Seasonal variations of glaciochemical, isotopic and stratigraphic properties in Siple Dome (Antarctica) surface snow ...

• Main Authors: Kreutz, K. J., Mayewski, P. A., Twickler, M. S., Whitlow, S. I., White, J. W. C., Shuman, Christopher, Raymond, C. F., Conway, H., McConnell, J. R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Cambridge University Press 2017
• Subjects: West Antarctica; Siple; Siple Dome; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.13016/m2enfn-nvki; https://mdsoar.org/handle/11603/24302

Six snow-pit records recovered from Siple Dome, West Antarctica, during 1994 are used to study seasonal variations in chemical (major ion and H₂₀₂), isotopic (deuterium) and physical stratigraphic properties during the 1988-94 period. Comparison of δD measurements and satellite-derived brightness temperature for the Siple Dome area suggests that most seasonal SD maxima occur within ±4 weeks of each 1 January. Several other chemical species (H₂₀₂, non-sea-salt (nss) SO₄²⁻, methanesulfonic acid and NO₃⁻) show coeval peaks with SD, together providing an accurate method for identifying summer accumulation. Sea-salt-derived species generally peak during winter/spring, but episodic input is noted throughout some years. No reliable seasonal signal is identified in species with continental sources (nssCa²⁺ nss Mg²⁺), NH₄⁺ or nssCl⁻. Visible strata such as large depth-hoar layers (>5 cm) are associated with summer accumulation and its metamorphosis, but smaller hoar layers and crusts are more difficult to ...