types have provided strong evidence for neutrino oscillations and thus for physics beyond the Standard Model of Particle Physics. New experiments are being built and designed to further investigate neutrino oscillations, to obtain precision measurements of dominant oscillation parameters and discover sub-dominant effects. On the other hand, neutrino telescopes, like IceCube and the IceCube DeepCore Array, are using neutrinos as a means of learning about astrophysical sources, discovering dark matter and other high energy phenomena. Atmospheric neutrinos constitute a background for these searches. This dissertation shows that the large number of atmospheric neutrinos that the IceCube DeepCore detector will accumulate can be used in order to extract useful information about neutrino oscillations. Atmospheric neutrino interactions within the IceCube DeepCore array are examined in the context of neutrino flavor oscillations. The detection of an appearance of a tau-flavored neutrino flux, not present in the original atmospheric neutrino flux is calculated and quantified using the statistical interpretation of the neutrino-induced electromagnetic and hadronic cascades within the detector. The "track signal" of Cherenkov light created by muons created from either charged current interactions of muon-type neutrinos with detector volume nuclei or the decay of tau leptons within the detector's instrumented volume are also examined. Using a chi-squared analysis, new precision bounds are determined for the main atmospheric neutrino oscillation parameters and shown to drastically reduce the current parameter space. The implications of these new precision measurements are discussed in the context of currently open questions in the area of neutrino flavor oscillation studies. Future work and the impact of future measurements on this analysis are also discussed. Full three-flavor neutrino oscillation transition probabilities with matter effects are calculated and employed in the study. A discussion of the calculation of the full differential cross sections for neutrino-nucleon deep inelastic scattering interactions in both the limit of a negligible mass final state lepton and in the situation of a non-negligible mass final state lepton are discussed and employed with the latter being necessary for the calculation of the tau-type neutrino charged current interaction induced cascades. Physics motivated assumptions about the systematic error present in the IceCube DeepCore detector and the effective volume of the detector are made for the analysis. In summary, it is shown that cascade measurements in the IceCube DeepCore Array can provide evidence for tau neutrino appearance in atmospheric neutrino oscillations. A statistically significant (3sigma) nutau appearance signal could be obtained in only a few months of observation and is important for future nutau interaction studies. Furthermore, the very high statistics atmospheric muon neutrino data can be used to obtain precise measurements of the main oscillation parameters, significantly improving present results and aiding in the solution to open questions in the neutrino sector.

16. Marine bacteria in deep Arctic and Antarctic ice cores: a proxy for evolution in oceans over 300 million generations

Price, P. B.; Bay, R. C.

2012-06-01

Using fluorescence spectrometry to map autofluorescence of chlorophyll (Chl) and tryptophan (Trp) versus depth in polar ice cores in the US National Ice Core Laboratory, we found that the Chl and Trp concentrations often showed an annual modulation of up to 25%, with peaks at depths corresponding to local summers. Using epifluorescence microscopy (EFM) and flow cytometry (FCM) triggered on 670 nm fluorescence (red) to study microbes from unstained melts of the polar ice, we inferred that picocyanobacteria may have been responsible for the red fluorescence in the cores. Micron-size bacteria in all ice melts from 2 Arctic and 6 Antarctic sites showed FCM patterns of scattering and of red vs. orange fluorescence (interpreted as due to Chl vs. phycoerythrin (PE)) that bore similarities to patterns of cultures of unstained picocyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus. Concentrations in ice from all sites were low but measurable at ~1 to ~103 cells cm-3. Calibrations showed that FCM patterns of mineral grains and volcanic ash could be distinguished from microbes with high efficiency by triggering on scattering instead of by red fluorescence. Average Chl and PE autofluorescence intensities showed no decrease per cell with time during up to 150 000 yr of storage in glacial ice. Taking into account the annual modulation of ~25% and seasonal changes of ocean temperatures and winds, we suggest that picocyanobacteria are wind-transported year-round from warmer ocean waters onto polar ice. Ice cores offer the opportunity to study evolution of marine microbes over ~300 million generations by analyzing their genomes vs. depth in glacial ice over the last 700 000 yr as frozen proxies for changes in their genomes in oceans.

17. Marine bacteria in deep Arctic and Antarctic ice cores: a proxy for evolution in oceans over 300 million generations

Price, P. B.; Bay, R. C.

2012-10-01

Using fluorescence spectrometry to map autofluorescence of chlorophyll (Chl) and tryptophan (Trp) versus depth in polar ice cores in the US National Ice Core Laboratory, we found that the Chl and Trp concentrations often showed an annual modulation of up to 25%, with peaks at depths corresponding to local summers. Using epifluorescence microscopy (EFM) and flow cytometry (FCM) triggered on red fluorescence at 670 nm to study microbes from unstained melts of the polar ice, we inferred that picocyanobacteria may have been responsible for the red fluorescence in the cores. Micron-size bacteria in all ice melts from Arctic and Antarctic sites showed FCM patterns of scattering and of red vs. orange fluorescence (interpreted as due to Chl vs. phycoerythrin (PE)) that bore similarities to patterns of cultures of unstained picocyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus. Concentrations in ice from all sites were low, but measurable at ~ 1 to ~ 103 cells cm-3. Calibrations showed that FCM patterns of mineral grains and volcanic ash could be distinguished from microbes with high efficiency by triggering on scattering instead of by red fluorescence. Average Chl and PE autofluorescence intensities showed no decrease per cell with time during up to 150 000 yr of storage in glacial ice. Taking into account the annual modulation of ~ 25% and seasonal changes of ocean temperatures and winds, we suggest that picocyanobacteria are wind-transported year-round from warmer ocean waters onto polar ice. Ice cores offer the opportunity to study evolution of marine microbes over ~ 300 million generations by analysing their genomes vs. depth in glacial ice over the last 700 000 yr as frozen proxies for changes in their genomes in oceans.

18. Continuous ice core melter system with discrete sampling for major ion, trace element and stable isotope analyses.

PubMed

Osterberg, Erich C; Handley, Michael J; Sneed, Sharon B; Mayewski, Paul A; Kreutz, Karl J

2006-05-15

We present a novel ice/firn core melter system that uses fraction collectors to collect discrete, high-resolution (<1 cm/sample possible), continuous, coregistered meltwater samples for analysis of eight major ions by ion chromatography (IC), >32 trace elements by inductively coupled plasma sectorfield mass spectrometry (ICP-SMS), and stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). The new continuous melting with discrete sampling (CMDS) system preserves an archive of each sample, reduces the problem of incomplete particle dissolution in ICP-SMS samples, and provides more precise trace element data than previous ice melter models by using longer ICP-SMS scan times and washing the instrument between samples. CMDS detection limits are similar to or lower than those published for ice melter systems coupled directly to analytical instruments and are suitable for analyses of polar and mid-low-latitude ice cores. Analysis of total calcium and sulfur by ICP-SMS and calcium ion, sulfate, and methanesulfonate by IC from the Mt. Logan Prospector-Russell Col ice core confirms data accuracy and coregistration of the split fractions from each sample. The reproducibility of all data acquired by the CMDS system is confirmed by replicate analyses of parallel sections of the GISP2 D ice core. PMID:16749705

19. Atmospheric Mercury Depositional Chronology Reconstructed from Lake Sediments and Ice Core in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau.

PubMed

Kang, Shichang; Huang, Jie; Wang, Feiyue; Zhang, Qianggong; Zhang, Yulan; Li, Chaoliu; Wang, Long; Chen, Pengfei; Sharma, Chhatra Mani; Li, Qing; Sillanpää, Mika; Hou, Juzhi; Xu, Baiqing; Guo, Junming

2016-03-15

Alpine lake sediments and glacier ice cores retrieved from high mountain regions can provide long-term records of atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic contaminants such as mercury (Hg). In this study, eight lake sediment cores and one glacier ice core were collected from high elevations across the Himalaya-Tibet region to investigate the chronology of atmospheric Hg deposition. Consistent with modeling results, the sediment core records showed higher Hg accumulation rates in the southern slopes of the Himalayas than those in the northern slopes in the recent decades (post-World War II). Despite much lower Hg accumulation rates obtained from the glacier ice core, the temporal trend in the Hg accumulation rates matched very well with that observed from the sediment cores. The combination of the lake sediments and glacier ice core allowed us to reconstruct the longest, high-resolution atmospheric Hg deposition chronology in High Asia. The chronology showed that the Hg deposition rate was low between the 1500s and early 1800, rising at the onset of the Industrial Revolution, followed by a dramatic increase after World War II. The increasing trend continues to the present-day in most of the records, reflecting the continuous increase in anthropogenic Hg emissions from South Asia. PMID:26878654

20. Do biosiliceous laminated sediments reveal sea ice seasonality in the middle Eocene Arctic Ocean?

Stickley, C. E.; Koc, N.; Pearce, R. B.; Kemp, A. E. S.

2009-04-01

We present initial microfabric analyses of finely laminated middle Eocene biosiliceous sediments from the IODP Expedition 302 "ACEX" cores (central Arctic, Lomonosov Ridge). Backscattered electron imagery (BSEI) of polished thin sections and scanning electron microscope secondary electron imagery (SEI) of lamina-parallel fracture surfaces are used to analyse the laminations in 2 short intervals dated at approximately 46 Ma. Our data offer insight into the cryospheric history of the central Arctic from a siliceous microfossil perspective during a significant phase in Cenozoic climate evolution—the start of the transition from a greenhouse to an icehouse world. Importantly, the BSEI technique offers the detail of information which can not be achieved by bulk sediment analysis. These organic-rich sediments, deposited under an anoxic benthic environment, are also rich in heavily silicified endemic marine to brackish (diatoms, ebridians, silicoflagellates) and in situ freshwater (chrysophyte cysts) siliceous microfossils. They also contain the weakly silicified needle-like diatom Synedropsis spp., an indicator of sea ice and the world's oldest known fossil record of sea ice dwelling diatoms (Stickley et al., in press; Stickley and Koc, Session CL33 this conference). Their presence highlights an exceptional preservational environment along the Lomonosov Ridge at this time. Synedropsis spp. show the Arctic Ocean supported sea ice-based life from 47 Ma, yet episodes of melting must have occurred to allow their preservation in the sediments. Initial investigations indicate Synedropsis spp. form mono-specific laminations or elongate lenses of, on average, 25

1. Thallium as a tracer for preindustrial volcanic eruptions in an ice core record from Illimani, Bolivia.

PubMed

Kellerhals, Thomas; Tobler, Leonhard; Brütsch, Sabina; Sigl, Michael; Wacker, Lukas; Gäggeler, Heinz W; Schwikowski, Margit

2010-02-01

Trace element records from glacier and ice sheet archives provide insights into biogeochemical cycles, atmospheric circulation changes, and anthropogenic pollution history. We present the first continuous high-resolution thallium (Tl) record, derived from an accurately dated ice core from tropical South America, and discuss Tl as a tracer for volcanic eruptions. We identify four prominent Tl peaks and propose that they represent signals from the massive explosive eruptions of the "unknown 1258" A.D. volcano, of Kuwae ( approximately 1450 A.D.), Tambora (1815 A.D.), and Krakatoa (1883 A.D.). The highly resolved record was obtained with an improved setup for the continuous analysis of trace elements in ice with inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS). The new setup allowed for a stronger initial acidification of the meltwater and shorter tubing length, thereby reducing the risk of memory effects and losses of analytes to the capillary walls. With a comparison of the continuous method to the established conventional decontamination and analysis procedure for discrete samples, we demonstrate the accuracy of the continuous method for Tl analyses. PMID:20050662

2. Continuous flow analysis method for determination of soluble iron and aluminium in ice cores.

PubMed

Spolaor, A; Vallelonga, P; Gabrieli, J; Roman, M; Barbante, C

2013-01-01

Iron and aluminium are the two most abundant metals on the Earth's crust, but they display quite different biogeochemical properties. While iron is essential to many biological processes, aluminium has not been found to have any biological function at all. In environmental studies, iron has been studied in detail for its limiting role in the bioproductivity of high nutrient, low carbon oceanic zones, while aluminium is routinely used as a reference of crustal contributions to atmospheric deposition archives including peat bogs, lacustrine and marine sediments and ice sheets and glaciers. We report here the development of a flow injection analysis technique, which has been optimised for the simultaneous determination of soluble iron and aluminium in polar ice cores. Iron was determined by its catalytic role in the reduction of N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamene (DPD) to a semiquinonic form (DPDQ) and subsequent absorption spectroscopy at 514 nm. Aluminium was determined by spectroscopic analysis of an aluminium-lumogallion complex that exhibits fluorescence at 560 nm. These techniques have been applied to a section of Greenland ice dated to 1729-1733 AD and indicate that volcanism is a source of highly soluble aluminium and iron. PMID:22692592

3. Ice and Dust in the Quiescent Medium of Isolated Dense Cores

Boogert, A. C. A.; Huard, T. L.; Cook, A. M.; Chiar, J. E.; Knez, C.; Decin, L.; Blake, G. A.; Tielens, A. G. G. M.; van Dishoeck, E. F.

2011-03-01

The relation between ices in the envelopes and disks surrounding young stellar objects (YSOs) and those in the quiescent interstellar medium (ISM) is investigated. For a sample of 31 stars behind isolated dense cores, ground-based and Spitzer spectra and photometry in the 1-25 μm wavelength range are combined. The baseline for the broad and overlapping ice features is modeled, using calculated spectra of giants, H2O ice and silicates. The adopted extinction curve is derived empirically. Its high resolution allows for the separation of continuum and feature extinction. The extinction between 13 and 25 μm is ~50% relative to that at 2.2 μm. The strengths of the 6.0 and 6.85 μm absorption bands are in line with those of YSOs. Thus, their carriers, which, besides H2O and CH3OH, may include NH+ 4, HCOOH, H2CO, and NH3, are readily formed in the dense core phase, before stars form. The 3.53 μm C-H stretching mode of solid CH3OH was discovered. The CH3OH/H2O abundance ratios of 5%-12% are larger than upper limits in the Taurus molecular cloud. The initial ice composition, before star formation occurs, therefore depends on the environment. Signs of thermal and energetic processing that were found toward some YSOs are absent in the ices toward background stars. Finally, the peak optical depth of the 9.7 μm band of silicates relative to the continuum extinction at 2.2 μm is significantly shallower than in the diffuse ISM. This extends the results of Chiar et al. to a larger sample and higher extinctions. Some of the data presented herein were obtained at the W. M. Keck Observatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation.

