Continuous flow analysis methods for sodium, magnesium and calcium detection in the Skytrain ice core ...

• Main Authors: Grieman, MM, Hoffmann, HM, Humby, JD, Mulvaney, R, Nehrbass-Ahles, C, Rix, J, Thomas, ER, Tuckwell, R, Wolff, EW
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2022
• Subjects: Glaciological instruments and methods; ice core; paleoclimate; Antarctic; Skytrain Ice Rise; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17863/cam.72779; https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/325323

AbstractDissolved and particulate sodium, magnesium and calcium are analyzed in ice cores to determine past changes in sea ice extent, terrestrial dust variability and atmospheric aerosol transport efficiency. They are also used to date ice cores if annual layers are visible. Multiple methods have been developed to analyze these important compounds in ice cores. Continuous flow analysis (CFA) is implemented with instruments that sample the meltstream continuously. In this study, CFA with ICP-MS (inductively coupled-plasma mass spectrometry) and fast ion chromatography (FIC) methods are compared for analysis of sodium and magnesium. ICP-MS, FIC and fluorescence methods are compared for analysis of calcium. Respective analysis of a 10 m section of the Antarctic WACSWAIN Skytrain Ice Rise ice core shows that all of the methods result in similar levels of the compounds. The ICP-MS method is the most suitable for analysis of the Skytrain ice core due to its superior precision (relative standard deviation: 1.6% ...