Abstract
Abstract. Ion chromatography measurements of 1730 snow and firn samples obtained from three short cores and one pit in the Vostok station area, East Antarctica, allowed for the production of the combined volcanic record of the last 900 years (AD 1093–2010). The resolution of the record is 2–3 samples per accumulation year. In total, 24 volcanic events have been identified, including seven well-known low-latitude eruptions (Pinatubo 1991, Agung 1963, Krakatoa 1883, Tambora 1815, Huanaputina 1600, Kuwae 1452, El Chichon 1259) found in most of the polar ice cores. In comparison with three other East Antarctic volcanic records (South Pole, Plateau Remote and Dome C), the Vostok record contains more events within the last 900 years. The differences between the records may be explained by local glaciological conditions, volcanic detection methodology, and, probably, differences in atmospheric circulation patterns. The strongest volcanic signal (both in sulfate concentration and flux) was attributed to the AD 1452 Kuwae eruption, similar to the Plateau Remote and Talos Dome records. The average snow accumulation rate calculated between volcanic stratigraphic horizons for the period AD 1260–2010 is 20.9 mm H2O. Positive (+13%) anomalies of snow accumulation were found for AD 1661–1815 and AD 1992–2010, and negative (−12%) for AD 1260–1601. We hypothesized that the changes in snow accumulation are associated with regional peculiarities in atmospheric transport.
Highlights
Polar ice cores contain information about atmospheric aerosols over continuous time intervals
To obtain a complete picture of links between climate and volcanism, we need more high-resolution records of climate and volcanic changes, which can be obtained from ice cores
The cores were taken in the course of Russian Antarctic Expeditions (RAE) during the summer seasons of 1990, 2007 and 2010
Summary
Polar ice cores contain information about atmospheric aerosols over continuous time intervals. Studies of these ice cores allowed reconstructing of global environmental change over the past several hundred thousand years (e.g., Petit et al, 1999; EPICA community members, 2004). High-resolution (years to decades) climate records from ice cores characterize environmental changes in more detail, the mechanisms of these changes are not fully understood (MosleyThompson et al, 1993). Volcanic sulfate aerosol in the atmosphere is a possible factor in climatic fluctuations over relatively short time intervals. We try to extend this list and present a composed high-resolution volcanic and climatic record of the past 900 years from the Vostok station area, East Antarctica, the lowest snow accumulation site in Antarctica
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