A comparison of major chemical species seasonal concentration and accumulation at the South Pole and summit, Greenland

Authors

Sallie I. Whitlow, University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
Paul A. Mayewski, University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
Jack E. Dibb, University of New HampshireFollow

Abstract

High-resolution snow chemistry records have been recovered from a site close to the South Pole, covering the period 1955–1989, and from Summit, Greenland, for the periods 1979–1987 and 1259–1989. The seasonal variation of the major ions relative to δ¹⁸O and their average yearly fluxes are compared for the two sites. Comparisons are also made to limited available aerosol data. Gaseous species and some species with gaseous precursors (NO₃, NH₄ and excess Cl) have similar timings in South Pole and pre-1900 Summit snow. Timing of non-sea-salt (nss) SO₄ and species that are generated as marine and crustal aerosols (Na, nss Mg and nss Ca) differ between the two sites. The timing of nss SO₄ and NO₃ is complicated in recent precipitation at Summit, Greenland, by the impact of anthropogenic emissions. Fluxes of sea-salt species, nss SO₄ and NO₃ (pre-11900 values for Summit) are less than a factor of 2 higher at Summit. Species with a continental source: nss K, nss Mg, nss Ca and NH₄are more than five-fold higher at Summit.

Department

Earth Sciences, Earth Systems Research Center

Publication Date

8-1992

Journal Title

Atmospheric Environment. Part A. General Topics

Publisher

Elsevier

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/0960-1686(92)90089-4

Document Type

Article

Recommended Citation

S. Whitlow, P.A. Mayewski, J.E. Dibb, A comparison of major chemical species seasonal concentration and accumulation at the South Pole and summit, Greenland, Atmospheric Environment. Part A. General Topics, Volume 26, Issue 11, 1992, Pages 2045-2054, ISSN 0960-1686, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0960-1686(92)90089-4.

Rights

Copyright © 1992 Published by Elsevier Ltd.