scholarly journals Can High-Altitude Ice Masses in Temperate Areas Provide Useful Climatic Records?

1985 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 89-89
Author(s):  
Paul A. Mayewski ◽  
W. Berry Lyons
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Reactive Iron ◽  
Core Recovery ◽  
Relative Dating ◽  
Himalayan Glaciers ◽  
Activity Density

Since 1979 we have been conducting a program of glaciochemical sampling and analysis in selected portions of the Indian Himalayas. The primary purpose of this work has been the retrieval of data that are of specific use in assessing the signal expressed by the chemistry of air masses entering the Himalayas. The techniques used for this purpose provide data sets for the following: chloride, sodium, reactive iron, reactive silicate, reactive phosphate, nitrite-plus-nitrate, ammonium, pH, oxygen isotopes, deuterium, microparticles, total β-activity, density and scanning electron microscopy. The results of this work appear in a series of papers (Lyons and others 1981, Lyons and Mayewski 1983, Mayewski and others 1981, 1983, 1984 and Goss and others 1985). In summary this work demonstrates: (1) problems encountered in high-altitude ice-core recovery, (2) effects of percolation on chemical records, (3) specific requirements necessary for the retrieval of unaltered glaciochemical records from Himalayan glaciers, (4) potential spatial variability of chemical species concentrations and interpretation of this with respect to time series, (5) usefulness of various glaciochemical indicators as applied to relative dating (seasonality) and air mass tracking, (6) specific details of the chemical and physical properties in Himalayan ice, and (7) recommendations for future Himalayan ice-core studies.

scholarly journals Can High-Altitude Ice Masses in Temperate Areas Provide Useful Climatic Records?

1985 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Paul A. Mayewski ◽  
W. Berry Lyons
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Reactive Iron ◽  
Core Recovery ◽  
Relative Dating ◽  
Himalayan Glaciers ◽  
Activity Density

Since 1979 we have been conducting a program of glaciochemical sampling and analysis in selected portions of the Indian Himalayas. The primary purpose of this work has been the retrieval of data that are of specific use in assessing the signal expressed by the chemistry of air masses entering the Himalayas. The techniques used for this purpose provide data sets for the following: chloride, sodium, reactive iron, reactive silicate, reactive phosphate, nitrite-plus-nitrate, ammonium, pH, oxygen isotopes, deuterium, microparticles, total β-activity, density and scanning electron microscopy. The results of this work appear in a series of papers (Lyons and others 1981, Lyons and Mayewski 1983, Mayewski and others 1981, 1983, 1984 and Goss and others 1985). In summary this work demonstrates: (1) problems encountered in high-altitude ice-core recovery, (2) effects of percolation on chemical records, (3) specific requirements necessary for the retrieval of unaltered glaciochemical records from Himalayan glaciers, (4) potential spatial variability of chemical species concentrations and interpretation of this with respect to time series, (5) usefulness of various glaciochemical indicators as applied to relative dating (seasonality) and air mass tracking, (6) specific details of the chemical and physical properties in Himalayan ice, and (7) recommendations for future Himalayan ice-core studies.

scholarly journals Interpretation of the Chemical and Physical Time-Series Retrieved from Sentik Glacier, Ladakh Himalaya, India

1984 ◽  
Vol 30 (104) ◽  
pp. 66-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Mayewski ◽  
W. Berry Lyons ◽  
N. Ahmad ◽  
Gordon Smith ◽  
M. Pourchet
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Reactive Iron ◽  
Physical Time ◽  
Ladakh Himalaya ◽  
Data Density ◽  
Mass Circulation ◽  
The Himalaya ◽  
Analysis Of Time Series

AbstractSpectral analysis of time series of a c. 17 ± 0.3 year core, calibrated for total ß activity recovered from Sentik Glacier (4908m) Ladakh, Himalaya, yields several recognizable periodicities including subannual, annual, and multi-annual. The time-series, include both chemical data (chloride, sodium, reactive iron, reactive silicate, reactive phosphate, ammonium, δD, δ(18O) and pH) and physical data (density, debris and ice-band locations, and microparticles in size grades 0.50 to 12.70 μm). Source areas for chemical species investigated and general air-mass circulation defined from chemical and physical time-series are discussed to demonstrate the potential of such studies in the development of paleometeorological data sets from remote high-alpine glacierized sites such as the Himalaya.

