A spatial framework for assessing current conditions and monitoring future change in the chemistry of the Antarctic atmosphere

• Main Authors: Dixon, D. A., Mayewski, Paul Andrew, Korotkikh, E., Sneed, S. B., Handley, M. J., Introne, D. S., Scambos, T. A.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@UMaine 2011
• Subjects: Antarctic surface snow chemical concentrations; Earth Sciences; Geochemistry; Antarctic; The Antarctic; East Antarctica; West Antarctica; South Pole; Byrd; Taylor Dome; Dome The; Byrd Glacier; Antarc*; Antarctica; South pole
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/ers_facpub/171; https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1170&context=ers_facpub

This is the first study to measure more than 25 chemical constituents in the surface snow and firn across extensive regions of Antarctica. It is also the first to report total- Cs concentrations. We present major ion, trace element, heavy metal, rare earth element 5 and oxygen isotope data from a series of surface snow samples and shallow firn sections collected along four US ITASE traverses across East and West Antarctica. In each sample we measure dissolved concentrations of Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl−, NO− 3 , SO2− 4 , and MS− using ion chromatography and total concentrations of Sr, Cd, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Pb, Bi, U, As, Al, S, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Na, Mg, Li, and K using 10 inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry. We also measure 18O by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The 2002/2003 traverse began at Byrd Surface Camp, West Antarctica, and ended close to South Pole, East Antarctica. The 2003/2004 traverse began at South Pole, passed through AGO4 in central East Antarctica before turning north and finishing at 15 Taylor Dome. The combined 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 traverses started out at Taylor Dome and headed south, passing through the Byrd Glacier drainage basin and ending at South Pole. In this study, we utilize satellite remote sensing measurements of microwave backscatter and grain size to assist in the identification of glaze/dune areas across 20 Antarctica and show how chemical concentrations are higher in these areas, precluding them from containing useful high-resolution chemical climate records. The majority of the non-glaze/dune samples in this study exhibit similar, or lower, concentrations to those from previous studies. Consequently, the results presented here comprise a conservative baseline for Antarctic surface snow chemical concentra25 tions. The elements Cd, Pb, Bi, As, and Li are enriched across Antarctica relative to both ocean and upper crust elemental ratios. Global volcanic outgassing accounts for the majority of the Bi measured in East and West Antarctica and for a ...