Sulfate and Nitrate Concentrations from a South Greenland Ice Core

• Published in: Science
• Main Authors: Mayewski, P. A., Lyons, W. B., Spencer, M. J., Twickler, M., Dansgaard, W., Koci, B., Davidson, C. I., Honrath, R. E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 1986
• Subjects: Greenland; Greenland ice core; ice core
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.232.4753.975; https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.232.4753.975

An ice core in south Greenland covering the period 1869 to 1984 was analyzed for oxygen isotopes and chloride, nitrate, and sulfate concentrations. The data show that the "excess" (nonsea-salt) sulfate concentration has tripled since approximately 1900 to 1910 and the nitrate concentration has doubled since approximately 1955. The increases may be attributable to the deposition of these chemical species from air masses carrying North American and Eurasian anthropogenic emissions.