scholarly journals Interpretation of the Chemical and Physical Time-Series Retrieved from Sentik Glacier, Ladakh Himalaya, India

1984 ◽  
Vol 30 (104) ◽  
pp. 66-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Mayewski ◽  
W. Berry Lyons ◽  
N. Ahmad ◽  
Gordon Smith ◽  
M. Pourchet
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Reactive Iron ◽  
Physical Time ◽  
Ladakh Himalaya ◽  
Data Density ◽  
Mass Circulation ◽  
The Himalaya ◽  
Analysis Of Time Series

AbstractSpectral analysis of time series of ac. 17 ± 0.3 year core, calibrated for totalßactivity recovered from Sentik Glacier (4908m) Ladakh, Himalaya, yields several recognizable periodicities including subannual, annual, and multi-annual. The time-series, include both chemical data (chloride, sodium, reactive iron, reactive silicate, reactive phosphate, ammonium,δD,δ(18O) and pH) and physical data (density, debris and ice-band locations, and microparticles in size grades 0.50 to 12.70μm). Source areas for chemical species investigated and general air-mass circulation defined from chemical and physical time-series are discussed to demonstrate the potential of such studies in the development of paleometeorological data sets from remote high-alpine glacierized sites such as the Himalaya.

scholarly journals Spatial variations of local climate at Taylor Dome, Antarctica: implications for paleoclimate from ice cores

1994 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 219-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.D. Waddington ◽  
D.L. Morse
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Source Region ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Temperature Inversion ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Inversion Strength

10m firn temperatures are commonly used on the Antarctic plateau to estimate mean annual air temperatures. 10m firn temperatures measured at Taylor Dome (also referred to as McMurdo Dome in the literature), Antarctica, are influenced by a factor other than altitude and latitude that varies systematically across Taylor Dome. Some inter-related factors possibly contributing to the modern temperature variability are differences in sensible heat from warm or cold air masses, differences in wind strength and source region, differences in temperature inversion strength and differences in cloudiness. Our preliminary data are compatible with spatially variable katabatic winds that could control the winter temperature inversion strength to provide a large part of the signal. This has implications for paleoclimate studies.(1) Variations of the stable isotopes δ18O and δD from ice cores are a proxy for paleotemperature. The isotope thermometer is calibrated by comparing local isotope ratios with corresponding measured temperatures. In order to derive a useful isotope-temperature calibration, we must understand the processes that control the modern spatial variability of temperature. (2) In order to quantify past changes in local climate, we must understand processes that influence local spatial variability. If those processes differed in the past, ice-core climate reconstruction would be affected in two ways: through alteration of the geochemical record and through alteration of deep ice and firn temperatures.

scholarly journals Reconstruction of recent climate change in Alaska from the Aurora Peak ice core, central Alaska

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Tsushima ◽  
S. Matoba ◽  
T. Shiraiwa ◽  
S. Okamoto ◽  
H. Sasaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Gulf Of Alaska ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Storm Activity ◽  
Alaska Range ◽  
Recent Climate

Abstract. 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.

scholarly journals Influence of the Tungurahua eruption on the ice core records of Chimborazo, Ecuador

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 1343-1363 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Ginot ◽  
U. Schotterer ◽  
W. Stichler ◽  
M. A. Godoi ◽  
B. Francou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Ionic Species ◽  
Ash Deposition ◽  
Snow Melting ◽  
Water Percolation ◽  
Core Column ◽  
Preliminary Study

Abstract. The comparison of two shallow ice cores recovered in 1999 and 2000 from the same place on Chimborazo summit glacier revealed the influence of the coincident Tungurahua volcanic eruption on their stable isotope and chemical records. The surface snow melting and water percolation induced from the ash deposition caused a preferential elution and re-localization of certain ionic species, while the stable isotope records were not very affected. Additionally, the comparison of the ionic amount and some selected ratios preserved along the ice core column reports under which processes the chemical species are introduced in the snow pack, as snow flake condensation nuclei, by atmospheric scavenging or by dry deposition. This preliminary study is essential for the interpretation of the deep Chimborazo ice core, or for other sites where surrounding volcanic activity may disturb the glaciochemical records.