4. Ice core based Pb pollution from gasoline in South America in the context of a 2000 year metallurgical history

Eichler, Anja; Gramlich, Gabriela; Kellerhals, Thomas; Tobler, Leonhard; Schwikowski, Margit

2015-04-01

Lead (Pb) is highly neurotoxic and, in contrast to many other heavy metals including cobalt, copper, and zinc, it has no beneficial effects to humans even at low concentrations. The introduction of leaded gasoline in the 1920s initiated a period of unabated growth in the global emissions of Pb. Prior to the onset of leaded gasoline phase-out in the 1970s, atmospheric Pb levels increased dramatically. Long-term histories of Pb pollution in Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, and North America suggest that emissions from leaded gasoline within the Northern Hemisphere are dominant compared to that from metallurgy and coal combustion during the second half of the 20th century. However, there is no equivalent data for Southern America. Although exploitation of the extensive polymetallic deposits of the Andean Altiplano in South America since pre-colonial times has caused substantial emissions of neurotoxic Pb into the atmosphere, its historical significance compared to recent Pb pollution from leaded gasoline is not yet resolved. Here we present the first comprehensive, high-resolution two millennia Pb emission history for South America, based on ice core records of Pb concentrations, Pb enrichment factors (EFs), and Pb isotope ratios from Illimani glacier in Bolivia. Complementary to local air pollution recorded in lake sediments, ice cores from mid latitude glaciers provide information about more extended source areas. Illimani is the highest mountain of the eastern Bolivian Andes and is located at the northeastern margin of the Bolivian Altiplano. The ice core Pb deposition history revealed enhanced Pb EFs due to metallurgical processing for silver production during periods of the Tiwanaku/Wari culture (AD 450-950), the Inca empires (AD 1450-1532), colonial times (AD 1532-1900), and tin production at the beginning of the 20th century. After the 1960s 208Pb/207Pb ratios decreased significantly, whereas Pb EFs increased by a factor of three compared to the emission level from metal production, which we attribute to gasoline related Pb emissions. Our results show that anthropogenic Pb pollution levels from road traffic in South America exceed those of any historical metallurgy in the last two millennia, even in regions with exceptional high local metallurgical activity.

5. Single particle mineralogy of aeolian dust in the East Rongbuk ice core from Mt. Qomolangma (Everest)

Hwang, H.; Jung, H.; Eom, H.; Malek, M. A.; Hur, S.; Ro, C.

2011-12-01

A recent work demonstrated the practical applicability of the combined use of two techniques, attenuated total reflectance FT-IR (ATR-FT-IR) imaging and a quantitative energy-dispersive electron probe X-ray microanalysis, low-Z particle EPMA, for the characterization of individual aerosol particles. These single particle analytical techniques provide complementary information on the physicochemical characteristics of the same individual particles, such as low-Z particle EPMA on morphology and elemental concentrations and the ATR-FT-IR imaging on molecular species, crystal structures, functional groups, and physical states. In this work, this analytical methodology was applied to characterize an insoluble mineral particle sample in the East Rongbuk ice core from Mt. Qomolangma (Everest). On the basis of morphological, X-ray spectral, and ATR-FT-IR spectral data, 140 individual particles were classified into different mineral types, such as SiO2, montmorillonite, montmorillonite + K-feldspar, K-feldspar, Na-feldspar, carbonaceous, FeOx, muscovite, illite, vermiculite, and AlSiO3. In Figure 1, typical X-ray spectrum and ATR-FT-IR spectrum of a particle selected from the ice core sample are shown. This work demonstrates that more detailed physiochemical properties of individual airborne particles can be obtained using this approach than when either the low-Z particle EPMA or ATR-FT-IR imaging technique is used alone.

6. The Laschamp geomagnetic excursion featured in nitrate record from EPICA-Dome C ice core

PubMed Central

Traversi, R.; Becagli, S.; Poluianov, S.; Severi, M.; Solanki, S. K.; Usoskin, I. G.; Udisti, R.

2016-01-01

Here we present the first direct comparison of cosmogenic 10Be and chemical species in the period of 38–45.5 kyr BP spanning the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion from the EPICA-Dome C ice core. A principal component analysis (PCA) allowed to group different components as a function of the main sources, transport and deposition processes affecting the atmospheric aerosol at Dome C. Moreover, a wavelet analysis highlighted the high coherence and in-phase relationship between 10Be and nitrate at this time. The evident preferential association of 10Be with nitrate rather than with other chemical species was ascribed to the presence of a distinct source, here labelled as “cosmogenic”. Both the PCA and wavelet analyses ruled out a significant role of calcium in driving the 10Be and nitrate relationship, which is particularly relevant for a plateau site such as Dome C, especially in the glacial period during which the Laschamp excursion took place. The evidence that the nitrate record from the EDC ice core is able to capture the Laschamp event hints toward the possibility of using this marker for studying galactic cosmic ray flux variations and thus also major geomagnetic field excursions at pluri-centennial-millennial time scales, thus opening up new perspectives in paleoclimatic studies. PMID:26819064

7. The Laschamp geomagnetic excursion featured in nitrate record from EPICA-Dome C ice core

Traversi, R.; Becagli, S.; Poluianov, S.; Severi, M.; Solanki, S. K.; Usoskin, I. G.; Udisti, R.

2016-01-01

Here we present the first direct comparison of cosmogenic 10Be and chemical species in the period of 38-45.5 kyr BP spanning the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion from the EPICA-Dome C ice core. A principal component analysis (PCA) allowed to group different components as a function of the main sources, transport and deposition processes affecting the atmospheric aerosol at Dome C. Moreover, a wavelet analysis highlighted the high coherence and in-phase relationship between 10Be and nitrate at this time. The evident preferential association of 10Be with nitrate rather than with other chemical species was ascribed to the presence of a distinct source, here labelled as “cosmogenic”. Both the PCA and wavelet analyses ruled out a significant role of calcium in driving the 10Be and nitrate relationship, which is particularly relevant for a plateau site such as Dome C, especially in the glacial period during which the Laschamp excursion took place. The evidence that the nitrate record from the EDC ice core is able to capture the Laschamp event hints toward the possibility of using this marker for studying galactic cosmic ray flux variations and thus also major geomagnetic field excursions at pluri-centennial-millennial time scales, thus opening up new perspectives in paleoclimatic studies.

8. The Laschamp geomagnetic excursion featured in nitrate record from EPICA-Dome C ice core.

PubMed

Traversi, R; Becagli, S; Poluianov, S; Severi, M; Solanki, S K; Usoskin, I G; Udisti, R

2016-01-01

Here we present the first direct comparison of cosmogenic (10)Be and chemical species in the period of 38-45.5 kyr BP spanning the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion from the EPICA-Dome C ice core. A principal component analysis (PCA) allowed to group different components as a function of the main sources, transport and deposition processes affecting the atmospheric aerosol at Dome C. Moreover, a wavelet analysis highlighted the high coherence and in-phase relationship between (10)Be and nitrate at this time. The evident preferential association of (10)Be with nitrate rather than with other chemical species was ascribed to the presence of a distinct source, here labelled as "cosmogenic". Both the PCA and wavelet analyses ruled out a significant role of calcium in driving the (10)Be and nitrate relationship, which is particularly relevant for a plateau site such as Dome C, especially in the glacial period during which the Laschamp excursion took place. The evidence that the nitrate record from the EDC ice core is able to capture the Laschamp event hints toward the possibility of using this marker for studying galactic cosmic ray flux variations and thus also major geomagnetic field excursions at pluri-centennial-millennial time scales, thus opening up new perspectives in paleoclimatic studies. PMID:26819064

9. Ice Core Perspective on Mercury Pollution during the Past 600 Years.

PubMed

Beal, Samuel A; Osterberg, Erich C; Zdanowicz, Christian M; Fisher, David A

2015-07-01

Past emissions of the toxic metal mercury (Hg) persist in the global environment, yet these emissions remain poorly constrained by existing data. Ice cores are high-resolution archives of atmospheric deposition that may provide crucial insight into past atmospheric Hg levels during recent and historical time. Here we present a record of total Hg (HgT) in an ice core from the pristine summit plateau (5340 m asl) of Mount Logan, Yukon, Canada, representing atmospheric deposition from AD 1410 to 1998. The Colonial Period (∼1603-1850) and North American "Gold Rush" (1850-1900) represent minor fractions (8% and 14%, respectively) of total anthropogenic Hg deposition in the record, with the majority (78%) occurring during the 20th Century. A period of maximum HgT fluxes from 1940 to 1975 coincides with estimates of enhanced anthropogenic Hg emissions from commercial sources, as well as with industrial emissions of other toxic metals. Rapid declines in HgT fluxes following peaks during the Gold Rush and the mid-20th Century indicate that atmospheric Hg deposition responds quickly to reductions in emissions. Increasing HgT fluxes from 1993 until the youngest samples in 1998 may reflect the resurgence of Hg emissions from unregulated coal burning and small-scale gold mining. PMID:26011603

10. Human and climate impacts on Holocene fire activity recorded in polar and mountain ice cores

Kehrwald, Natalie; Zennaro, Piero; Kirchgeorg, Torben; Li, Quanlian; Wang, Ninglian; Power, Mitchell; Zangrando, Roberta; Gabrielli, Paolo; Thompson, Lonnie; Gambaro, Andrea; Barbante, Carlo

2014-05-01

Fire is one of the major influences of biogeochemical change on local to hemispheric scales through emitting greenhouse gases, altering atmospheric chemistry, and changing primary productivity. Levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucopyranose) is a specific molecular that can only be produced by cellulose burning at temperatures > 300°C, comprises a major component of smoke plumes, and can be transported across > 1000 km distances. Levoglucosan is deposited on and archived in glaciers over glacial interglacial cycles resulting in pyrochemical evidence for exploring interactions between fire, climate and human activity. Ice core records provide records of past biomass burning from regions of the world with limited paleofire data including polar and low-latitude, high-altitude regions. Here, we present Holocene fire activity records from the NEEM, Greenland (77° 27'N; 51° 3'W; 2454 masl), EPICA Dome C, Antarctica (75° 06'S; 123° 21'E; 3233 masl), Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (3° 05'S, 21.2° E, 5893 masl) and the Muztagh, China (87.17° E; 36.35° N; 5780 masl ice cores. The NEEM ice core reflects boreal fire activity from both North American and Eurasian sources. Temperature is the dominant control of NEEM levoglucosan flux over decadal to millennial time scales, while droughts influence fire activity over sub-decadal timescales. Our results demonstrate the prominence of Siberian fire sources during intense multiannual droughts. Unlike the NEEM core, which incorporates the largest land masses in the world as potential fire sources, EPICA Dome C is located far from any possible fire source. However, EPICA Dome C levoglucosan concentrations are consistently above detection limits and demonstrate a substantial 1000-fold increase in fire activity beginning approximately 800 years ago. This significant and sustained increase coincides with Maori arrival and dispersal in New Zealand augmented by later European arrival in Australia. The EPICA Dome C levoglucosan profile is similar to regional charcoal compilations from New Zealand and southeastern Australia. Evidence from Kilimanjaro demonstrates a major increase in fire activity centered around 800-1000 years ago, corresponding to both increased temperatures and aridity as recorded in regional lake cores. This peak in fire activity is an order of magnitude higher than at any other time in the record including the most recent period. Environmental and anthropological studies suggest that upslope human migrations have occurred in response to the warmer, drier conditions. Kilimanjaro is surrounded by flammable savanna vegetation, yet the Muztagh core is located in an especially arid section of the Tibetan Plateau and consistently contains levoglucosan concentrations that are 100 to 1000 times greater than the mean Kilimanjaro flux. These high concentrations and the lack of available fuel suggest that regional rather than local biomass burning may be the source of the fire products. Biomass burning aerosols are a major component of the South Asian Brown Cloud and may influence the composition and concentration of pyrogenic aerosols across the Tibetan Plateau. The relative impact of human activity versus climate change on Holocene biomass burning varies regionally. Combining ice and sediment core data with model output can help place these regional differences into a global context with implications for a warming climate.

11. A two century record of strontium isotopes from an ice core drilled at Mt Blanc, France

Burton, G. R.; Rosman, K. J. R.; Van de Velde, K. P.; Boutron, C. F.

2006-08-01

New techniques which allow small amounts of Sr to be reliably analysed [G.R. Burton, V.I. Morgan, C.F. Boutron, K.J.R. Rosman, High-sensitivity measurements of strontium isotopes in polar ice, Anal. Chim. Acta 469 (2002) 225-233] by TIMS (Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry) have been used to measure the isotopic composition of Sr and the concentration of Rb and Sr at sub-nanogram per gram levels in a Mt Blanc snow and ice core. This two century time series of Sr isotopes is the first to be reported in an Alpine glacier. The Sr and Rb concentrations range from 3 ng/g to 20 pg/g and 1 ng/g to 10 pg/g, respectively, with higher concentrations evident in more recent times. This trend is consistent with that reported previously for other metals such as Cd, Cu and Zn [K. Van de Velde, C. Barbante, G. Cozzi, I. Moret, T. Bellomi, C. Ferrari, C. Boutron, Changes in the occurrence of silver, gold, platinum, palladium and rhodium in Mont Blanc ice and snow since the 18th century, Atmos. Environ. 34 (2000) 3117-3127; K. Van de Velde, C. Boutron, C. Ferrari, T. Bellomi, C. Barbante, S. Rudnev, M. Bolshov, Seasonal variations of heavy metals in the 1960s Alpine ice: sources versus meteorological factors, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 164 (1998) 521-533; K.J.R. Rosman, C. Ly, K. Van de Velde, C.F. Boutron, A two century record of lead isotopes in high altitude Alpine snow and ice, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 176 (2000) 413-424]. The 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios vary between 0.7020 and 0.7176 and display relatively larger variations in recent times which have been attributed to seasonal variations made evident by the increased sampling resolution available at shallower depths. No change with time is evident in this ratio which has a mean value of ˜ 0.712 and is similar to Glacial ice at Summit Greenland, suggesting that aerosols reaching Mt Blanc represent the same mixture of sources. Also, anthropogenic sources would appear to have the same isotopic ratio. The presence of Saharan dust in some samples is confirmed here by their strontium isotopic ratios.

12. a 400-YEAR High Resolution Record of Climate Variability Developed from a South Pole Ice Core

Korotkikh, E.; Mayewski, P. A.; Handley, M.

2011-12-01

A suite of trace elements were measured in the upper 50-meter of the SPRESSO (South Pole Remote Earth Science and Seismological Observatory) ice core from South Pole at a temporal sample resolution of ~10 samples per year. The analyzed section is annually dated by matching seasonal peaks from Na, Sr, As and S. The counting of annual peaks between known large volcanic eruptions confirms that each year is preserved in the SPRESSO ice core record. Crustal and oceanic enrichment factors (EF) were calculated for trace elements to determine whether the major source of an element is crustal dust or sea salt spray. Elements Mn, La, Ti, Ce, Ba, V, Ca and Sr are characterized by low mean crustal EF values (0.9-9.4) indicating that rock and soil dust is a significant source for these elements in the South Pole record. Low oceanic EF values suggest additional marine contributions for Ca and Sr. Other elements (Al, Co, Zn, Cd, Li, Pb, As, Cu) are enriched relative to ocean water and Earth's upper crust, suggesting additional sources for these elements. We observed significant changes in element concentrations during the period AD 1690-1780. Low background concentrations of Ba, La, Ce, Pb, As, Li, Ca, Ti, V, Na and Cu are observed until 1730-1780 AD. Element concentrations increased by a factor of 1.5 - 3 since 1730-1780 AD. In contrast Cd, Al, Co, Mn, Zn and Sr concentrations decreased rapidly as of ~1695 AD. The shift noted above in concentrations occurred near the latter stages of the Little Ice Age and is most likely attributed to changes in the patterns and/or intensity of atmospheric circulation (e.g. intensification of the Southern Hemisphere Westerlies). Changes in dust deposition could also be caused by changes in precipitation in the dust source area (e.g. drier conditions in Patagonia).

