Influence of the Tungurahua eruption on the ice core records of Chimborazo, Ecuador

The comparison of two shallow ice cores recovered in 1999 and 2000 from the same place on the Chimborazo summit glacier revealed the influence of the coincident Tungurahua volcanic eruption on their stable isotope and chemical records. The surface snow melting and water percolation induced from the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Cryosphere
Main Authors: P. Ginot, U. Schotterer, W. Stichler, M. A. Godoi, B. Francou, M. Schwikowski
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2010
Subjects:
geo
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-4-561-2010
http://www.the-cryosphere.net/4/561/2010/tc-4-561-2010.pdf
https://doaj.org/article/e998fab50d3842b4ab78e4b5f9ad992c
Description
Summary:The comparison of two shallow ice cores recovered in 1999 and 2000 from the same place on the Chimborazo summit glacier revealed the influence of the coincident Tungurahua volcanic eruption on their stable isotope and chemical records. The surface snow melting and water percolation induced from the ash deposition caused a preferential elution and re-localization of certain ionic species, while the stable isotope records were not affected. Additionally, the comparison of the ionic amount and some selected ion ratios preserved along the ice core column reports under which processes the chemical species are introduced in the snow pack, as snow flake condensation nuclei, by atmospheric scavenging or by dry deposition. This preliminary study is essential for the interpretation of the deep Chimborazo ice core, or for other sites where surrounding volcanic activity influences the glaciochemical records.