3-D tomographic observations of Rossby wave breaking over the Northern Atlantic during the WISE aircraft campaign in 2017

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Krasauskas ◽  
Jörn Ungermann ◽  
Peter Preusse ◽  
Felix Friedl-Vallon ◽  
Andreas Zahn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Acid ◽  
Water Vapour ◽  
Rossby Wave ◽  
Wave Breaking ◽  
Thin Filament ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Mixing Processes ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Rossby Wave Breaking

<p>We present measurements of ozone, water vapour and nitric acid in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS) over North Atlantic and Europe. The measurements were acquired with the Gimballed Limb Observer for Radiance Imaging of the Atmosphere (GLORIA) during the Wave Driven Isentropic Exchange (WISE) campaign in October 2017. GLORIA is an airborne limb imager capable of acquiring both 2-D data sets (curtains along the flight path) and, when the carrier aircraft is flying around the observed air mass, spatially highly resolved 3-D tomographic data. We show a case study of a Rossby wave (RW) breaking event observed during two subsequent flights two days apart. RW breaking is known to steepen tracer gradients and facilitate stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE). Our measurements reveal complex spatial structures in stratospheric tracers (ozone and nitric acid) with multiple vertically stacked filaments. Backward trajectory analysis is used to demonstrate that these features are related to several previous Rossby wave breaking events and that the small-scale structure of the UTLS in the Rossby wave breaking region, which is otherwise very hard to observe, can be understood as stirring and mixing of air masses of tropospheric and stratospheric origin. It is also shown that a strong nitric acid enhancement observed just above the tropopause is likely a result of NO<sub>x</sub> production by lightning activity. The measurements showed signatures of enhanced mixing between stratospheric and tropospheric air near the polar jet with some transport of water vapour into the stratosphere. Some of the air masses seen in 3-D data were encountered again two days later, stretched to very thin filament (horizontal thickness down to 30 km at some altitudes) rich in stratospheric tracers. This repeated measurement allowed us to directly observe and analyse the progress of mixing processes in a thin filament over two days. Our results provide direct insight into small-scale dynamics of the UTLS in the Rossby wave breaking region, witch is of great importance to understanding STE and poleward transport in the UTLS.</p>

Modern atmospheric monitoring using pollen analysis of ice cores: a case study from the Elbrus Western Plateau, Caucasus, Russia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vlada Batalova ◽  
Vladimir Mikhalenko ◽  
Stanislav Kutuzov ◽  
Lyudmila Shumilovskikh ◽  
Karim Shukurov
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Pollen Analysis ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Testate Amoebae ◽  
Forest Belt ◽  
Russian Science ◽  
Flexible Tool ◽  
Atmospheric Monitoring

<p>The report highlights the results of first ice-core palynology studies from the Elbrus Western Plateau. The title of the highest point in Europe and the geographical location of Elbrus determine the diversity of natural conditions and, as a result, palynological spectra, which act as markers of seasonal vegetation, climate dynamics, fires and anthropogenic activities in the Mediterranean, southern European Russia, the Middle East, and North Africa.</p><p>The 24-m ice core from the Elbrus Western Plateau collected in 2017 (5115 m a.s.l., 43<sup>о</sup>20′53,9′′ N, 42<sup>о</sup>25′36′′ E) covers the period 2012-2017. Pollen analysis revealed a significant number of biological markers contained in the ice core, including pollen and spores, fungi, algae, testate amoebae, feather barbules, microcharcoal, and black carbon.</p><p>The obtained results show that taxonomic diversity and concentration of biomarkers in the ice core were determined by the seasons of the year and their inherent convective flows. Pollen assemblages are characterized by predominance of native Caucasian plant species. Among them pollen values of Picea forming the high-altitude forest belt in the Western Caucasus significantly exceed pollen frequency of Pinus growing near the upper timber line on Elbrus Mt in the Central Caucasus that suggests a westerlies of air masses and transfer of microparticles. A high abundance of non-pollen palynomorphs in pollen assemblages demonstrates a high potential for studying of human impact on mountain ecosystems. The first pollen data from the ice core evidences a promising resource of the high-altitude temperate glaciers as a flexible tool for atmospheric monitoring of microparticle transfer and fixing its seasonality and biotic relationships.</p><p>This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project № 17-17-01270.</p>

scholarly journals Importance of transboundary transport of biomass burning emissions to regional air quality in Southeast Asia during a high fire event

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 363-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Aouizerats ◽  
G. R. van der Werf ◽  
R. Balasubramanian ◽  
R. Betha
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Basis Set ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Test Model ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Fire Emissions ◽  
Regional Air Quality