13. Core to Atmosphere Exploration of Ice Giants: A Uranus Mission Concept Study

Jensema, R. J.; Arias-Young, T. M.; Wilkins, A. N.; Ermakov, A.; Bennett, C.; Dietrich, A.; Hemingway, D.; Klein, V.; Mane, P.; Marr, K. D.; Masterson, J.; Siegel, V.; Stober, K. J.; Talpe, M.; Vines, S. K.; Wetteland, C. J.

2014-12-01

Ice giants remain largely unexplored, as their large distance from the Sun limits both Earth-based observations and spacecraft visits. The significant occurrence of ice giant-sized planets among detected exoplanets presents an impetus to study Uranus to understand planetary formation, dynamics, and evolution. In addition, Uranus is also uniquely interesting, given the large inclination of its rotation axis and magnetospheric configuration. In this work, we design a mission concept that aims to maximize scientific return by measuring Uranus' chemical composition, internal structure, and magnetosphere, the first two being primary indicators of ice giant formation mechanisms. For this study, we analyze the trade space for a Uranus mission constrained by a cost cap of \$1B. We discuss the decision making processes behind our choices of the science priorities, instrument suite and orbital configuration. Trade space decisions include a strong onboard instrument suite in lieu of a descent probe, an orbiter instead of a flyby mission, and design constraints on the power and propulsion systems. The mission, CAELUS (Core and Atmospheric Evolution Laboratory for Uranus Science), is designed for an August 2023 launch. Following a 14-year cruise with multiple planetary gravity assists, the spacecraft would begin its science mission, which consists of a series of ten 30-day near-polar orbits around Uranus. The instrument suite would consist of a microwave radiometer, Doppler seismometer, magnetometer, and UV spectrometer. These four instruments, along with a high-gain antenna capable of gravity science, would provide a comprehensive science return that meets the bulk of the scientific objectives of the 2013 NRC Planetary Science Decadal Survey for ice giants, most notably those regarding the chemical composition, interior structure, and dynamo of Uranus. This mission concept was created as part of an educational exercise for the 2014 Planetary Science Summer School at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

14. Functional gene pyrosequencing reveals core proteobacterial denitrifiers in boreal lakes

PubMed Central

Saarenheimo, Jatta; Tiirola, Marja Annika; Rissanen, Antti J.

2015-01-01

Denitrification is an important microbial process in aquatic ecosystems that can reduce the effects of eutrophication. Here, quantification and pyrosequencing of nirS, nirK, and nosZ genes encoding for nitrite and nitrous oxide reductases was performed in sediment samples from four boreal lakes to determine the structure and seasonal stability of denitrifying microbial populations. Sediment quality and nitrate concentrations were linked to the quantity and diversity of denitrification genes, the abundance of denitrifying populations (nirS and nosZ genes) correlated with coupled nitrification-denitrification (Dn), and the denitrification of the overlying water NO3- (Dw) correlated with the nirS/nirK ratio. The number of core nirS, nirK, and nosZ operational taxonomical units (OTUs) was low (6, 7, and 3, respectively), and most of these core OTUs were shared among the lakes. Dominant nirK sequences matched best with those of the order Rhizobiales, which was one of the main bacterial orders present in the sediment microbiomes, whereas the dominant nirS sequences were affiliated with the order Burkholderiales. Over half of the nosZ sequences belonged to a single OTU of the order Burkholderiales, but coupled nitrification–denitrification rate correlated with another dominant nosZ OTU assigned to the order Rhodospirillales. The study indicates that a few core proteobacterial clusters may drive denitrification in boreal lake sediments, as the same Alpha- and Betaproteobacteria denitrifier clusters were present in different lakes and seasons. PMID:26191058

15. Large longitude libration of Mercury reveals a molten core.

PubMed

Margot, J L; Peale, S J; Jurgens, R F; Slade, M A; Holin, I V

2007-05-01

Observations of radar speckle patterns tied to the rotation of Mercury establish that the planet occupies a Cassini state with obliquity of 2.11 +/- 0.1 arc minutes. The measurements show that the planet exhibits librations in longitude that are forced at the 88-day orbital period, as predicted by theory. The large amplitude of the oscillations, 35.8 +/- 2 arc seconds, together with the Mariner 10 determination of the gravitational harmonic coefficient C22, indicates that the mantle of Mercury is decoupled from a core that is at least partially molten. PMID:17478713

16. Two Millennia of Pb Pollution Related to Altiplano Metallurgical Activities and Leaded Gasoline in South America from Illimani Ice Core

Eichler, A.; Gramlich, G.; Kellerhals, T.; Tobler, L.; Schwikowski, M.

2014-12-01

The exploitation of the extended polymetallic deposits of the Altiplano in South America led to significant emissions of the neurotoxic Pb into the atmosphere already since pre-Colonial times. Long-term histories of Pb pollution in Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, and North America suggest that within the Northern Hemisphere emissions from metallurgy and coal combustion are minor compared to that from leaded gasoline during the second half of the 20th century. However, there is no equivalent data for Southern America. Here we present the first comprehensive, high-resolution two millennia Pb emission history for South America, based on an ice core record from Illimani glacier in Bolivia. Illimani is the highest mountain of the eastern Bolivian Andes and is located at the northeastern margin of the Bolivian Altiplano. The 2000 year ice-core based decadal Pb deposition history revealed highest Pb Enrichment Factors (EFs) during the period 1965-85. Metallurgical processing for silver production during periods of the Tiwanaku culture (400-900 AD), the Inca empire (1450-1532 AD), colonial times (1532-1900 AD), and the tin production at the beginning of the 20th century were identified as major sources for enhanced Pb EFs before the 1960s. Gasoline related Pb emissions in 1965-85, however, led to a threefold increase of the Pb EFs compared to the emission level from metal production, considerably preceding those of the past 2000 years. This finding is complementary to the local air pollution signal preserved in lake sediments and in good agreement with various studies from the Northern Hemisphere.

17. Anomalously high arsenic concentration in a West Antarctic ice core and its relationship to copper mining in Chile

Schwanck, Franciele; Simões, Jefferson C.; Handley, Michael; Mayewski, Paul A.; Bernardo, Ronaldo T.; Aquino, Francisco E.

2016-01-01

Arsenic variability records are preserved in snow and ice cores and can be utilized to reconstruct air pollution history. The Mount Johns ice core (79°55‧S; 94°23‧W and 91.2 m depth) was collected from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in the 2008/09 austral summer. Here, we report the As concentration variability as determined by 2137 samples from the upper 45 m of this core using ICP-SFMS (CCI, University of Maine, USA). The record covers approximately 125 years (1883-2008) showing a mean concentration of 4.32 pg g-1. The arsenic concentration in the core follows global copper mining evolution, particularly in Chile (the largest producer of Cu). From 1940 to 1990, copper-mining production increased along with arsenic concentrations in the MJ core, from 1.92 pg g-1 (before 1900) to 7.94 pg g-1 (1950). In the last two decades, environmental regulations for As emissions have been implemented, forcing smelters to treat their gases to conform to national and international environmental standards. In Chile, decontamination plants required by the government started operating from 1993 to 2000. Thereafter, Chilean copper production more than doubled while As emission levels declined, and the same reduction was observed in the Mount Johns ice core. After 1999, arsenic concentrations in our samples decreased to levels comparable to the period before 1900.

18. Chlorine-36 and cesium-137 in ice-core samples from mid-latitude glacial sites in the Northern Hemisphere

USGS Publications Warehouse

Green, J.R.; Cecil, L.D.; Synal, H.-A.; Kreutz, K.J.; Wake, C.P.; Naftz, D.L.; Frape, S.K.

2000-01-01

Chlorine-36 (36Cl) concentrations, 36Cl/Cl ratios, and 36Cl fluxes in ice-core samples collected from the Upper Fremont Glacier (UFG) in the Wind River Mountain Range, Wyoming, United States and the Nangpai Gosum Glacier (NGG) in the Himalayan Mountains, Nepal, were determined and compared with published results from the Dye-3 ice-core drilling site on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Cesium-137 (137Cs) concentrations in the NGG also were determined. The background fluxes for 36Cl for each glacial site were similar: (1.6??0.3)??10-2 atoms/cm2 s for the UFG samples, (0.7??0.1)??10-2 atoms/cm2 s for the NGG samples, and (0.4??0.1)??10-2 atoms/cm2 s for the Dye-3 samples. The 36Cl fluxes in ice that was deposited as snow during peak atmospheric nuclear weapon test (1957-1958) were (33??1)??10-2 atoms/cm2 s for the UFG site, (291??3)??10-2 atoms/cm2 s for the NGG site, and (124??5)??10-2 atoms/ cm2 s for the Dye-3 site. A weapon test period 137Cs concentration of 0.79??0.05 Bq/kg in the NGG ice core also was detected in the same section of ice that contained the largest 36Cl concentration. ?? 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

19. Detection prospects for GeV neutrinos from collisionally heated gamma-ray bursts with IceCube/DeepCore.

PubMed

Bartos, I; Beloborodov, A M; Hurley, K; Mrka, S

2013-06-14

Jet reheating via nuclear collisions has recently been proposed as the main mechanism for gamma-ray burst (GRB) emission. In addition to producing the observed gamma rays, collisional heating must generate 10-100 GeV neutrinos, implying a close relation between the neutrino and gamma-ray luminosities. We exploit this theoretical relation to make predictions for possible GRB detections by IceCube + DeepCore. To estimate the expected neutrino signal, we use the largest sample of bursts observed by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment in 1991-2000. GRB neutrinos could have been detected if IceCube + DeepCore operated at that time. Detection of 10-100 GeV neutrinos would have significant implications, shedding light on the composition of GRB jets and their Lorentz factors. This could be an important target in designing future upgrades of the IceCube + DeepCore observatory. PMID:25165903

20. Linking high resolution 14C records to ice core time scales by means of Bayesian wiggle-matching

Adolphi, F.; Muscheler, R.; Friedrich, M.; Güttler, D.; Wacker, L.; Kromer, B.

2014-12-01

Radiocarbon dating is the key method for obtaining chronological information of paleoclimate records covering the last ~45,000 years. The wealth of paleoclimatic information reconstructed from Greenland and Antarctic ice cores are often used as blue-prints to place these radiocarbon dated records into a wider context. However, while layer counted ice core time scales from Greenland provide high precision on the duration of events, the absolute age uncertainty increases back in time. This poses limitations on the possible detail and robustness of comparisons between radiocarbon dated, and ice core records. Cosmogenic radionuclide records, i.e. based on 14C and 10Be, provide a unique tool for synchronizing different time scales from various archives. They carry the common production rate signal which is modulated by variations in the strength of the helio- and geo- magnetic fields, which are climate-independent processes and global. We will present a method for synchronizing radiocarbon and Greenland ice core time scales back to 16,000 years ago based on Bayesian wiggle matching of cosmogenic radionuclide records. The method utilizes the strength of the high relative precision of ice core time scales as well as the small absolute age uncertainty from tree-ring chronologies and U/Th dated speleothems. The method provides combined error estimates and allows testing i) the accuracy of ice core time scales, ii) the quality of 14C records underlying the radiocarbon calibration curve as well as iii) assumptions of synchronicity of rapid climate changes. Furthermore, we will illustrate how this method can be used for high-precision radiocarbon wiggle-match dating of floating tree ring chronologies beyond 14,000 years ago, and potentially improve the radiocarbon calibration curve.

1. A 16,000-yr tephra framework for the Antarctic ice sheet: a contribution from the new Talos Dome core

Narcisi, Biancamaria; Petit, Jean Robert; Delmonte, Barbara; Scarchilli, Claudio; Stenni, Barbara

2012-08-01

A detailed tephra record for the last 16,000 years of the TALDICE ice core drilled at Talos Dome (East Antarctica, Pacific/Ross Sea sector) is documented. Traces of 26 different explosive volcanic eruptions, dated by ice core chronology and framed within the climate (δ18O) record for the core, have been identified. Glass major element composition and grain size data indicate that all prominent tephra layers derive from Antarctic volcanic activity and likely originated in proximal volcanoes of the Melbourne Volcanic Province (Northern Victoria Land). Two other Antarctic horizons may have originated from the more distant volcanoes of Mount Berlin (Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica) and Mount Erebus (Ross Island, Southern Victoria Land). Moreover, based on glass-shard geochemistry and a 20-year analysis of atmospheric back trajectories suggesting ash transport from South America to the drilling site by the circumpolar westerly circulation, a few faint microtephra horizons are attributed to Andean volcanic activity. Two of these tephras are interpreted to be related to known Holocene explosive eruptions from the volcanoes of Mount Hudson and Mount Burney. Finally, by comparing compositional features in conjunction with age data, three TALDICE tephras have been successfully correlated with volcanic layers in other ice records of the Antarctic ice sheet. Altogether, our results expand the Antarctic tephrostratigraphic framework and add value to the prospects for continental-scale correlations between ice cores and Southern Hemisphere sediment archives.

2. Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution Project (RICE): A 65 Kyr ice core record of black carbon aerosol deposition to the Ross Ice Shelf, West Antarctica.

Edwards, Ross; Bertler, Nancy; Tuohy, Andrea; Neff, Peter; Proemse, Bernedette; Feiteng, Wang; Goodwin, Ian; Hogan, Chad

2015-04-01

Emitted by fires, black carbon aerosols (rBC) perturb the atmosphere's physical and chemical properties and are climatically active. Sedimentary charcoal and other paleo-fire records suggest that rBC emissions have varied significantly in the past due to human activity and climate variability. However, few paleo rBC records exist to constrain reconstructions of the past rBC atmospheric distribution and its climate interaction. As part of the international Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution (RICE) project, we have developed an Antarctic rBC ice core record spanning the past ~65 Kyr. The RICE deep ice core was drilled from the Roosevelt Island ice dome in West Antarctica from 2011 to 2013. The high depth resolution (~ 1 cm) record was developed using a single particle intracavity laser-induced incandescence soot photometer (SP2) coupled to an ice core melter system. The rBC record displays sub-annual variability consistent with both austral dry-season and summer biomass burning. The record exhibits significant decadal to millennial-scale variability consistent with known changes in climate. Glacial rBC concentrations were much lower than Holocene concentrations with the exception of several periods of abrupt increases in rBC. The transition from glacial to interglacial rBC concentrations occurred over a much longer time relative to other ice core climate proxies such as water isotopes and suggests . The protracted increase in rBC during the transition may reflected Southern hemisphere ecosystem / fire regime changes in response to hydroclimate and human activity.

