North Ice Cap Ice Core Chemistry

An ice core was collected from the summit dome (1275 m elevation) of North Ice Cap near Thule, Greenland using an IDDO Hand Auger in May of 2014. The core was hand sampled under clean conditions and analyzed for major ion concentration and stable water isotope ratios. These data suggest that the mean annual snow accumulation rate on North Ice Cap is 0.75 - 1.0 meters water equivalent based on 2012-2013. Refrozen surface meltwater represents 22% of the ice core length. Major ion concentrations are 1.9-6.8 times higher in refrozen melt layers than in the rest of the core, indicating that core chemistry is significantly distorted by elution during meltwater percolation.

2014年5月，研究人员使用IDDO手持式冰钻（IDDO Hand Auger）在格陵兰图勒附近的北冰盖穹顶顶部（海拔1275米）采集了一支冰芯。该冰芯在洁净条件下进行手工取样，并对其主要离子浓度与稳定水同位素比值开展了分析测试。基于2012-2013年的观测数据，上述结果表明北冰盖的年平均积雪积累率为0.75~1.0米水当量。再冻结的表层融水占该冰芯总长的22%。再冻结融冰层中的主要离子浓度较冰芯其余部分高出1.9~6.8倍，这表明融水渗滤过程中的淋溶作用显著改变了冰芯的化学组成。