Evidence of calcium carbonates in coastal (Talos Dome and Ross Sea area) East Antarctica snow and firn: Environmental and climatic implications

Micrometre-sized aeolian dust particles stored in Antarctic firn and ice layers are a useful tool for reconstructing climate and environmental changes in the past. The mineral content, particle concentration and chemical composition of modern dust in firn cores from the peripherycal dome (Talos Dome...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Main Authors: M. SALA, B. DELMONTE, M. FREZZOTTI, M. PROPOSITO, C. SCARCHILLI, V. MAGGI, G. ARTIOLI, F. MARINO, P. C. RICCI, G. DE GIUDICI, M. DAPIAGGI
Other Authors: M. Sala, B. Delmonte, M. Frezzotti, M. Proposito, C. Scarchilli, V. Maggi, G. Artioli, M. Dapiaggi, F. Marino, P.C. Ricci
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2008
Subjects:
Antarctica
atmospheric circulation
dust
mineralogy
palaeoclimate
Settore GEO/06 - Mineralogia
Antarctic
East Antarctica
Ross Sea
Talos Dome
Antarc*
Sea ice
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2434/48891
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2008.03.045
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Summary:Micrometre-sized aeolian dust particles stored in Antarctic firn and ice layers are a useful tool for reconstructing climate and environmental changes in the past. The mineral content, particle concentration and chemical composition of modern dust in firn cores from the peripherycal dome (Talos Dome) and coastal area of East Antarctica (Ross Sea sector) were investigated. During analyses there was a considerable decrease in microparticle concentrations within a few hours of ice sample melting, accompanied by a systematic increase in the concentration of calcium ions (Ca2+) in solution. Based on mineralogical phase analyses, which reveal the presence of anhydrous and hydrous calcium carbonates such as calcite (CaCO3), monohydrocalcite (CaCO3·H2O) and ikaite (CaCO3·6H2O, hexahydrate calcium carbonate), the observed variations in concentrations are ascribed to the partial dissolution of the carbonate content of samples. Soluble carbonate compounds are thus primary aerosols included into the samples along with insoluble aluminosilicate minerals. We hypothesize hydrous carbonates may derive from the sea ice surface, where ikaite typically forms at the early stages of sea ice formation. Back trajectory calculations show that favourable events for air mass advection from the sea ice surface to Talos Dome are rare but likely to occur.

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