Characterization of insoluble nanoparticles in Antarctic ice cores

• Main Authors: Ellis, A, Edwards, R, Van Rissen, A, Saunders, M, Smith, AM, Curran, MAJ, Goodwin, ID, Feiteng, W
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: American Geophysical Union 2020
• Subjects: Nanoparticles; Antarctica; Ice; Drill cores; Climate change; Aerosols; Antarctic; East Antarctica; Antarc*; ice core
• Online Access: http://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/9670

Insoluble nanoparticles in the form of aerosols have significant effects on climate and biogeochemical cycles. Records of these aerosols are essential for understanding paleoclimate forcing and future climate change. These particles and their precursors are emitted to the atmosphere from a variety of primary and secondary sources including biomass burning as well as biogenic, anthropogenic, volcanic, extraterrestrial, and terrestrial mineral emissions. While a large body of research exists with respect to mineral dust particles (on the micrometer scale) derived from ice and sediment cores, very little is known with regards to the history of insoluble particles on the nano scale. Ice core records are the only reliable way to study the past history of these particles. Here, we will present new data regarding the physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles found in ice cores from East Antarctica.