3. Evidence for in-situ metabolic activity in ice sheets based on anomalous trace gas records from the Vostok and other ice cores

Sowers, T.

2003-04-01

Measurements of trace gas species in ice cores are the primary means for reconstructing the composition of the atmosphere. The longest such record comes from the Vostok core taken from the central portion of the East Antarctic ice sheet [Petit et al., 1999]. In general, the trace gas records from Vostok are utilized as the reference signal when correlating trace gas measurements from other ice cores. The underlying assumption implicit in such endeavors is that the bubbles recovered from the ice cores record the composition of the atmosphere at the time the bubbles were formed. Another implicit assumption is that the composition of the bubbles has not been compromised by the extremely long storage periods within the ice sheet. While there is ample evidence that certain trace gas records (e.g. CO2 and CH4) have probably not been compromised, anomalous nitrous oxide (N2O) measurements from the penultimate glacial termination at Vostok are consistent with in-situ (N2O) production [Sowers, 2001]. In general, trace gas measurements from high altitude tropical/temperate glaciers are higher than expected based on contemporaneous measurements from polar cores. Measurements spanning the last 25kyr from the Sajama ice core from central Bolivia (18oS, 69oW, 6542masl), for example, were 1X-5X higher than contemporaneous values recorded in polar ice cores [Campen et al., 2003]. While other physical factors (like temperature/melting) may contribute to the elevated trace gas levels at these sites, the most likely explanation involves the accumulation of in-situ metabolic trace gas byproducts. Stable isotope measurements provide independent information for assessing the origin of the elevated trace gas levels in select samples. For the penultimate glacial termination at Vostok, the anomalous (N2O) values carry high δ15Nbulk and low δ18Obulk values that would be predicted if the added (N2O) was associated with in-situ nitrification. At Sajama, low δ13CH4 values observed during the last glacial period are consistent with methanogenic CH4 from acetogenesis. References Campen, R.K., T. Sowers, and R.B. Alley, Evidence of Microbial Consortia Metabolizing Within a Low-Latitude Mountain Glacier, Geology, 31 (No. 3), 231-234, 2003. Petit, J.R., J. Jouzel, D. Raynaud, N.I. Barkov, J.M. Barnola, I. Basile, B. M., J. Chappellaz, J. Davis, G. Delaygue, M. Delmontte, J.M. Kotyakov, M. Legrand, V. Lipenkov, C. Lorius, L. Pepin, C. Ritz, E. Saltzman, and M. Stievenard, Climate and atmospheric history of the past 420,000 years from the Vostok ice core, Antarctica, Nature, 399, 429-436, 1999. Sowers, T., The N2O record spanning the penultimate deglaciation from the Vostok ice core, Journal of Geophysical Research, 106 (D23), 31,903-31,914, 2001.

4. The transport history of two Saharan dust events archived in an Alpine ice core

Sodemann, H.; Palmer, A. S.; Schwierz, C.; Schwikowski, M.; Wernli, H.

2006-02-01

Mineral dust from the Saharan desert can be transported across the Mediterranean towards the Alpine region several times a year. When coinciding with snowfall, the dust can be deposited on Alpine glaciers and then appears as yellow or red layers in ice cores. Two such significant dust events were identified in an ice core drilled at the high-accumulation site Piz Zupó in the Swiss Alps (46°22' N, 9°55' E, 3850 m a.s.l.). From stable oxygen isotopes and major ion concentrations, the events were approximately dated as October and March 2000. In order to link the dust record in the ice core to the meteorological situation that led to the dust events, a novel methodology based on back-trajectory analysis was developed. It allowed the detailed analysis of the specific meteorologic flow evolution that was associated with Saharan dust transport into the Alps, and the identification of dust sources, atmospheric transport paths, and wet deposition periods for both dust events. Differences in the chemical signature of the two dust events were interpreted with respect to contributions from the dust sources and aerosol scavenging during the transport.

For the October event, the trajectory analysis indicated that dust deposition took place during 13-15 October 2000. Mobilisation areas of dust were mainly identified in the Algerian and Libyan deserts. A combination of an upper-level potential vorticity streamer and a midlevel jet across Algeria first brought moist Atlantic air and later mixed air from the tropics and Saharan desert across the Mediterranean towards the Alps. The March event consisted of two different deposition phases which took place during 17-19 and 23-25 March 2000. The first phase was associated with an exceptional transport pathway past Iceland and towards the Alps from northerly directions. The second phase was similar to the October event. A significant peak of methanesulphonic acid associated with the March dust event was most likely caused by incorporation of biogenic aerosol while passing through the marine boundary layer of the western Mediterranean during a local phytoplankton bloom. From this study, we conclude that for a detailed understanding of the chemical signal recorded in dust events at Piz Zupó, it is essential to consider the whole transport sequence of mineral aerosol, consisting of dust mobilisation, transport, and deposition at the glacier.

5. New high-resolution aerosol proxy data from the Greenland NEEM ice core covering the last 128,000 years

Schüpbach, Simon; Bigler, Matthias; Gfeller, Gideon; Fischer, Hubertus

2014-05-01

High-resolution multicomponent continuous flow analysis (CFA) measurements have been performed over the entire depth of the NEEM ice core in three field seasons 2009-2011. Only in the brittle ice section, covering an age of approx. 4,000-8,000 years, continuous measurements could not be performed due to the bad ice quality which hampered such analyses. On all the other ice, continuous records of tracers for sea salt aerosol (sodium), mineral dust aerosol (calcium), inorganic and biogenic nitrogen compounds (nitrate and ammonium), hydrogen peroxide, and electrolytic conductivity were recorded. Data evaluation and quality control of the raw data of the 2.5 km long ice core have recently been finalised, resulting in the final multi-proxy CFA dataset of the NEEM ice core presented here. It covers the last 128,000 years including the entire (stratigraphically folded) Eemian warm period in Greenland. Our chemical CFA measurements are performed in a nominal resolution of 0.5 mm, allowing for the resolution of seasonal cycles over the top 1500 m of the ice core. Thus, seasonality of aerosol tracers can be studied as far back as the early Holocene, and to a certain extent even further back in time. The lower part of the ice core, however, including the last glacial period as well as the Eemian ice section, is subject to such strong thinning of the ice that no unambiguous seasonal cycles can be resolved any more. Nevertheless, long-term glacial-interglacial and stadial-interstadial changes on the one side and the peculiarities of the first Greenland Eemian aerosol record in comparison to the Holocene on the other can be investigated in highest resolution. Here, the new NEEM aerosol proxy records are presented and compared to NGRIP and GRIP CFA records focussed on the early Holocene and last glacial period. Thanks to the particularly high resolution we can furthermore closely investigate the timing and phasing of fast climate transitions such as Termination I and Dansgaard-Oeschger events during the last glacial period.

6. Arrival of Sulfate Aerosols from Iceland's Laki Eruption (1783-1784 AD) to the Greenland Ice Sheet: A Critical Ice Core Dating Tool

Wei, L.; Mosley-Thompson, E.

2006-12-01

The Laki (Iceland) volcanic event was a basaltic flood lava eruption lasting from June 8, 1783 to February 7, 1784. The timing of the arrival of the sulfate aerosols and volcanic fragments to the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) remains uncertain, but is important to confirm as the highly conductive sulfate layer has been consistently used as a time stratigraphic marker (1783 AD) in ice cores collected across Greenland. However, in the GISP2 ice core a few glass shards were found within the annual layer lying just below that containing the sulfate aerosols from Laki suggesting that the ash arrived first, in 1783, while the aerosols arrived the following year [Fiacco et al., 1994]. Additional published ice core results have neither confirmed nor refuted this observation. We have taken advantage of the accurately dated, high temporal resolution ice cores collected by PARCA (Program for Arctic Regional Climate Assessment) to (1) determine more precisely the timing of the arrival of Laki's sulfate aerosols and (2) assess the spatial variability of the excess sulfate contributed by Laki to the GIS. Our results indicate that the sulfate emitted from the Laki eruption most likely arrived on the GIS in the late summer or early fall of 1783 AD. This is also supported by contemporary weather logs and official reports of the appearance of Laki haze [Thordarson and Self, 2003]. The flux of Laki sulfate varies significantly over the GIS, largely as a function of the regional annual accumulation rate. Laki sulfate aerosols also arrived as a single pulse in most of the PARCA cores, suggesting that only a small fraction of the gases emitted from Laki reached the stratosphere. References: Fiacco, R.J.,et al., Atmospheric aerosol loading and transport due to the 1783-84 Laki eruption in Iceland, interpreted from ash particles and acidity in the GISP2 ice core, Quat. Res., 42, 231-240, 1994. Thordarson, T, and S. Self, Atmospheric and environmental effects of the 1783-1784 Laki eruption: A review and reassessment, J. Geophy. Res., 108, 4011-4039, 2003.

7. Relationship Between Large-Scale Circulation and Ice Core Proxy Data from the McCall Glacier, Alaska

Cassano, E.; Cassano, J. J.; McConnell, J.; Nolan, M.

2014-12-01

Ice cores have often been used to reconstruct paleoclimate based on proxies contained in the cores. Using an ice core from McCall Glacier, in the eastern Brooks Range of Alaska we identify relationships between ice core proxies and synoptic weather patterns influencing McCall Glacier. The self-organizing map (SOM) algorithm is used to objectively identify the synoptic circulation patterns both at the surface and aloft for this region and relate these patterns to 27 proxies processed from the ice core for the past 60 years when reliable atmospheric reanalysis data are available. Correlation analysis with gridded circulation data at both the surface and aloft and with the frequency of synoptic patterns identified by the climate classification created with the SOM algorithm was performed. Results showed the strongest relationships with Iodine, Nitric Acid, Phosphorus, and two measurements of black carbon while aluminum had the weakest relationship with circulation. In addition, seasonal analysis showed the strongest circulation relationships in spring and summer with the weakest in autumn.

8. A synthetic ice core approach to estimate ion relocation in an ice field site experiencing periodical melt: a case study on Lomonosovfonna, Svalbard

Vega, Carmen P.; Pohjola, Veijo A.; Beaudon, Emilie; Claremar, Björn; van Pelt, Ward J. J.; Pettersson, Rickard; Isaksson, Elisabeth; Martma, Tõnu; Schwikowski, Margit; Bøggild, Carl E.

2016-05-01

Physical and chemical properties of four different ice cores (LF-97, LF-08, LF-09 and LF-11) drilled at Lomonosovfonna, Svalbard, were compared to investigate the effects of meltwater percolation on the chemical and physical stratigraphy of these records. A synthetic ice core approach was employed as reference record to estimate the ionic relocation and meltwater percolation length at this site during the period 2007-2010. Using this method, a partial ion elution sequence obtained for Lomonosovfonna was NO3- > SO42-, Mg2+, Cl-, K+, Na+ with nitrate being the most mobile within the snowpack. The relocation length of most of the ions was on the order of 1 m during this period. In addition, by using both a positive degree day (PDD) and a snow-energy model approaches to estimate the percentage of melt at Lomonosovfonna, we have calculated a melt percentage (MP) of the total annual accumulation within the range between 48 and 70 %, for the period between 2007 and 2010, which is above the MP range suggested by the ion relocation evidenced in the LF-syn core (i.e., MP = 30 %). Using a firn-densification model to constrain the melt range, a MP of 30 % was found over the same period, which is consistent with the results of the synthetic ice core approach, and a 45 % of melt for the last 60 years. Considering the ionic relocation lengths and annual melt percentages, we estimate that the atmospheric ionic signal remains preserved in recently drilled Lomonosovfonna ice cores at an annual or bi-annual resolution when weather conditions were similar to those during the 2007-2010 period.

9. A synthetic ice core approach to estimate ion relocation in an ice field site experiencing periodical melt; a case study on Lomonosovfonna, Svalbard

Vega, C. P.; Pohjola, V. A.; Beaudon, E.; Claremar, B.; van Pelt, W. J. J.; Pettersson, R.; Isaksson, E.; Martma, T.; Schwikowski, M.; Bggild, C. E.

2015-09-01

Physical and chemical properties of four different ice cores (LF-97, LF-08, LF-09 and LF-11) drilled at Lomonosovfonna, Svalbard, were compared to investigate the effects of meltwater percolation on the chemical and physical stratigraphy of these records. A synthetic ice core approach was employed as reference record to estimate the ionic relocation and meltwater percolation length at this site during the period 2007-2010. Using this method, the ion elution sequence obtained for Lomonosovfonna was SO42- > NO3- > NH4+ > Mg2+ > Cl-, K+ > Na+ > Ca2+, with acidic ions being the most mobile within the snowpack. The relocation length of most of the ions was in the order of 1 m, with the exception of SO42- showing relocation lengths > 2 m during this period. In addition, by using both a positive degree day (PDD) and a snow-energy model approaches to estimate the percentage of melt at Lomonosovfonna, we have calculated a melt percentage (MP) of the total annual accumulation within the range between 48 and 70 %, for the period between 2007 and 2010 which is above the MP range suggested by the ion relocation evidenced in the LF-syn core (i.e. MP = 30 %). Using a firn-densification model to constrain the melt range, a MP of 30 % was found over the same period which is consistent with the results of the synthetic ice core approach, and a 45 % of melt for the last 60 years. Considering the ionic relocation lengths and annual melt percentages, we estimate that the atmospheric ionic signal remains preserved in recently drilled Lomonosovfonna ice cores at an annual or bi-annual resolution.

10. Atmosphere aerosol/dust composition over central Asia and western Siberia derived from snow/ice core records and calibrated with NASA remote sensing data

Aizen, V. B.; Aizen, E. M.; Joswiak, D. R.; Surazakov, A. B.; Takeuchi, N.

