On the relationship between δO2∕N2 variability and ice sheet surface conditions in Antarctica
While the processes controlling pore closure are broadly understood, the physical mechanisms driving the associated elemental fractionation remains ambiguous. Previous studies have shown that the pore closure process leads to a depletion in small-sized molecules (e.g. H 2 , O 2 , Ar, Ne, He) in ice...
Published in: | The Cryosphere |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Text |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2024
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3741-2024 https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/18/3741/2024/ |
Summary: | While the processes controlling pore closure are broadly understood, the physical mechanisms driving the associated elemental fractionation remains ambiguous. Previous studies have shown that the pore closure process leads to a depletion in small-sized molecules (e.g. H 2 , O 2 , Ar, Ne, He) in ice core bubbles relative to larger-sized molecules like N 2 . This size-dependent fractionation, identified using ice core δ ( O 2 / N 2 ) <svg:svg xmlns:svg="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="49pt" height="14pt" class="svg-formula" dspmath="mathimg" md5hash="e4d76ebc952016283d37007278f6b1ba"><svg:image xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="tc-18-3741-2024-ie00004.svg" width="49pt" height="14pt" src="tc-18-3741-2024-ie00004.png"/> </svg:svg> records, exhibits a clear anti-correlation with local summer solstice insolation, making δ ( O 2 / N 2 ) <svg:svg xmlns:svg="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="49pt" height="14pt" class="svg-formula" dspmath="mathimg" md5hash="23dc7679cf0e1a0a665444524913a3e3"><svg:image xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="tc-18-3741-2024-ie00005.svg" width="49pt" height="14pt" src="tc-18-3741-2024-ie00005.png"/> </svg:svg> a valuable ice core dating tool. Mechanisms controlling this relationship are attributed to the physical properties of deep firn. In this study, we compile δ ( O 2 / N 2 ) <svg:svg xmlns:svg="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="49pt" height="14pt" class="svg-formula" dspmath="mathimg" md5hash="96157c289844eb9f7df001c7882352a7"><svg:image xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="tc-18-3741-2024-ie00006.svg" width="49pt" height="14pt" src="tc-18-3741-2024-ie00006.png"/> </svg:svg> records from 15 polar ice cores and show a new additional link between δ ( O 2 / N 2 ) <svg:svg xmlns:svg="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="49pt" height="14pt" class="svg-formula" dspmath="mathimg" md5hash="28609d3e6f976a7c5045bed2b5599ee5"><svg:image xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ... |
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