Temperature and precipitation signal in two Alpine ice cores over the period 1961-2001 ...

Water stable isotope ratios and net snow accumulation in ice cores are commonly interpreted as temperature or precipitation proxies. However, only in a few cases has a direct calibration with instrumental data been attempted. In this study we took advantage of the dense network of observations in th...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mariani, Isabella, Eichler, Anja, Jenk, Theo M., Brönnimann, Stefan, Auchmann, Renate, Leuenberger, Markus C., Schwikowski, Margit
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: ETH Zurich 2014
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Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000087121
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/87121
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Summary:Water stable isotope ratios and net snow accumulation in ice cores are commonly interpreted as temperature or precipitation proxies. However, only in a few cases has a direct calibration with instrumental data been attempted. In this study we took advantage of the dense network of observations in the European Alpine region to rigorously test the relationship of the annual and seasonal resolved proxy data from two highly resolved ice cores with local temperature and precipitation. We focused on the time period 1961–2001 with the highest amount and quality of meteorological data and the minimal uncertainty in ice core dating (±1 year). The two ice cores were retrieved from the Fiescherhorn glacier (northern Alps, 3900 m a.s.l.), and Grenzgletscher (southern Alps, 4200 m a.s.l.). A parallel core from the Fiescherhorn glacier allowed assessing the reproducibility of the ice core proxy data. Due to the orographic barrier, the two flanks of the Alpine chain are affected by distinct patterns of precipitation. The ... : Climate of the Past, 10 (3) ...