2007-12-01

The vast arid and semi-arid regions of central Asia, Mongolia, and Northern China are the world's second largest source of atmospheric mineral dust. In recent years, severe dust storms in Asia have intensified in frequency, duration, and areal coverage. However, limited spatial and temporal extent of aerosol measurements precludes definitive statements to be made regarding relationship between the Asian aerosol generation and climate. It has been well known that glaciers are the natural archives of environmental records related to past climate and aerosol generation. In our research, we utilized central Asian and western Siberia shallow ice-core records recovered from Altai, Tien Shan and Pamir mountain glaciers. Despite the fact that ice-core data may extend climate/aerosol records back in time, their sparse coverage is inadequate to document aerosol spatial distribution. The NASA products from Aura, Terra and Aqua satellite missions address this gap identifying aerosol sources, transport pathways, and area of deposition. The main objective of our research is to evaluate an affect of climate variability on dynamics of Asian aerosol loading to atmosphere and changes in aerosol transport pathways. Dust particle, major and rare earth element analysis from dust aerosols deposited and accumulated in Altai, Tien Shan and Pamir glaciers suggests that loess from Tajikistan, Afghanistan and north-western China are main sources of aerosol loading into the upper troposphere over the central Asia and western Siberia. At the same time, the soluble ionic component of the ice-cores, related to aerosol generated from evaporate deposits, demonstrated both anthropogenic and natural impacts on atmospheric chemistry over these regions. Large perturbations of Ca2+ derived from CaCO3- rich dust transported from Goby Desert to Altai and Tien Shan. Origin and pathway of the ice-core aerosol depositions for the last 10-years were identified through calibrating ice-core records with dust storm land surface records and remote sensing aerosol data at the monthly/seasonal/annual to event/daily scale. For instance, in southwestern Asia, severe drought developed from 1998 to 2002 has intensified the frequency, duration, and spatial coverage of large dust storms originated in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Taklimakan and Goby Deserts. The Pamir and Tien Shan ice-core records revealed, that concentration of major and REE elements during summer is about two times greater in period of 1998-2002 than at the following years. Our qualitative analysis based on ice-core records, the MODIS and SeaWiFS images and determined the origin of dust, transport pathways and aerosol spatial distribution over central Asia and western Siberia in summer 2000, 2001 and 2002. The transport pathways were reconstructed on the basis of visibility observations and NCAR MM5-predicted winds with further validation against of satellite data and isotope- geochemical ice-core data analysis.

11. The influence of sea ice on Antarctic ice core sulfur chemistry and on the future evolution of Arctic snow depth: Investigations using global models

Hezel, Paul J.

Observational studies have examined the relationship between methanesulfonic acid (MSA) measured in Antarctic ice cores and sea ice extent measured by satellites with the aim of producing a proxy for past sea ice extent. MSA is an oxidation product of dimethylsulfide (DMS) and is potentially linked to sea ice based on observations of very high surface seawater DMS in the sea ice zone. Using a global chemical transport model, we present the first modeling study that specifically examines this relationship on interannual and on glacial-interglacial time scales. On interannual time scales, the model shows no robust relationship between MSA deposited in Antarctica and sea ice extent. We show that lifetimes of MSA and DMS are longer in the high latitudes than in the global mean, interannual variability of sea ice is small (<25%) as a fraction of sea ice area, and sea ice determines only a fraction of the variability (<30%) of DMS emissions from the ocean surface. A potentially larger fraction of the variability in DMS emissions is determined by surface wind speed (up to 46%) via the parameterization for ocean-to-atmosphere gas exchange. Furthermore, we find that a significant fraction (up to 74%) of MSA deposited in Antarctica originates from north of 60°S, north of the seasonal sea ice zone. We then examine the deposition of MSA and non-sea-salt sulfate (nss SO2-4 ) on glacial-interglacial time scales. Ice core observations on the East Antarctic Plateau suggest that MSA increases much more than nss SO2-4 during the last glacial maximum (LGM) compared to the modern period. It has been suggested that high MSA during the LGM is indicative of higher primary productivity and DMS emissions in the LGM compared to the modern day. Studies have also shown that MSA is subject to post-depositional volatilization, especially during the modern period. Using the same chemical transport model driven by meteorology from a global climate model, we examine the sensitivity of MSA and nss SO2-4 deposition to differences between the modern and LGM climates, including sea ice extent, sea surface temperatures, oxidant concentrations, and meteorological conditions. We are unable to find a mechanism whereby MSA deposition fluxes are higher than nss SO2-4 deposition fluxes on the East Antarctic Plateau in the LGM compared the modern period. We conclude that the observed differences between MSA and nss SO2-4 on glacial-interglacial time scales are due to post-depositional processes that affect the ice core MSA concentrations. We can not rule out the possibility of increased DMS emissions in the LGM compared to the modern day. If oceanic DMS production and ocean-to-air fluxes in the sea ice zone are significantly enhanced by the presence of sea ice as indicated by observations, we suggest that the potentially larger amplitude of the seasonal cycle in sea ice extent in the LGM implies a more important role for sea ice in modulating the sulfur cycle during the LGM compared to the modern period. We then shift our focus to study the evolution of snow depth on sea ice in global climate model simulations of the 20th and 21st centuries from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5). Two competing processes, decreasing sea ice extent and increasing precipitation, will affect snow accumulation on sea ice in the future, and it is not known a priori which will dominate. The decline in Arctic sea ice extent is a well-studied problem in future scenarios of climate change. Moisture convergence into the Arctic is also expected to increase in a warmer world, which may result in increasing snowfall rates. We show that the accumulated snow depth on sea ice in the spring declines as a result of decreased ice extent in the early autumn, in spite of increased winter snowfall rates. The ringed seal (Phoca hispida ) depends on accumulated snow in the spring to build subnivean birth lairs, and provides one of the motivations for this study. Using an empirical threshold of 20 cm of snow depth on level sea ice for ringed seal lair success, we estimate a decline of potential ringed seal habitat of nearly 70%.

12. Volcanic forcing during the Common Era reevaluated based on new ice core evidence

Sigl, M.; McConnell, J. R.; Toohey, M.; Maselli, O. J.; Pasteris, D.; Layman, L.; Isaksson, E. D.; Kawamura, K.; Motizuki, Y.; Edwards, R.; Curran, M. A.; Das, S. B.; Krueger, K.

2013-12-01

The attribution of observed temperature trends to external forcings strongly relies on the use of climate model simulations. The history of forcing and global temperatures of the past can be used to constrain projections into the future which are the basis for environmental policy decisions. Climate model simulations of global climate evolution during the past Millennium use reconstructions of volcanic aerosol forcing based on sulfate signals extracted from the polar ice sheets. Beside uncertainties related to the calibration of atmospheric optical depth (AOD), low spatial and temporal coverage of the proxy data and low confidence in the dating are the main sources of uncertainty for existing volcanic forcing indices. Here we reconstruct volcanic sulfate deposition over Antarctica based on a comprehensive array of existing and new ice core records, synchronized to the annually dated WAIS Divide timescale. This reconstruction for the last 2,000 years is unprecedented in robustness, dating accuracy, length and spatial coverage. We find that Antarctic average volcanic sulfate deposition for some of the largest events during the Common Era currently is overestimated by 20 to 30%, while for some other large eruptions values are underestimated by up to 160%. This implies that current volcanic aerosol forcing sets used in climate model simulations have errors of similar magnitude. Combined with a similar detailed reconstruction obtained for the Northern Hemisphere, the Antarctic sulfate record presented here provides the proxy data needed for improvement of volcanic forcing reconstructions that are widely used in climate simulations.

13. Carbon isotope constraints on the deglacial CO₂ rise from ice cores.

PubMed

Schmitt, Jochen; Schneider, Robert; Elsig, Joachim; Leuenberger, Daiana; Lourantou, Anna; Chappellaz, Jérôme; Köhler, Peter; Joos, Fortunat; Stocker, Thomas F; Leuenberger, Markus; Fischer, Hubertus

2012-05-11

The stable carbon isotope ratio of atmospheric CO(2) (δ(13)C(atm)) is a key parameter in deciphering past carbon cycle changes. Here we present δ(13)C(atm) data for the past 24,000 years derived from three independent records from two Antarctic ice cores. We conclude that a pronounced 0.3 per mil decrease in δ(13)C(atm) during the early deglaciation can be best explained by upwelling of old, carbon-enriched waters in the Southern Ocean. Later in the deglaciation, regrowth of the terrestrial biosphere, changes in sea surface temperature, and ocean circulation governed the δ(13)C(atm) evolution. During the Last Glacial Maximum, δ(13)C(atm) and atmospheric CO(2) concentration were essentially constant, which suggests that the carbon cycle was in dynamic equilibrium and that the net transfer of carbon to the deep ocean had occurred before then. PMID:22461496

14. Greenland ice cores as a proxy for northern hemisphere acid deposition history

Pasteris, D.; McConnell, J.; Edwards, R.

2010-12-01

Acid rain is one of the primary pollution problems of the last century. The deposition of sulfuric and nitric acid has caused widespread ecosystem damage, including decreased forest growth and stressed species populations. Large scale emission and regional transport of acidifying pollutants has been occurring in the northern hemisphere for over 120 years, however the total flux of acid to impacted regions is unknown, because widespread and reliable measurements of acid deposition only began in the late 1970s. Here we present acidity data from Greenland ice cores covering the period of industrial influence and compare the last 40 years of this data with acid deposition measurements from northeast North America. A highly significant correlation is observed which has allowed us to reconstruct the trend in acid deposition in North America since beginning of the 20th century. This reconstruction for the first time provides ecologists with a quantification of the acidity flux that has contributed to the observed ecosystem declines.

15. Can we retrieve a clear paleoclimatic signal from the deeper part of the EPICA Dome C ice core?

Tison, J.-L.; de Angelis, M.; Littot, G.; Wolff, E.; Fischer, H.; Hansson, M.; Bigler, M.; Udisti, R.; Wegner, A.; Jouzel, J.; Stenni, B.; Johnsen, S.; Masson-Delmotte, V.; Landais, A.; Lipenkov, V.; Loulergue, L.; Barnola, J.-M.; Petit, J.-R.; Delmonte, B.; Dreyfus, G.; Dahl-Jensen, D.; Durand, G.; Bereiter, B.; Schilt, A.; Spahni, R.; Pol, K.; Lorrain, R.; Souchez, R.; Samyn, D.

2015-01-01

An important share of paleoclimatic information is buried within the lowermost layers of deep ice cores. Because improving our records further back in time is one of the main challenges in the near future, it is essential to judge how deep these records remain unaltered, since the proximity of the bedrock is likely to interfere both with the recorded temporal sequence and the ice properties. In this paper, we present a multiparametric study (δD-δ18Oice, δ18Oatm, total air content, CO2, CH4, N2O, dust, high resolution chemistry, ice texture) of the bottom 60 m of the EPICA Dome C ice core from central Antarctica. These bottom layers have been subdivided in two sections: the lower 12 m showing visible solid inclusions (basal ice) and the 48 m above which we refer to as "deep ice". Some of the data are consistent with a pristine paleoclimatic signal, others show clear anomalies. It is demonstrated that neither large scale bottom refreezing of subglacial water, nor mixing (be it internal or with a local basal end-term from a previous/initial ice sheet configuration) can explain the observed bottom ice properties. We focus on the high-resolution chemical profiles and on the available remote sensing data on the subglacial topography of the site to propose a mechanism by which relative stretching of the bottom ice sheet layers is made possible, due to the progressively confining effect of subglacial valley sides. This stress field change, combined with bottom ice temperature close to the pressure melting point, induces accelerated migration recrystallization, which results in spatial chemical sorting of the impurities, depending on their state (dissolved vs. solid) and if they are involved or not in salt formation. This chemical sorting effect is responsible for the progressive build-up of the visible solid aggregates that therefore mainly originate "from within", and not from incorporation processes of allochtone material at the ice-bedrock interface. We also discuss how the proposed mechanism is compatible with the other variables described. We conclude that the paleoclimatic signal is only marginally affected in terms of global ice properties at the bottom of EPICA Dome C, but that the time scale has been considerably distorted by mechanical stretching of MIS20 due to the increasing influence of the subglacial topography, a process that might have started well above the bottom ice.

16. Mid-twentieth century increases in anthropogenic Pb, Cd and Cu in central Asia set in hemispheric perspective using Tien Shan ice core

Grigholm, B.; Mayewski, P. A.; Aizen, V.; Kreutz, K.; Wake, C. P.; Aizen, E.; Kang, S.; Maasch, K. A.; Handley, M. J.; Sneed, S. B.

2016-04-01

High-resolution major and trace element (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Na, Pb, S, Ti, and V) ice core records from Inilchek glacier (5120 m above sea level) on the northwestern margin of the Tibetan Plateau provide the first multi-decadal ice core record spanning the period 1908-1995 AD in central Tien Shan. The trace element records reveal pronounced temporal baseline trends and concentration maxima characteristic of post-1950 anthropogenic emissions. Examination of Pb, Cd and Cu concentrations, along with non-crustal calculation estimates (i.e. excess (ex) and enrichment factor (EF)), reveal that discernable anthropogenic inputs began during the 1950s and rapidly increased to the late-1970s and early 1980s, by factors up to of 5, 6 and 3, respectively, relative to a 1910-1950 means. Pb, Cd and Cu concentrations between the 1950s-1980s are reflective of large-scale Soviet industrial and agricultural development, including the growth of production and/or consumption of the non-ferrous metals, coal and phosphate fertilizers. NOAA HYSPLIT back-trajectory frequency analysis suggests pollutant sources originating primarily from southern Kazakhstan (e.g. Shymkent and Balkhash) and the Fergana Valley (located in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan). Inilchek ice core Pb, Cd and Cu reveals declines during the 1980s concurrent with Soviet economic declines, however, due to the rapid industrial and agricultural growth of western China, Pb, Cd and Cu trends increase during the 1990s reflecting a transition from primarily central Asian sources to emission sources from western China (e.g. Xinjiang Province).

17. Dating the Vostok ice core record by importing the Devils Hole chronology

USGS Publications Warehouse

2001-01-01

The development of an accurate chronology for the Vostok record continues to be an open research question because these invaluable ice cores cannot be dated directly. Depth-to-age relationships have been developed using many different approaches, but published age estimates are inconsistent, even for major paleoclimatic events. We have developed a chronology for the Vostok deuterium paleotemperature record using a simple and objective algorithm to transfer ages of major paleoclimatic events from the radiometrically dated 500,000-year ??18O-paleotemperature record from Devils Hole, Nevada. The method is based only on a strong inference that major shifts in paleotemperature recorded at both locations occurred synchronously, consistent with an atmospheric teleconnection. The derived depth-to-age relationship conforms with the physics of ice compaction, and internally produces ages for climatic events 5.4 and 11.24 which are consistent with the externally assigned ages that the Vostok team needed to assume in order to derive their most recent chronology, GT4. Indeed, the resulting V-DH chronology is highly correlated with GT4 because of the unexpected correspondence even in the timing of second-order climatic events that were not constrained by the algorithm. Furthermore, the algorithm developed herein is not specific to this problem; rather, the procedure can be used whenever two paleoclimate records are proxies for the same physical phenomenon, and paleoclimatic conditions forcing the two records can be considered to have occurred contemporaneously. The ability of the algorithm to date the East Antarctic Dome Fuji core is also demonstrated.

18. Estimation and calibration of the water isotope differential diffusion length in ice core records

van der Wel, G.; Fischer, H.; Oerter, H.; Meyer, H.; Meijer, H. A. J.

