Methanesulfonic acid in a Svalbard ice core as an indicator of ocean climate

Abstract. Methanesulfonic acid (MSA) is an atmospheric oxidation product of dimethyl sulfide, produced by marine biota. MSA preserved in a Svalbard glacier between 1920 and 1996 is compared with the sea surface temperature (SST) and sea-ice extent of the surrounding ocean over the same period. On de...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jane O'dwyer, Elisabeth Isaksson, Torgny Vinje, Tauno Jauhiainen, John Moore, Veijo Pohjola, Rein Vaikmäe, Roderik S W Van De, Wal
Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 2000
Subjects:
Arctic
Barents Sea
Svalbard
glacier
ice core
Sea ice
Online Access:http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1089.6275
http://arcticcentre.ulapland.fi/docs/jmoore/odwyer.pdf
Description
Summary:Abstract. Methanesulfonic acid (MSA) is an atmospheric oxidation product of dimethyl sulfide, produced by marine biota. MSA preserved in a Svalbard glacier between 1920 and 1996 is compared with the sea surface temperature (SST) and sea-ice extent of the surrounding ocean over the same period. On decadal timescales high MSA concentrations are found to be associated with warm SST and reduced sea-ice extent. MSA appears to be influenced by climatic changes related to variations in the import of warm Atlantic Water to the Barents Sea. Atlantic Water plays an important role in the Arctic climate system, therefore MSA concentrations may indirectly reflect larger-scale changes in the region and may be useful as a proxy for past climate.

Similar Items