Seasonal variations of glaciochemical, isotopic and stratigraphic properties in Siple Dome (Antarctica) surface snow
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Date
2017-09-14
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Citation of Original Publication
Kreutz, K. J., P. A. Mayewski, M. S. Twickler, S. I. Whitlow, J. W. C. White, C. A. Shuman, C. F. Raymond, H. Conway, and J. R. McConnell. 1999. “Seasonal Variations of Glaciochemical, Isotopic and Stratigraphic Properties in Siple Dome (Antarctica) Surface Snow.” Annals of Glaciology 29. Cambridge University Press: 38–44. doi:10.3189/172756499781821193.
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This work was written as part of one of the author's official duties as an Employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law.
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Abstract
Six snow-pit records recovered from Siple Dome, West Antarctica, during 1994 are used to study seasonal variations in chemical (major ion and H₂₀₂), isotopic (deuterium) and physical stratigraphic properties during the 1988-94 period. Comparison of δD measurements and satellite-derived brightness temperature for the Siple Dome area suggests that most seasonal SD maxima occur within ±4 weeks of each 1 January. Several other chemical species (H₂₀₂, non-sea-salt (nss) SO₄²⁻, methanesulfonic acid and NO₃⁻) show coeval peaks with SD, together providing an accurate method for identifying summer accumulation. Sea-salt-derived species generally peak during winter/spring, but episodic input is noted throughout some years. No reliable seasonal signal is identified in species with continental sources (nssCa²⁺ nss Mg²⁺), NH₄⁺ or nssCl⁻. Visible strata such as large depth-hoar layers (>5 cm) are associated with summer accumulation and its metamorphosis, but smaller hoar layers and crusts are more difficult to interpret. A multi-parameter approach is found to provide the most accurate dating of these snow-pit records, and is used to determine annual layer thicknesses at each site Significant spatial accumulation variability exists on an annual basis, but mean accumulation in the sampled 10 km² grid for the 1988-94 period is fairly uniform.