2015-08-01

Palaeoclimatic information can be retrieved from the diffusion of the stable water isotope signal during firnification of snow. The diffusion length, a measure for the amount of diffusion a layer has experienced, depends on the firn temperature and the accumulation rate. We show that the estimation of the diffusion length using power spectral densities (PSDs) of the record of a single isotope species can be biased by uncertainties in spectral properties of the isotope signal prior to diffusion. By using a second water isotope and calculating the difference in diffusion lengths between the two isotopes, this problem is circumvented. We study the PSD method applied to two isotopes in detail and additionally present a new forward diffusion method for retrieving the differential diffusion length based on the Pearson correlation between the two isotope signals. The two methods are discussed and extensively tested on synthetic data which are generated in a Monte Carlo manner. We show that calibration of the PSD method with this synthetic data is necessary to be able to objectively determine the differential diffusion length. The correlation-based method proves to be a good alternative for the PSD method as it yields precision equal to or somewhat higher than the PSD method. The use of synthetic data also allows us to estimate the accuracy and precision of the two methods and to choose the best sampling strategy to obtain past temperatures with the required precision. In addition to application to synthetic data the two methods are tested on stable-isotope records from the EPICA (European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica) ice core drilled in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, showing that reliable firn temperatures can be reconstructed with a typical uncertainty of 1.5 and 2 °C for the Holocene period and 2 and 2.5 °C for the last glacial period for the correlation and PSD method, respectively.

19. Validity of the Temperature Reconstruction from Water Isotopes in Ice Cores

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jouzel, J.; Alley, R. B.; Cuffey, K. M.; Dansgaard, W.; Grootes, P.; Hoffmann, G.; Johnsen, S. J.; Koster, R. D.; Peel, D.; Shuman, C. A.; Stievenard, M.; Stuiver, M.; White, J.

1997-01-01

Well-documented present-day distributions of stable water isotopes (HDO and others) show the existence, in middle and high latitudes, of a linear relationship between the mean annual isotope content of precipitation (SD and 51"0) and the mean annual temperature at the precipitation site. Paleoclimatologists have used this relationship, which is particularly well obeyed over Greenland and Antarctica, to infer paleotemperatures from ice core data. There is, however, growing evidence that spatial and temporal isotope/ surface temperature slopes differ, thus complicating the use of stable water isotopes as paleothermometers. In this paper we review empirical estimates of temporal slopes in polar regions and relevant information that can be inferred from isotope models: simple, Rayleigh-type distillation models and (particularly over Greenland) general circulation models (GCMS) fitted with isotope tracer diagnostics. Empirical estimates of temporal slopes appear consistently lower than present-day spatial slopes and are dependent on the timescale considered. This difference is most probably due to changes in the evaporative origins of moisture, changes in the seasonality of the precipitation, changes in the strength of the inversion layer, or some combination of these changes. Isotope models have not yet been used to evaluate the relative influences of these different factors. The apparent disagreement in the temporal and spatial slopes clearly makes calibrating the isotope paleothermometer difficult. Nevertheless, the use of a (calibrated) isotope paleothermometer appears justified; empirical estimates and most (though not all) GCM results support the practice of interpreting ice core isotope records in terms of local temperature changes.

20. Nitrogen isotopes in ice core nitrate linked to anthropogenic atmospheric acidity change

PubMed Central

Geng, Lei; Alexander, Becky; Cole-Dai, Jihong; Steig, Eric J.; Savarino, Joël; Sofen, Eric D.; Schauer, Andrew J.

2014-01-01

Nitrogen stable isotope ratio (δ15N) in Greenland snow nitrate and in North American remote lake sediments has decreased gradually beginning as early as ∼1850 Christian Era. This decrease was attributed to increasing atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic nitrate, reflecting an anthropogenic impact on the global nitrogen cycle, and the impact was thought to be amplified ∼1970. However, our subannually resolved ice core records of δ15N and major ions (e.g., , ) over the last ∼200 y show that the decrease in δ15N is not always associated with increasing concentrations, and the decreasing trend actually leveled off ∼1970. Correlation of δ15N with H+, , and HNO3 concentrations, combined with nitrogen isotope fractionation models, suggests that the δ15N decrease from ∼1850–1970 was mainly caused by an anthropogenic-driven increase in atmospheric acidity through alteration of the gas−particle partitioning of atmospheric nitrate. The concentrations of and also leveled off ∼1970, reflecting the effect of air pollution mitigation strategies in North America on anthropogenic NOx and SO2 emissions. The consequent atmospheric acidity change, as reflected in the ice core record of H+ concentrations, is likely responsible for the leveling off of δ15N ∼1970, which, together with the leveling off of concentrations, suggests a regional mitigation of anthropogenic impact on the nitrogen cycle. Our results highlight the importance of atmospheric processes in controlling δ15N of nitrate and should be considered when using δ15N as a source indicator to study atmospheric flux of nitrate to land surface/ecosystems. PMID:24711383

1. Nitrogen isotopes in ice core nitrate linked to anthropogenic atmospheric acidity change.

PubMed

Geng, Lei; Alexander, Becky; Cole-Dai, Jihong; Steig, Eric J; Savarino, Joël; Sofen, Eric D; Schauer, Andrew J

2014-04-22

Nitrogen stable isotope ratio (δ(15)N) in Greenland snow nitrate and in North American remote lake sediments has decreased gradually beginning as early as ∼1850 Christian Era. This decrease was attributed to increasing atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic nitrate, reflecting an anthropogenic impact on the global nitrogen cycle, and the impact was thought to be amplified ∼1970. However, our subannually resolved ice core records of δ(15)N and major ions (e.g., NO3(-), SO4(2-)) over the last ∼200 y show that the decrease in δ(15)N is not always associated with increasing NO3(-) concentrations, and the decreasing trend actually leveled off ∼1970. Correlation of δ(15)N with H(+), NO3(-), and HNO3 concentrations, combined with nitrogen isotope fractionation models, suggests that the δ(15)N decrease from ∼1850-1970 was mainly caused by an anthropogenic-driven increase in atmospheric acidity through alteration of the gas-particle partitioning of atmospheric nitrate. The concentrations of NO3(-) and SO4(2-) also leveled off ∼1970, reflecting the effect of air pollution mitigation strategies in North America on anthropogenic NO(x) and SO2 emissions. The consequent atmospheric acidity change, as reflected in the ice core record of H(+) concentrations, is likely responsible for the leveling off of δ(15)N ∼1970, which, together with the leveling off of NO3(-) concentrations, suggests a regional mitigation of anthropogenic impact on the nitrogen cycle. Our results highlight the importance of atmospheric processes in controlling δ(15)N of nitrate and should be considered when using δ(15)N as a source indicator to study atmospheric flux of nitrate to land surface/ecosystems. PMID:24711383

2. Assessing post-depositional alteration and the integrity of ice core nitrate-N and -O isotopic records at the Quelccaya Ice Cap, Peru

Buffen, A. M.; Hastings, M. G.; Thompson, L. G.; Mosley-Thompson, E. S.

2011-12-01

Nitrate (NO3-) is a common chemical species found in snow and ice. Both nitrate and its atmospheric precursor NOx (NO and NO2) are of importance to climate, biogeochemistry and the composition of the atmosphere. For instance, nitrate is a critical biological nutrient, while NOx regulates concentrations of ozone (O3) and hydroxyl (OH) and thus influences the chemical and radiative properties of Earth's atmosphere. NOx sources include fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning, soil microbial processes and lightning. Past changes in NOx emissions, tropospheric distributions and consequent effects on the atmosphere, however, are unknown. Interpreting stable nitrogen (δ15N) and oxygen (δ18O and Δ17O) isotope ratios in nitrate preserved in ice cores can address these issues as they contain diagnostic signatures of NOx sources and oxidation processes, respectively. The potential caveat to this is that nitrate can be lost from snow and firn via photolysis (as NOx) and/or volatilization (as nitric acid). Because these processes are isotopically fractionating, it is necessary to determine if, or to what degree, such post-depositional alteration takes place at a given site before an isotopic record from ice core nitrate can be utilized as a paleoenvironmental proxy. This work addresses post-depositional alteration at the Quelccaya Ice Cap (5670 masl) in southeastern Peru in order to assess the integrity of the nitrate record in an 1800-year ice core from the site. This work represents the first of its kind outside the polar regions and is significant in that natural NOx sources and OH production are dominantly located in the Tropics. Additionally, because nitrate and NOx are not uniformly distributed in the troposphere, low-latitude records are needed to bridge ongoing polar work in order to establish a global perspective.

3. Time-Series Trends of Trace Elements in AN Ice Core from Antarctica.

Keskin, Siddik Sinan

Trace element measurements were made by instrumental neutron activation analysis on stratigraphically dated ice core samples from Byrd Station, Antarctica, to determine the concentration levels of natural and anthropogenic substances. Sampling was continuous between 1926 A.D. and 1989 A.D. and selective between 1711 A.D. and 1926 A.D. Twenty-one elements with concentrations above the detection limits were determined. The time period between 1969 A.D. and 1989 A.D. showed an enhanced impact on the Antarctic ice sheets from natural sources in the form of marine and crustal aerosols. A disturbed ocean-atmosphere interface due to El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events seems to be a candidate especially for the enhanced marine aerosol deposition in Antarctica. Time-series trend of the concentration of deposited aluminum, which is mainly a crustal aerosol related element, shows a strong negative correlation with the time-series trend of annual average total column ozone concentrations homogenized between the 60^circS and 90^circS latitudes from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) ozone data set. Although the time period is not long enough to draw a strong conclusion (1979-1989), tbe special role of crustal origin clay minerals on cloud nucleation dynamics might be a factor in the heterogeneous stratospheric ozone depletion chemistry through polar stratospheric cloud dynamics, assuming some troposphere-stratosphere mixing of these aerosols. The correlation of antimony and arsenic enrichments with known or suspected volcanic events was established. These marker elements was shown to be useful especially for the identification of specific historical volcanic events with low sulfur emissions. Although a cleat anthropogenic impact was not observed, concentrations of arsenic, chromium. and zinc, which might come from both natural and anthropogenic sources, indicated an increase after 1960's. Principal component factor analysis indicated a possible transition-metal (especially manganese and iron) catalyzed bromine chemistry cycle, which has been suggested as the cause of tropospheric surface-level ozone depletion observed in Greenland. Calculated snow-to-air scavenging ratios indicated more efficient scavenging for crustal aerosols followed by marine and volatile elements. A new method was developed for direct air content determination in small deep ice core samples through the measurement of enclosed argon gas by instrumental neutron activation analysis. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617 -253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.).

4. Evolution of a highly vulnerable ice-cored moraine: Col des Gentianes, Swiss Alps

Ravanel, L.; Lambiel, C.; Oppikofer, T.; Mazotti, B.; Jaboyedoff, M.

2012-04-01

Rock mass movements are dominant in the morphodynamics of high mountain rock slopes and are at the origin of significant risks for people who attend these areas and for infrastructures that are built on (mountain huts, cable cars, etc.). These risks are becoming greater because of permafrost degradation and glacier retreat, two consequences of the global warming. These two commonly associated factors may affect slope stability by changing mechanical properties of the interstitial ice and modifying the mechanical constraints in these rock slopes. Between 1977 and 1979, significant works were carried out on the Little Ice Age moraine of the Tortin glacier at the Col des Gentianes (2894 m), in the Mont Fort area (Verbier, Switzerland), for the construction of a cable car station and a restaurant. Since the early 1980s, the glacier drastically retreated and the moraine became unstable: its inner slope has retreated for several meters. Various observations and geoelectric measurements indicate that significant volume of massive ice mass is still present within the moraine (ice-cored moraine). Its melting could therefore increase the instability of the moraine. Since 2007, the moraine is surveyed by terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) in order to characterize its evolution: 8 campaigns were conducted between July 2007 and October 2011. The comparison of the high resolution 3D models so obtained allowed the detection and quantification of mass movements that have affected the moraine over this period, essentially by calculating difference maps (shortest oblique distances between two models). Between July 2007 and October 2011, 7 landslides were measured, involving volumes between 87 and 1138 m3. The most important of these occurred during the summers 2009 and 2011. TLS data also allowed identifying: (i) two main areas affected by slower but sometimes substantial movements (displacements of blocks on more than 2 m during a summer period); (ii) significant deposits of anthropogenic materials and their mechanical readjustments; and (iii) a loss of thickness of the glacier approaching 10 m at the foot of the moraine. Except for the morphological changes related to the landscaping of ski-runs, mass movements identified by TLS since 2007 are mainly resulting from glacier retreat and, to a lesser extent, to permafrost creep and degradation.

5. Laurentide Ice Sheet dynamics in the Bay of Fundy, Canada, revealed through multibeam sonar mapping of glacial landsystems

Todd, Brian J.; Shaw, John

2012-12-01

Recent multibeam sonar data collected in the Bay of Fundy, Canada, interpreted in conjunction with geophysical profiling and sediment sampling, reveal in unprecedented detail a suite of glacial landforms associated with the southwest margin of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. These landforms constitute four glacial landsystems. 1) Subglacial landsystem I: In southwestern Bay of Fundy, the elongated Grand Manan Basin contains ice-contact sediments of possible mid-Wisconsinan age overlain by late-Wisconsinan ice-contact sediments strongly imprinted by iceberg furrows and pits. In places, possible mid-Wisconsinan glaciomarine sediments have been eroded by late-Wisconsinan ice, creating streamlined landforms. Eroded bedrock and megafluted ice-contact sediment on the flanks of Grand Manan Basin indicate the southwest direction of topographically-steered ice. 2) Subglacial landsystem II: Along the southern margin of the Bay of Fundy, an array of drumlins, with superimposed esker complexes, was formed by glacial ice that emanated northwest from the interior of Nova Scotia and was deflected to the southwest by the ice flowing out of the Bay of Fundy to the Gulf of Maine. The esker complexes formed later when the Nova Scotia ice sheet stagnated and meltwater escaped northwest via topographic gaps. 3) Ice-marginal landsystem I: In northern Bay of Fundy, both small De Geer moraines and larger, basin-bounding moraines were created when retreating late-Wisconsinan ice became grounded in relatively shallow water. New radiocarbon ages show that the Owen Basin Moraine in this landsystem was abandoned prior to c. 14,600 14C yr BP (cal BP 17,015-17,270 [0.7], 17,286-17,405 [0.3]). 4) Ice-marginal landsystem II: This distinctive landsystem consists of numerous arcuate moraines, commonly superimposed on one another. This landsystem was formed by thin (170 m), lightly grounded ice that retreated northeast into the Bay of Fundy. The splayed pattern of the ice margin was a response to a large accommodation space and velocity variations within the ice. The Isle Haute Moraine is a large lobate moraine; its age is poorly constrained by shells from glaciomarine sediments (13,750 ± 60 14C yr BP (cal BP 15,970-15,996 [0.03], 16,047-16,665 [0.97])) but the moraine may be coeval with the onset of a terrestrial ice margin established at the head of the Bay of Fundy by c. 14,300 14C yr BP (cal BP 16,824-17,013).

6. High-sensitivity measurement of diverse vascular plant-derived biomarkers in high-altitude ice cores

Makou, Matthew C.; Thompson, Lonnie G.; Montluçon, Daniel B.; Eglinton, Timothy I.

