The Chemical Stratigraphy of Polar Ice Sheets — A Method of Dating Ice Cores

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Wilson, A. T., Hendy, C. H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1981
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Antarctic; East Antarctic Ice Sheet; Vostok Station; Antarc*; ice core; Ice Sheet; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000011175; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000011175

Abstract Studies of the chemical stratigraphy in the snow near Vostok station, which is near the centre of the East Antarctic ice sheet, show that sodium exhibits annual concentration differences of up to a factor of ten. Similar work on the 952 m Vostok ice core enabled accumulation rates along selected parts of the core to be determined. This in turn enables the core to be dated. The accumulation rate in this central region of the East Antarctic ice sheet for the last 50000 years has been determined and is presented. An interesting result is that the accumulation rate during the last glacial period is only half that in post-glacial times. Results from the bottom of the core provide some evidence of a past surge in the East Antarctic ice sheet.