Estimating Ratios of Snow Accumulation in Antarctica by Chemical Methods

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Warburton, J. A, Young, L. G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1981
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Ross Ice Shelf; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice Shelf; Journal of Glaciology; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000015422; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000015422

Abstract Snow and firn samples from 2 and 5 m deep pits were analyzed for seven sites on the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Na, Mg, Ca, and K concentrations change with depth, the range of concentrations being approximately 10 : 1 for all four elements. The changes in concentrations for the four elements at any one site are highly correlated, suggesting that the impurities are introduced into the snow-pack simultaneously by the same mechanisms. Pronounced periodic structure of the vertical chemical profiles leads to strong correlations (γ> 0.9) of the chemical features from site to site separated by distances up to 440 km. Assuming that the observed chemical features are periodic as a function of depth due to temporal variations caused by large-scale phenomena, then the wavelength (in depth) of these features should be proportional to the accumulation. Under the assumptions, the linear regression ratio of one site to another will give the relative accumulations at these sites. The ratios of snow accumulation estimated by these chemical methods agree, within a few per cent, with the ratios for the same sites estimated by total β -activity or stratigraphic methods. It is suggested that the chemical variations with depth are caused by meteorological events which may have seasonal changes in frequency and intensity. It is also suggested that the most-favored season for the production of chemical-concentration maxima is autumn because of the documented higher frequency of precipitating storms on the Ross Ice Shelf and the minimum in sea-ice extent at that time of year.