Abstract. Smoke from biomass and peat burning has a notable impact on ambient air quality and climate in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region. We modeled a large fire-induced haze episode in 2006 stemming mostly from Indonesia using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with chemistry (WRF-Chem). We focused on the evolution of the fire plume composition and its interaction with the urbanized area of the city state of Singapore, and on comparisons of modeled and measured aerosol and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations. Two simulations were run with WRF-Chem using the complex volatility basis set (VBS) scheme to reproduce primary and secondary aerosol evolution and concentration. The first simulation referred to as WRF-FIRE included anthropogenic, biogenic and biomass burning emissions from the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFED3) while the second simulation referred to as WRF-NOFIRE was run without emissions from biomass burning. To test model performance, we used three independent data sets for comparison including airborne measurements of particulate matter (PM) with a diameter of 10 μm or less (PM10) in Singapore, CO measurements in Sumatra, and aerosol optical depth (AOD) column observations from four satellite-based sensors. We found reasonable agreement between the model runs and both ground-based measurements of CO and PM10. The comparison with AOD was less favorable and indicated the model underestimated AOD, although the degree of mismatch varied between different satellite data sets. During our study period, forest and peat fires in Sumatra were the main cause of enhanced aerosol concentrations from regional transport over Singapore. Analysis of the biomass burning plume showed high concentrations of primary organic aerosols (POA) with values up to 600 μg m−3 over the fire locations. The concentration of POA remained quite stable within the plume between the main burning region and Singapore while the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) concentration slightly increased. However, the absolute concentrations of SOA (up to 20 μg m−3) were much lower than those from POA, indicating a minor role of SOA in these biomass burning plumes. Our results show that about 21% of the total mass loading of ambient PM10 during the July–October study period in Singapore was due to biomass and peat burning in Sumatra, but this contribution increased during high burning periods. In total, our model results indicated that during 35 days aerosol concentrations in Singapore were above the threshold of 50 μg m−3 day−1 indicating poor air quality. During 17 days this was due to fires, based on the difference between the simulations with and without fires. Local pollution in combination with recirculation of air masses was probably the main cause of poor air quality during the other 18 days, although fires from Sumatra and probably also from Kalimantan (Indonesian part of the island of Borneo) added to the enhanced PM10 concentrations. The model versus measurement comparisons highlighted that for our study period and region the GFED3 biomass burning aerosol emissions were more in line with observations than found in other studies. This indicates that care should be taken when using AOD to constrain emissions or estimate ground-level air quality. This study also shows the need for relatively high resolution modeling to accurately reproduce the advection of air masses necessary to quantify the impacts and feedbacks on regional air quality.

The Anthropogenic Impact on Snow Chemistry at Colle Gnifetti, Swiss Alps

1988 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 183-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Wagenbach ◽  
K.O. Münnich ◽  
U. Schotterer ◽  
H. Oeschger
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Analysis ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Summer Precipitation ◽  
Snow Accumulation ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Water Conductivity ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Melt Water

By chemical analysis of the upper 40 m of a 124 m ice core from a high-altitude Alpine glacier (Colle Gnifetti, Swiss Alps; 4450 m a.s.l.), records of mineral dust, pH, melt-water conductivity, nitrate and sulfate are obtained. The characteristics of the drilling site are discussed, as derived from glacio-meteorological and chemical analysis. As a consequence of high snow-erosion rates (usually during the winter months), annual snow accumulation is dominated by summer precipitation. Clean-air conditions prevail even during summer; however, they are frequently interrupted by polluted air masses or by air masses which are heavily loaded with desert dust.Absolutely dated reference horizons for Saharan dust, together with the position of the broad nuclear-weapon tritium peak, provide the time-scale for the following statements:(1) Since at least the turn of the century the background melt-water conductivity has been rising steadily, as has the mean snow acidity. The trend of increasing background conductivity at Colle Gnifetti (1.9μS/cm around the beginning of this century, and at present 3.4 μS/cm) is found to be comparable with the records of mean melt-water conductivity reported from ice cores from the Canadian High Arctic.(2) Sulfate and nitrate concentrations are higher by a factor of 4–5 than they were at the beginning of the century. This is to be compared with the two- to three-fold rise in the concentrations in south Greenland during about the same time span.

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