2009-07-01

Semi-volatile organic compounds derived from burned and fresh vascular plant sources and preserved in high-altitude ice fields were detected and identified through use of recently developed analytical tools. Specifically, stir bar sorptive extraction and thermal desorption coupled with gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry allowed measurement of multiple biomarkers in small sample volumes (≤30 ml). Among other compounds of interest, several diterpenoids, which suggest inputs from conifers and conifer burning, were identified in post-industrial era and older Holocene ice from the Sajama site in the Bolivian Andes, but not in a glacial period sample, consistent with aridity changes. Differences in biomarker assemblages between sites support the use of these compounds as regionally constrained recorders of vegetation and climate change. This study represents the first application of these analytical techniques to ice core research and the first indication that records of vegetation fires may be reconstructed from diterpenoids in ice.

7. Lithology and chronology of ice-sheet fluctuations (magnetic susceptibility of cores from the western Ross Sea)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jennings, Anne E.

1993-01-01

The goals of the marine geology part of WAIS include reconstructing the chronology and areal extent of ice-sheet fluctuations and understanding the climatic and oceanographic influences on ice-sheet history. As an initial step toward attaining these goals, down-core volume magnetic susceptibility (MS) logs of piston cores from three N-S transects in the western Ross Sea are compared. The core transects are within separate petrographic provinces based on analyses of till composition. The provinces are thought to reflect the previous locations of ice streams on the shelf during the last glaciation. Magnetic susceptibility is a function of magnetic mineral composition, sediment texture, and sediment density. It is applied in the western Ross Sea for two purposes: (1) to determine whether MS data differentiates the three transects (i.e., flow lines), and thus can be used to make paleodrainage reconstructions of the late Wisconsinan ice sheet; and (2) to determine whether the MS data can aid in distinguishing basal till diamictons from diamictons of glacial-marine origin and thus, aid paleoenvironmental interpretations. A comparison of the combined data of cores in each transect is presented.

8. Seasonal deuterium excess in a Tien Shan ice core: Influence of moisture transport and recycling in Central Asia

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kreutz, K.J.; Wake, C.P.; Aizen, V.B.; DeWayne, Cecil L.; Synal, H.-A.

2003-01-01

Stable water isotope (??18O, ??D) data from a high elevation (5100 masl) ice core recovered from the Tien Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan, display a seasonal cycle in deuterium excess (d = ??D - 8*??18O) related to changes in the regional hydrologic cycle during 1994-2000. While there is a strong correlation (r2 = 0.98) between ??18O and ??D in the ice core samples, the regression slope (6.9) and mean d value (23.0) are significantly different than the global meteoric water line values. The resulting time-series ice core d profile contains distinct winter maxima and summer minima, with a yearly d amplitude of ???15-20???. Local-scale processes that may affect d values preserved in the ice core are not consistent with the observed seasonal variability. Data from Central Asian monitoring sites in the Global Network of Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) have similar seasonal d changes. We suggest that regional-scale hydrological conditions, including seasonal changes in moisture source, transport, and recycling in the Caspian/Aral Sea region, are responsible for the observed spatial and temporal d variability.

9. 115 year ice-core data from Akademii Nauk ice cap, Severnaya Zemlya: high-resolution record of Eurasian Arctic climate change

Opel, Thomas; Fritzsche, Diedrich; Meyer, Hanno; Schütt, Rainer; Weiler, Karin; Ruth, Urs; Wilhelms, Frank; Fischer, Hubertus

From 1999 to 2001 a 724 m deep ice core was drilled on Akademii Nauk ice cap, Severnaya Zemlya, to gain high-resolution proxy data from the central Russian Arctic. Despite strong summertime meltwater percolation, this ice core provides valuable information on the regional climate and environmental history. We present data of stable water isotopes, melt-layer content and major ions from the uppermost 57 m of this core, covering the period 1883-1998. Dating was achieved by counting seasonal isotopic cycles and using reference horizons. Multi-annual δ18O values reflect Eurasian sub-Arctic and Arctic surface air-temperature variations. We found strong correlations to instrumental temperature data from some stations (e.g. r = 0.62 for Vardø, northern Norway). The δ18O values show pronounced 20th-century temperature changes, with a strong rise about 1920 and the absolute temperature maximum in the 1930s. A recent decrease in the deuterium-excess time series indicates an increasing role of the Kara Sea as a regional moisture source. From the multi-annual ion variations we deduced decreasing sea-salt aerosol trends in the 20th century, as reflected by sodium and chloride, whereas sulphate and nitrate are strongly affected by anthropogenic pollution.

10. Dynamics of the late Plio-Pleistocene West Antarctic Ice Sheet documented in subglacial diamictites, AND-1B drill core

Cowan, Ellen A.; Christoffersen, Poul; Powell, Ross D.; Talarico, Franco M.

2014-08-01

Geologic studies of sediment deposited by glaciers can provide crucial insights into the subglacial environment. We studied muddy diamictites in the ANtarctic geological DRILLing (ANDRILL) AND-1B drill core, acquired from beneath the Ross Ice Shelf in McMurdo Sound, with the aim of identifying paleo-ice stream activity in the Plio-Pleistocene. Glacial advances were identified from glacial surfaces of erosion (GSEs) and subglacial diamictites within three complete sequences were investigated using lithofacies associations, micromorphology, and quartz sand grain microtextures. Whereas conditions in the Late Pliocene resemble the modern Greenland Ice Sheet where fast flowing glaciers lubricated by surface meltwater terminate directly in the sea (interval 201-212 mbsl) conditions in the Late Pleistocene are similar to modern West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) ice streams (38-49 mbsl). We identify the latter from ductile deformation and high pore-water pressure, which resulted in pervasive rotation and formation of till pellets and low relief, rounded sand grains dominated by abrasion. In the transitional period during the Mid-Pleistocene (55-68 mbsf), a slow moving inland ice sheet deposited tills with brittle deformation, producing lineations and bi-masepic and unistrial plasma fabric, along with high relief, conchoidally fractured quartz grains. Changes in the provenance of gravel to cobble-size clasts support a distant source area of Byrd Glacier for fast-flowing paleo-ice streams and a proximal area between Darwin and Skelton Glaciers for the slow-moving inland ice sheet. This difference in till provenance documents a shift in direction of glacial flow at the core site, which indirectly reflects changes in the size and thickness of the WAIS. Hence, we found that fast ice streaming motion is a consequence of a thicker WAIS pushing flow lines to the west and introducing clasts from the Byrd Glacier source area to the drill site. The detailed analysis of diamictites in AND-1B demonstrates that Pliocene glacial intervals were warmer than in the Pleistocene when polar ice sheets grew from local inland ice to regional ice streams.

11. A fast semi-quantitative method for Plutonium determination in an alpine firn/ice core

Gabrieli, J.; Cozzi, G.; Vallelonga, P.; Schwikowski, M.; Sigl, M.; Boutron, C.; Barbante, C.

2009-04-01

Plutonium is present in the environment as a consequence of atmospheric nuclear tests carried out in the 1960s, nuclear weapons production and releases by the nuclear industry over the past 50 years. Plutonium, unlike uranium, is essentially anthropogenic and it was first produced and isolated in 1940 by deuteron bombardment of uranium in the cyclotron of Berkeley University. It exists in five main isotopes, 238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu, 242Pu, derived from civilian and military sources (weapons production and detonation, nuclear reactors, nuclear accidents). In the environment, 239Pu is the most abundant isotope. Approximately 6 tons of 239Pu have been released into the environment as a result of 541 atmospheric weapon tests Nuclear Pu fallout has been studied in various environmental archives, such as sediments, soil and herbarium grass. Mid-latitude ice cores have been studied as well, on Mont Blanc, the Western Alps and on Belukha Glacier, Siberian Altai. We present a Pu record obtained by analyzing 52 discrete samples of an alpine firn/ice core from Colle Gnifetti (M. Rosa, 4450 m a.s.l.), dating from 1945 to 1991. The239Pu signal was recorded directly, without preliminary cleaning or preconcentration steps, using an ICP-SFMS (Thermo Element2) equipped with a desolvation system (APEX). 238UH+ interferences were negligible for U concentrations lower than 50 ppt as verified both in spiked fresh snow and pre-1940 ice samples. The shape of 239Pu profile reflects the three main periods of atmospheric nuclear weapons testing: the earliest peak starts in 1954/55 to 1958 and includes the first testing period which reached a maximum in 1958. Despite a temporary halt in testing in 1959/60, the Pu concentration decreased only by half with respect to the 1958 peak. In 1961/62 Pu concentrations rapidly increased reaching a maximum in 1963, which was about 40% more intense than the 1958 peak. After the sign of the "Limited Test Ban Treaty" between USA and URSS in 1964, Pu deposition decreased very sharply reaching a minimum in 1967. The third period (1967-1975) is characterized by irregular Pu profiles with smaller peaks (about 20-30% compared to the 1964 peak) which could be due to French and Chinese tests. Comparison with the Pu profiles obtained from the Col du Dome and Belukha ice cores by AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) shows very good agreement. Considering the semi-quantitative method and the analytical uncertainty, the results are also quantitatively comparable. However, the Pu concentrations at Colle Gnifetti are normally 2-3 times greater than in Col du Dome. This could be explained by different air mass transport or, more likely, different accumulation rates at each site.

12. Quelccaya Ice Core Evidence of Widespread Atmospheric Pollution from Colonial Metallurgy after the Spanish Conquest of South America (1532 AD)

Gabrielli, P.; Uglietti, C.; Cooke, C. A.; Thompson, L. G.

2014-12-01

A few ice core records recovered from remote arctic regions suggest a widespread impact of toxic trace elements (Pb, Cu, Sb, As and Bi) to the North Hemisphere atmosphere prior to the onset of the Industrial Revolution (1780s-1830s). In the Southern Hemisphere, evidence for preindustrial trace element emissions are, to date, limited to sediment cores recovered from lakes located within the immediate airshed of major metallurgical centers of South America. Thus it remains unresolved whether they could have had a larger scale impact. Here, we present an annually resolved ice core record of anthropogenic trace element deposition from the remote drilling site of the Quelccaya Ice Cap (Peru) that spans 793-1989 AD. During the pre-Inca period (i.e., prior to ~1450 AD) the deposition of trace elements was dominated by the fallout of aeolian dust from the deglaciated margins of the ice cap and of ash from occasional volcanic eruptions. In contrast, the ice core record indicates a clear anthropogenic signal emerging after the onset of large scale colonial mining and metallurgy (1532-1820 AD), ~300 years prior to the Industrial Revolution during the last part of the Little Ice Age. This shift was coincidental with a major technological transition for silver extraction (1572 AD), from lead-based smelting to mercury amalgamation, that initiated a major increase in ore mining and milling that likely resulted in an increase of metallic dust emissions. While atmospheric trace element deposition resulting from colonial metallurgy was certainly much larger than during the pre-Colonial period, trace element fallout during the Colonial era was still several factors lower than during the 20th century, when the construction of the trans-Andean railway and highways promoted a widespread societal and industrial development of South America.

13. A Centrifuge-Based Technique for Dry Extraction of Air for Ice Core Studies of Carbon Dioxide.

Grachev, A. M.; Brook, E. J.

2008-12-01

High resolution CO2 data from the Law Dome ice core document an abrupt ~10 ppm drop in CO2 at about 1600 AD (MacFarling Meure et al., Geophys. Res Lett., v. 33, L14810), which has been attributed to changes in human activities. CO2 measurements in ice cores are difficult, however, making verification of this feature an important task. We are undertaking a high-resolution study of CO2 between 1400 and 1800 AD in the WAIS Divide (Antarctica) ice core with a new dry extraction technique. The need for a dry extraction technique as opposed to a melt-refreeze technique in studies of CO2 from ice cores arises because of the well-documented artifacts in CO2 imposed by the presence of liquid water. Three dry-extraction methods have been employed by previous workers to measure CO2: needle-crushing method, ball-bearings method, and cheese-grater method (B. Stauffer, in: Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science, p. 1181, Elsevier 2007). Each has limitations, and we propose a simpler dry extraction technique, based on a large-capacity refrigerated centrifuge (the "centrifuge technique"), which eliminates the need to employ cryogenic temperatures to collect extracted gas and is more compatible with high sample throughput. The technique is now being tested on ~25-gram WAIS Divide samples in conjunction with CO2 measurements with a gas chromatograph. The technique employs a Beckman J- 6B centrifuge, in which evacuated stainless steel flask is placed: the flask has a weight inside positioned directly over a tall-standing piece of ice whose cross-section is small compared to that of the flask. Upon acceleration to 3000 rpm the weight moves down and presses the ice sample into a thin tablet covering flask's bottom, yielding the air extraction efficiency of ~80%. Preliminary tests suggest that precision and accuracy can be achieved at the level of ~1 ppm once the system is fine-tuned.

14. Air content and O2/N2 tuned chronologies on local insolation signatures in the Vostok ice core are similar

Lipenkov, V.; Raynaud, D.; Loutre, M.-F.; Duval, P.; Lemieux-Dudon, B.

2009-04-01

An accurate chronology of ice cores is needed for interpreting the paleoclimatic record and understanding the relation between insolation and climate. A new domain of research in this area has been initially stimulated by the work of M. Bender (2002) linking the record of O2/N2 ratio in the air trapped in the Vostok ice with the local insolation. More recently, it has been proposed that the long-term changes in air content, V, recorded in ice from the high Antarctic plateau is also dominantly imprinted by the local summer insolation (Raynaud et al., 2007). The present paper presents a new V record from Vostok, which is compared with the published Vostok O2/N2 record for the same period of time (150-400 ka BP) by using the same spectral analysis methods. The spectral differences between the two properties and the possible mechanisms linking them with insolation through the surface snow structure and the close-off processes are discussed. The main result of our study is that the two experimentally independent local insolation proxies lead to absolute (orbital) time scales, which agree together within a standard deviation of 0.6 ka. This result strongly adds credibility to the air content of ice and the O2 to N2 ratio of the air trapped in ice as equally reliable and complementary tools for accurate dating of existing and future deep ice cores. References: M. Bender, Orbital tuning chronology for the Vostok climate record supported by trapped gas composition, Earth and Planetary Science Letters 204(2002) 275-289. D. Raynaud, V. Lipenkov, B. Lemieux-Dudon, P. Duval, M.F. Loutre, N. Lhomme, The local insolation signature of air content in Antarctic ice: a new step toward an absolute dating of ice records, Earth and Planetary Science Letters 261(2007) 337-349.

15. Major 20th century changes of carbonaceous aerosol components (EC, WinOC, DOC, HULIS, carboxylic acids, and cellulose) derived from Alpine ice cores

Legrand, M.; Preunkert, S.; Schock, M.; Cerqueira, M.; Kasper-Giebl, A.; Afonso, J.; Pio, C.; GelencséR, A.; Dombrowski-Etchevers, I.

