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Sulfate Spikes in the Deep Layers of EPICA-Dome C Ice Core: Evidence of Glaciological Artifacts

Traversi, Rita; Becagli, Silvia; Castellano, Emiliano; Marino, Federica; Rugi, Francesco; Severi, Mirko; Angelis, Martine de; Fischer, Hubertus; Hansson, Margareta; Stauffer, Bernhard; Steffensen, Jørgen P.; Bigler, Matthias; Udisti, Roberto (2009). Sulfate Spikes in the Deep Layers of EPICA-Dome C Ice Core: Evidence of Glaciological Artifacts. Environmental Science & Technology, 43 (23), pp. 8737-8743. 10.1021/es901426y

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A detailed ionic component record was performed on EPICA Dome C ice core (East Antarctica) to a depth of 3190 m using Ion Chromatography and Fast Ion Chromatography (FIC). At depths greater than 2800 m, the sulfate profile shows intense, sharp spikes which are not expected due to the smoothing of sulfate peaks by diffusion processes. Moreover, these spikes show an “anomalous” chemical composition (e.g., unusually low acidity, high Mg2+ concentration and high Mg2+/Ca2+ ratio). These peaks and the surrounding layers also exhibit good Mg2+ vs SO42− and Cl− vs Na+ correlations through both glacial and interglacial periods. Furthermore, the high-resolution analysis of two horizontally contiguous ice sections showed that some fraction of the impurities are characterized by a heterogeneous distribution. Altogether, these results suggest the occurrence of long-term postdepositional processes involving a rearrangement of impurities via migration in the vein network, characterized by sulfuric acidity and leading to the formation of soluble particles of magnesium sulfate salts, along with ionic association of ions in the liquid films along boundaries. This evidence should be taken into consideration when inferring information on for rapid climatic and environmental changes from ice core chemical records at great depths. At Dome C, the depth threshold was found to be 2800 m.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

PHBern Contributor:

Bigler, M.

ISSN:

0013-936X

Language:

English

Submitter:

Matthias Bigler

Date Deposited:

29 Jan 2024 13:11

Last Modified:

03 Feb 2024 11:28

Publisher DOI:

10.1021/es901426y

PHBern DOI:

10.57694/7228

URI:

https://phrepo.phbern.ch/id/eprint/7228

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