Skip to main content
Log in

Source of major anions and cations of snowpacks in Hailuogou No.1 glacier, Mt. Gongga and Baishui No.1 glacier, Mt. Yulong

  • Published:
Journal of Geographical Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Snowpacks samples were colleted from two glaciers: Baishui No.1 glacier and Hailuogou No.1 glacier in June, 2006. The method of sea-salt ions tracer, correlation analysis and trend analysis were used in this research in order to confirm the source of main ions, it is indicated that Na+ is mainly from marine moisture and other ions mainly originate from land dust. The non-marine source percent of Cl, NO 3 , SO 2/t-4 , K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ is 52%, 99%, 100%, 98%, 99.9% and 83%, respectively, in Hailuogou No.1 glacier, while the corresponding value in Baishui No.1 glacier is 68%, 99%, 100%, 98%, 99% and 59%. The non-marine source of ions is from dust of Central Asia arid regions carried by westerly circulation and the plateau borne-areas with Qinghai-Tibet Plateau winter monsoon in two glacial areas. However, the import of local dust in glacial area has made a great contribution to ions concentration in Baishui No.1 glacier, which accounts for the reason why the ions concentration in Baishui No.1 glacier is much higher than that of Hailuogou No.1 glacier. It is obvious that the source of each ion is different between Hailuogou No.1 glacier and Baishui No.1 glacier. There are three reasons which can explain it: firstly, the difference in the internal environment of glacial area, such as lithology, mountain-valley wind system, topographical relief and so on; secondly, the influence exerted by ions elution in snowpacks section, and ions elution in Hailuogou No.1 glacier is very strong; and thirdly, the difference caused due to varying ions transporting styles, deposition modes, chemical characteristics and post-ions-deposition process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aeberli W, Schmid W, Wagenbach D, 1988. On the geometry, flow and age of firn and ice at the Colle Gnifetti core drilling site (MonteRosa, Swiss Alps). Z. Gletscher. Glazial., 24(1): 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrie L A, 1985. Twentieth century trends in arctic air pollution revealed by conductivity and acidity observations in snow and ice in the Canadian high arctic. Atmospheric Environment, 19(2): 2055–2063.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Church T M, Galloway J N, Jickells T D et al., 1982. The chemistry of western Atlantic precipitation at the mid-Atlantic coast and on Bermuda. J. Geophy. Res., 87(c13): 11013–11018.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dansgaard W, 1998. One thousand centuries of climate record from Camp Century on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Science, 166: 337–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gu Juan, He Yuanqing, Lu Aigang et al., 2005. The response of pH value in ice core to precipitation in the Mt. Yulong. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 27(4): 509–514. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • He Yuanqing, Theakstone W H, 1994. Climatic influence on the composition of snow cover at Austre Okstind-breen, Okstindan, Norway, 1989 and 1990. Annals of Glaciology, 19: 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • He Yuanqing, Yao Tandong, Cheng Guodong et al., 2001. Preliminary analysis of climatic and environmental signals of a shallow ice-core from a Chinese temperate glacier in Mt. Yulong. Journal of Lanzhou University (Natural Sciences), 37(4): 118–124. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • He Yuanqng, Yao Tandong, Yang Meixue et al., 1999. Analysis of climatic and environmental records in an alpine temperate glacier. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 21(3): 257–263. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • He Yuanqing, Yao Tandong, Yang Meixue, 2000. Spatial features of glacial hydrochemistry and recent variations of a Chinese temperate glacier in Mt. Yulong. Journal of Mountain Science, 18(6): 481–488. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • He Yuanqing, Yao Tandong, Yang Meixue et al., 2000. Contemporary significance of snow and ice indicated by the record in a shallow ice core from a temperate glacier in southwestern monsoon region. Journal of Glaciology and Georcrology, 22(3): 235–242. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Holdsworth G, Peak E, 1985. Acid content of snow from a mid-troposphere sampling site on Mont Logan, Yukon Territory, Canada. Annals of Glaciology, 7: 153–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou Shugui, Qin Dahe, 1996. Preliminary study on the ion elution of snowpacks over Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 18(suppl.): 72–85. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang Cuilan, Duan Keqin, Li Yuefang et al., 1998. Study on anions and cations of ice core from Xixiabangma, Tibetan Plateau. Environmental Chemistry, 17(5): 500–502. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnsen S T, Dansgaard W, Clausen H B et al., 1972. Oxygen isotopic profiles through the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets. Nature, 235(5339): 429–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jouze L J, Lorius C, Petit J R et al., 1987. Vostok Ice Core: a continuous isotope temperature record over the last climatic cycle (160000 years). Nature, 329(6138): 403–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang Shichang, Cong Zhiyuan, 2006. Progress in study on precipitation and aerosol chemistry in the Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 28(3): 371–379. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang Shichang, Qin Dahe, Paul Mayewski et al., 2000. Recent a climatic records in the Far East Rongbuk ice core, Mt. Qomolangma (Everest), Himalayas. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 22(3): 211–217. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kneene W C, Alexander A P, James N Galloway et al., 1986. Sea-salt corrections and interpretation of constituent rations in marine precipitation. J. Geophy. Res., 91(c13): 6647–6658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Jijun, Su Zheng, 1996. Glaciers of Hengduan Mountains. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pu Jianchen, 1994. Glacier Inventory of China (The Changjiang River Drainage Basin). Lanzhou: Gansu Culture Press, 117–129. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi Yafeng, Huang Maohuan, Yao Tandong et al., 2000.Glaciers and their Environments in China: The Present, Past and Future. Beijing: Science Press, 26–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Su Zhen, Liu Shiying, Wang Ninglian et al., 2001. Glacier changes on the Hengduan Mountain and their response to climatic response. In: The Environment and Ecosystem in the Eastern Edge of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Chengdu: Sichuan University Press, 102–109. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao Cunde, Qing Dahe, Hou Shugui et al., 2005. Glaciochemistry distribution in the surface snow/ice in some key regions of the cryosphere: The environmental significance. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 27(40): 509–514. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao Hui, Shen Zhilai, 1993. Chemical characteristics of tropical western Pacific precipitation. Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae, 13(2): 143–148. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao Tandong, Sheng Wenkun, Pu Jianchen, 1993. Chemical characteristics of snow and ice in the Tibetan Plateau. In: Glaciological Climate and Environment on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, 1989. Beijing: Sciences Press, 8–15. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zongxing Li.

Additional information

Foundation: National Key Natural Science Foundation of China, No.90511007; National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.40501014; The Project for Important Directionality Foundation, CAS, No.KZCXZ-YW-317; The Project for Outstanding Young Scientists of Natural Science Foundation of China, No.40121101; The Knowledge Innovation Program, CAS, No.CXTD-Z2005-2

Author: Li Zongxing (1984–), Master Graduate Student, specialized in glaciers and global change.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, Z., He, Y., Pang, H. et al. Source of major anions and cations of snowpacks in Hailuogou No.1 glacier, Mt. Gongga and Baishui No.1 glacier, Mt. Yulong. J. Geogr. Sci. 18, 115–125 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-008-0115-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-008-0115-4

Keywords

Navigation