O2/N2/Ar ratios, and the isotopic composition of O2 and N2, in ice from Mullins Valley, Dry Valleys, Antarctica

This data set contains preliminary results of the study of the isotopic composition of O2 and N2, and the O2/N2/Ar ratio, in ice samples from Mullins Valley, Dry Valleys, Antarctica. A total of 16 samples have been analyzed. There are 2 important conclusions. First, the Ar/N2 ratio is within a few percent of the atmospheric ratio, showing that the trapped gases are air samples rather than dissolved gases from refrozen meltwater. Second, O2/N2 is low and CO2 (measured qualitatively) is high in old samples, indicating the addition of metabolic CO2.