2007-12-01

An extended array of carbonaceous species including elemental carbon (EC), water insoluble organic carbon (WinOC) as well as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), humic-like substances (HULIS), and single organic compounds like carboxylic acids, levoglucosan, and cellulose was investigated for the first time in Alpine snow deposits. These investigations were done on selected discrete ice cores sections extracted from Mount Rosa and Mount Blanc glaciers covering the 20th century and extending back to previous centuries. Here we focus on major changes in summer ice layers. Among carbonaceous components, EC reveals an outstanding increase with a sharp summer increase after World War II. This result is discussed against available past EC emission inventories in Europe which are thought to be mainly driven by emissions from road transport and residential sector. The long-term trend of organic carbon (OC) aerosol preserved in ice, WinOC as well as water soluble organic carbon (WSOC), was successfully reconstructed using the suitable array of organic compounds we investigated in this study. It is shown that the level of OC preserved in ice has increased by a factor of 2 after 1950 likely as a result of the enhancement of the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere over the last decades producing more secondary organic atmospheric aerosol from biogenic gaseous precursors.

16. A new 10Be record recovered from an Antarctic ice core: validity and limitations to record the solar activity

Baroni, Mélanie; Bard, Edouard; Aster Team

2015-04-01

Cosmogenic nuclides provide the only possibility to document solar activity over millennia. Carbon-14 (14C) and beryllium-10 (10Be) records are retrieved from tree rings and ice cores, respectively. Recently, 14C records have also proven to be reliable to detect two large Solar Proton Events (SPE) (Miyake et al., Nature, 2012, Miyake et al., Nat. Commun., 2013) that occurred in 774-775 A.D. and in 993-994 A.D.. The origin of these events is still under debate but it opens new perspectives for the interpretation of 10Be ice core records. We present a new 10Be record from an ice core from Dome C (Antarctica) covering the last millennium. The chronology of this new ice core has been established by matching volcanic events on the WAIS Divide ice core (WDC06A) that is the best dated record in Antarctica over the Holocene (Sigl et al., JGR, 2013, Sigl et al., Nat. Clim. Change, 2014). The five minima of solar activity (Oort, Wolf, Spörer, Maunder and Dalton) are detected and characterized by a 10Be concentration increase of ca. 20% above average in agreement with previous studies of ice cores drilled at South Pole and Dome Fuji in Antarctica (Bard et al., EPSL, 1997; Horiuchi et al., Quat. Geochrono., 2008) and at NGRIP and Dye3 in Greenland (Berggren et al., GRL, 2009). The high resolution, on the order of a year, allows the detection of the 11-year solar cycle. Sulfate concentration, a proxy for volcanic eruptions, has also been measured in the very same samples, allowing a precise comparison of both 10Be and sulfate profiles. We confirm the systematic relationship between stratospheric eruptions and 10Be concentration increases, first evidenced by observations of the stratospheric volcanic eruptions of Agung in 1963 and Pinatubo in 1991 (Baroni et al., GCA, 2011). This relationship is due to an increase in 10Be deposition linked to the role played by the sedimentation of volcanic aerosols. In the light of these new elements, we will discuss the limitations and possibilities of using a 10Be ice core record to detect SPE and the variations of past solar activity.

17. Ice Core Records of Past Climate and Evidence for Present and Future Glacier Loss across the Third Pole

Thompson, L. G.; Yao, T.; Davis, M. E.; Mosley-Thompson, E. S.

2010-12-01

High altitude temperatures in the tropics are predicted by IPCC models (2007) to warm twice as much as the 3oC rise projected for global sea surface temperature by 2100 AD. Data collected over the last thirty years from ice cores drilled in five glaciers across the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalaya document this amplification. These ice cores, drilled at elevations ranging from 5325 to 7200 masl, have provided high-resolution climate records that show greater average stable isotopic depletion with increasing altitude for the last 1000 years. Four of these core records extend back over one thousand years. Comparison of the average δ18O from 1939 to 1987 to that from 1938 to 1000 AD illustrates a recent isotopic enrichment that is also enhanced with altitude. The greatest enrichment from AD 1938 to 1987 relative to the previous 938 years occurred at the highest elevation site (Dasuopu), presumably where the greatest warming is occurring. These trends are consistent with instrumental temperature records collected since the 1950s across the Plateau as well as with model predictions of vertical amplification of temperatures in the tropics. The isotopic profile from a fifth core drilled on Naimona’nyi (6100 masl) is not included as recent melting from the top of the glacier has obliterated the upper 40 to 50 years of the record. Naimona’nyi (also known as Gurla Mandata) is located near the headwaters of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers, and is experiencing loss of ice from the surface, as deduced by the absence of both the 1962-63 beta radioactive signal that is seen in other Asian cores and the 1951-52 36Cl signal from the Ivy thermonuclear test that appears in other tropical glaciers. Recent mass balance measurements indicate that no net accumulation is occurring on this glacier in today’s climate. These ice core records also provide evidence that these ice fields are sensitive to fluctuations in the intensity of the South Asian Monsoon. Thus, a growing body of evidence (e.g., surface temperature measurements, satellite studies, ground studies on glaciers, ice core records) supports the prediction of a persistent warming over the Tibetan Plateau, particularly in the Tibetan Himalayas, concomitant with the loss of ice in the high mountain ranges.

18. Alaskan Ice Core Shows Relationship Between Asian Dust Storm And The Stratosphere Troposphere Exchange

Yasunari, T. J.; Shiraiwa, T.; Kanamori, S.; Fujii, Y.; Igarashi, M.; Yamazaki, K.; Benson, C. S.; Hondoh, T.

2005-12-01

Atmospheric dust absorbs and scatters solar radiation, and affects global radiative balance. Dust storm in arid and semi-arid regions in East Asia is main dust source in the northern hemisphere. Asian dust has large effect on radiative balance in the northern hemisphere and its long range transport to Alaskan region frequently occurs in springtime. On the other hand, the stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) is a important phenomenon for material exchange among the spheres. Some parameters such as tritium, ozone and beryllium can be transferred from the stratosphere into the troposphere under some conditions such as tropopause folding outbreaks, cut-off low developing and cyclonic activities. STE has a seasonal exchange with maximum in springtime. In June 2003, a 50m ice core was drilled at the summit of Mount Wrangell volcano (60N, 144W, 4100 m), Alaska. Dust particle concentration, tritium content and ratio of stable hydrogen isotope were analyzed. Tritium is the stratospheric tracer recently because the effect of nuclear tests in 1960s has faded these days, and its concentration is highest north of 30th parallel. Therefore, the ice core drilled here is ideal to assess both the Asian dust transport and STE. The core covers 1992-2002 with divided four seasons (winter, spring, late-spring and summer). Fine dust less than one micro meter generally represents long range transport increased in springtime every year. The drastic fine and coarse dust flux increases after 2000 correspond to recent increase of Asian Dust outbreaks. These indicate that Asian dust storm largely affects Mount Wrangell every year. Here we show the fact that highest positive correlation between tritium and fine dust fluxes was seen in the term from late-spring to summer (also high correlation between tritium and coarse dust fluxes in this term), suggesting that the stratosphere-troposphere exchange was most intensified by Asian dust storms in this transient season from spring to summer. Asian dust and STE are dominant in springtime. However, our results showed that these activities related each other the most from late-spring to summer. Asian dust storm and STE are not active in summer. Hence, our results are assumed to mainly reflect late-spring relationship between Asian dust storm and STE. Asian dust outbreaks with severe weather would impact on vertical and horizontal material circulation from the stratosphere to the troposphere. Further studies for Asian dust and STE especially focused on late-spring may lead to elucidate the mechanism of material circulation and assess the radiative forcing of Asian dust in springtime.

19. Non-climatic signal in ice core records: lessons from Antarctic mega-dunes

Ekaykin, A.; Eberlein, L.; Lipenkov, V.; Popov, S.; Scheinert, M.; Schröder, L.; Turkeev, A.

2015-12-01

We present the results of glaciological investigations in the mega-dune area located 30 km to the east from Vostok Station (central East Antarctica) implemented during the 58th, 59th and 60th Russian Antarctic Expedition (January 2013-January 2015). Snow accumulation rate and isotope content (δD, δ18O and δ17O) were measured along the 2 km profile across the mega-dune ridge accompanied by precise GPS altitude measurements and GPR survey. It is shown that the spatial variability of snow accumulation and isotope content covaries with the surface slope. The accumulation rate regularly changes by one order of magnitude within the distance < 1 km, with the reduced accumulation at the leeward slope of the dune and increased accumulation in the hollow between the dunes. At the same time, the accumulation rate averaged over the length of a dune wave (22 mm we) corresponds well with the value obtained at Vostok Station, which suggests no additional wind-driven snow sublimation in the mega-dunes compared to the surrounding plateau. The snow isotopic composition is in negative correlation with the snow accumulation. Analyzing dxs/δD and 17O-excess/δD slopes, we conclude that the spatial variability of the snow isotopic composition in the mega-dune area could be explained by post-depositional snow modifications. Using the GPR data, we estimated the apparent dune drift velocity (4.6 ± 1.1 m yr-1). The full cycle of the dune drift is thus about 410 years. Since the spatial anomalies of snow accumulation and isotopic composition are supposed to drift with the dune, an ice core drilled in the mega-dune area would exhibit the non-climatic 410 year cycle of these two parameters. We simulated a vertical profile of snow isotopic composition with such a non-climatic variability, using the data on the dune size and velocity. This artificial profile is then compared with the real vertical profile of snow isotopic composition obtained from a core drilled in the mega-dune area. We note that the two profiles are very similar. The obtained results are discussed in terms of interpretation of data obtained from ice cores drilled beyond the mega-dune areas.

20. Using Water Vapor Isotope Observations from above the Greenland Ice Sheet to improve the Interpretation of Ice Core Water Stable Isotope Records

Steen-Larsen, H. C.; Masson-Delmotte, V.; Risi, C. M.; Yoshimura, K.; Werner, M.; Butzin, M.; Brun, E.; Landais, A.; Bonne, J. L.; Dahl-Jensen, D.

2014-12-01

Water stable isotope data from Greenland ice cores provide key paleoclimatic information. For the purpose of improving the climatic interpretation from ice core records, a monitoring of the isotopic composition δ18O and δD at several height levels (up to 13 meter) of near-surface water vapor, precipitation and snow in the first 0.5 cm surface layer has been conducted during three summers (2010-2012) at NEEM, NW Greenland. We compare the observed water vapor isotopic composition with model outputs from three isotope-enabled general circulation models: LMDZiso, isoGSM, ECHAM-wiso. This allows us to benchmark the models and address effect of model resolution, effect of transport, effect of isotope parameterization, and representation of significant source region contributions. We find for all models that the simulated isotopic value δD are significantly biased towards too enriched values. A bias, which is only partly explained by the air temperature. The simulated amplitude in d-excess variations is ~50% smaller than observed and the simulated average summer level is ~10‰ lower than in observations. Using back trajectories we observe water vapor of Arctic origin to have a high d-excess fingerprint. This fingerprint is not observed in the GCMiso simulations indicating a problem of simulating accurately the Arctic hydrological cycle. The bias in the simulated δD and d-excess water vapor is similar to the already-documented bias in the simulated δD and d-excess of Greenland ice core records. This suggests that if we improve the simulation of the water vapor isotopic composition we might also improve the simulation of the ice core isotope record. During periods between precipitation events, our data demonstrate parallel changes of δ18O and d-excess in surface snow and near-surface vapor. The changes in δ18O of the vapor are similar or larger than those of the snow δ18O. It is estimated using the CROCUS snow model that 6 to 20% of the surface snow mass is exchanged with the atmosphere. We suggest that, in-between precipitation events, changes in the surface snow isotopic composition are driven by synoptic changes in near-surface vapor isotopic composition. This suggests that the ice core isotope climate signal might be driven by both the water vapor and precipitation isotope signal.

1. Seasonally resolved ice core records from West Antarctica indicate a sea ice source of sea-salt aerosol and a biomass burning source of ammonium

Pasteris, Daniel R.; McConnell, Joseph R.; Das, Sarah B.; Criscitiello, Alison S.; Evans, Matthew J.; Maselli, Olivia J.; Sigl, Michael; Layman, Lawrence

2014-07-01

The sources and transport pathways of aerosol species in Antarctica remain uncertain, partly due to limited seasonally resolved data from the harsh environment. Here, we examine the seasonal cycles of major ions in three high-accumulation West Antarctic ice cores for new information regarding the origin of aerosol species. A new method for continuous acidity measurement in ice cores is exploited to provide a comprehensive, charge-balance approach to assessing the major non-sea-salt (nss) species. The average nss-anion composition is 41% sulfate (SO42-), 36% nitrate (NO3-), 15% excess-chloride (ExCl-), and 8% methanesulfonic acid (MSA). Approximately 2% of the acid-anion content is neutralized by ammonium (NH4+), and the remainder is balanced by the acidity (Acy ≈ H+ - HCO3-). The annual cycle of NO3- shows a primary peak in summer and a secondary peak in late winter/spring that are consistent with previous air and snow studies in Antarctica. The origin of these peaks remains uncertain, however, and is an area of active research. A high correlation between NH4+ and black carbon (BC) suggests that a major source of NH4+ is midlatitude biomass burning rather than marine biomass decay, as previously assumed. The annual peak in excess chloride (ExCl-) coincides with the late-winter maximum in sea ice extent. Wintertime ExCl- is correlated with offshore sea ice concentrations and inversely correlated with temperature from nearby Byrd station. These observations suggest that the winter peak in ExCl- is an expression of fractionated sea-salt aerosol and that sea ice is therefore a major source of sea-salt aerosol in the region.

2. Geophysical imaging reveals brine system beneath an ice-sealed Antarctic lake

Dugan, H.; Doran, P. T.; Tulaczyk, S. M.; Mikucki, J.; Arcone, S. A.; Auken, E.; Schamper, C.; Virginia, R. A.

2014-12-01

The habitability of polar desert environments on Earth, and other neighboring planets, is dependent on the availability of liquid water. In areas where the surface is frozen, lenses of water present in the subsurface may act as microbial refugia. In the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, the presence of highly saline brine in valley lakes raises the potential for the existence of a deep groundwater network. We report on a geophysical study that shows Lake Vida, in Victoria Valley, is nearly frozen, and the remaining brine is confined beneath thick ice. Near surface, bathymetric mapping of grounded lake ice was accomplished from a series of ground penetrating radar surveys. Radar penetration was limited to 20 m. An airborne transient electromagnetic survey (AEM) revealed a low resistivity zone at 30-100 m depth beneath the surface of the lake. Based on previous knowledge of brine chemistry and local geology, this zone is interpreted as brine saturated unconsolidated sediments with a porosity of 23-42%. Brine volume is calculated at 15 to 32 million cubic meters, which is of similar magnitude to the brine volume in nearby saline lakes. The AEM survey provided a means of quantifying the spatial extent of deep subsurface brine in this remote environment, and has provided a new perspective on the potential for subsurface habitats in areas often considered devoid of life.

3. Iceshelf instability and the collapsing NW margin of the Laurentide Ice Sheet: core evidence from Viscount Melville Sound, Arctic Canada
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