Changes in black carbon deposition to Antarctica from two high-resolution ice core records, 1850–2000 AD

Refractory black carbon aerosols (rBC) from biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion are depositedto the Antarctic ice sheet and preserve a history of emissions and long-range transport from low- and mid-latitudes. Antarctic ice core rBC records may thus provide information with respect to past co...

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Main Authors: Bisiaux, M., Edwards, Peter, McConnell, J., Curran, M., Van Ommen, T., Smith, A., Neumann, T., Pasteris, D., Penner, J., Taylor, K.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Copernicus Publications 2012
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/49418
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author Bisiaux, M.
Edwards, Peter
McConnell, J.
Curran, M.
Van Ommen, T.
Smith, A.
Neumann, T.
Pasteris, D.
Penner, J.
Taylor, K.
author_facet Bisiaux, M.
Edwards, Peter
McConnell, J.
Curran, M.
Van Ommen, T.
Smith, A.
Neumann, T.
Pasteris, D.
Penner, J.
Taylor, K.
author_sort Bisiaux, M.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Refractory black carbon aerosols (rBC) from biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion are depositedto the Antarctic ice sheet and preserve a history of emissions and long-range transport from low- and mid-latitudes. Antarctic ice core rBC records may thus provide information with respect to past combustion aerosol emissions and atmospheric circulation. Here, we present six East Antarcticice core records of rBC concentrations and fluxes covering the last two centuries with approximately annual resolution (cal. yr. 1800 to 2000). The ice cores were drilled in disparate regions of the high East Antarctic ice sheet, at different elevations and net snow accumulation rates. Annual rBC concentrations were log-normally distributed and geometric means of annual concentrations ranged from 0.10 to 0.18 µg kg-1. Average rBC fluxes were determined over the time periods 1800 to 2000 and 1963 to 2000 and ranged from 3.4 to 15.5 µgm-2 a-1 and 3.6 to 21.8 µgm-2 a-1, respectively. Geometric mean concentrations spanning 1800 to 2000 increased linearly with elevation at a rate of 0.025 µg kg-1/500 m. Spectral analysis of the records revealed significant decadal-scale variability, which at several sites was comparable to decadal ENSO variability.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-494182017-03-15T22:56:12Z Changes in black carbon deposition to Antarctica from two high-resolution ice core records, 1850–2000 AD Bisiaux, M. Edwards, Peter McConnell, J. Curran, M. Van Ommen, T. Smith, A. Neumann, T. Pasteris, D. Penner, J. Taylor, K. Refractory black carbon aerosols (rBC) from biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion are depositedto the Antarctic ice sheet and preserve a history of emissions and long-range transport from low- and mid-latitudes. Antarctic ice core rBC records may thus provide information with respect to past combustion aerosol emissions and atmospheric circulation. Here, we present six East Antarcticice core records of rBC concentrations and fluxes covering the last two centuries with approximately annual resolution (cal. yr. 1800 to 2000). The ice cores were drilled in disparate regions of the high East Antarctic ice sheet, at different elevations and net snow accumulation rates. Annual rBC concentrations were log-normally distributed and geometric means of annual concentrations ranged from 0.10 to 0.18 µg kg-1. Average rBC fluxes were determined over the time periods 1800 to 2000 and 1963 to 2000 and ranged from 3.4 to 15.5 µgm-2 a-1 and 3.6 to 21.8 µgm-2 a-1, respectively. Geometric mean concentrations spanning 1800 to 2000 increased linearly with elevation at a rate of 0.025 µg kg-1/500 m. Spectral analysis of the records revealed significant decadal-scale variability, which at several sites was comparable to decadal ENSO variability. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/49418 Copernicus Publications restricted
spellingShingle Bisiaux, M.
Edwards, Peter
McConnell, J.
Curran, M.
Van Ommen, T.
Smith, A.
Neumann, T.
Pasteris, D.
Penner, J.
Taylor, K.
Changes in black carbon deposition to Antarctica from two high-resolution ice core records, 1850–2000 AD
title Changes in black carbon deposition to Antarctica from two high-resolution ice core records, 1850–2000 AD
title_full Changes in black carbon deposition to Antarctica from two high-resolution ice core records, 1850–2000 AD
title_fullStr Changes in black carbon deposition to Antarctica from two high-resolution ice core records, 1850–2000 AD
title_full_unstemmed Changes in black carbon deposition to Antarctica from two high-resolution ice core records, 1850–2000 AD
title_short Changes in black carbon deposition to Antarctica from two high-resolution ice core records, 1850–2000 AD
title_sort changes in black carbon deposition to antarctica from two high-resolution ice core records, 1850–2000 ad
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/49418