Direct observation of salts as micro-inclusions in the Greenland GRIP ice core

Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, Toshimitsu Sakurai, Yoshinori Iizuka, Shinichiro Horikawa, Sigfus Johann Johnsen, Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, Jørgen Peder Steffensen, Takeo Hondoh

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We provide the first direct evidence that a number of water-soluble compounds, in particular calcium sulfate (CaSO4·2H2O) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3), are present as solid, micron-sized inclusions within the Greenland GRIP ice core. The compounds are detected by two independent methods: micro-Raman spectroscopy of a solid ice sample, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of individual inclusions remaining after sublimation. CaSO4·2H2O is found in abundance throughout the Holocene and the last glacial period, while CaCO3 exists mainly in the glacial period ice. We also present size and spatial distributions of the micro-inclusions. These results suggest that water-soluble aerosols in the GRIP ice core are dependable proxies for past atmospheric conditions.
Udgivelsesdato: December
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Glaciology
Volume55
Issue number193
Pages (from-to)777-783
Number of pages7
ISSN0022-1430
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Cite this