Abstract
Abstract. Refractory black carbon aerosols (rBC) from biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion are deposited to 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 Antarctic ice 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 μg m−2 a−1 and 3.6 to 21.8 μg m−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.
Highlights
Nanoparticles of refractory black carbon aerosols are emitted to the atmosphere during fires and fossil fuel combustion and transported over long distances at the hemisphere-scale (Seiler and Crutzen, 1980; Andreae et al, 2005; Crutzen and Andreae, 1990)
The NUS ice core geometric mean Refractory black carbon aerosols (rBC) concentrations were higher than the concentrations previously determined at lower elevation sites for the same time periods at WAIS (WDC06A) and Law Dome (DSSW19K) (Bisiaux et al, 2012)
Concentrations of rBC found in the NUS ice cores reveal both spatial and temporal variability during the 1800–2000 time period
Summary
Nanoparticles of refractory black carbon (rBC, soot) aerosols are emitted to the atmosphere during fires and fossil fuel combustion and transported over long distances at the hemisphere-scale (Seiler and Crutzen, 1980; Andreae et al, 2005; Crutzen and Andreae, 1990). Because of their strong light absorption properties, rBC nanoparticles alter air temperature, snow albedo and impact climate (Moosmuller et al, 2009; Ramanathan and Carmichael, 2008; Ramanathan et al, 2001; Jacobson, 2001; Flanner et al, 2007; Penner et al, 2002). Periodic oscillations in the rBC records are investigated through spectral and multiple regression analysis and compared to sodium (Na) records (measured simultaneously) to evaluate the influence of transport in the observed rBC variability
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