1. Nitrate records of a shallow ice core from East Antarctica: Atmospheric processes, preservation and climatic implications.
- Author
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Laluraj, C. M., Thamban, M., Naik, S. S., Redkar, B. L., Chaturvedi, A., and Ravindra, R.
- Subjects
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NITRATES , *ATMOSPHERIC temperature , *NITRIC acid , *VOLCANIC eruptions - Abstract
High-resolution records of nitrate (NO3−), oxygen isotope (δ 18O) and non-sea salt sulphate (nssSO42− ) were studied using an ice core collected from central Dronning Maud Land in East Antarctica to identify the influence of environmental variability on accumulation of NO3− over the past 450 years. The results confirmed that multiple processes were responsible for the production and preservation of NO3− in Antarctic ice. Correlation between NO3− and nssSO42− peaks revealed that sulphate aerosols released during major volcanic eruptions might have activated the production of nitric acid, which was scavenged by ion-induced nucleation in polar ice sheets. The correlation between the nitrate and δ18 O records further suggest that enhanced NO3− preservation in the ice occurred during periods of lower atmospheric temperature. Major shifts in the NO3− record of the ice core presently studied and its comparison with 10Be record from a core collected from South Pole suggest that a reduction in solar activity influenced the NO3− accumulation in Antarctica through enhanced production of odd nitrogen species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
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