Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Earth Paleoenvironments: Records Preserved in Mid- and Low-Latitude Glaciers pp 95–119Cite as

Reconstruction of European Air Pollution from Alpine Ice Cores

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research ((DPER,volume 9))

Conclusion

Paleo records from Alpine glaciers allow the reconstruction of European atmospheric pollution history. These records show a generally consistent picture of a vastly altered atmospheric composition due to anthropogenic emissions. Typically following the onset of industrialization, increased concentrations of major aerosol components (e.g. SO42−, NO3−, NH4+, black and elemental carbon), trace constituents (e.g. Pb and other heavy metals), gaseous species (including the greenhouse gas methane), and radionuclides (3H, 137Cs, 36Cl, and 129I) were observed in the ice cores. However, on a positive note, Alpine glaciers are also a reliable indicator of the progress achieved in environmental protection. Since approximately 1970, many of the pollutants mentioned here show a clear tendency to lower concentrations, which is a direct result of various air quality measures such as the use of filtering units in power plants, in incineration plants and in industry, the increased use of oils with low sulfur content, as well as the introduction of catalytic converters and lead-free gasoline.

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

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Asman, W.A.H., Drukker, B., and Jannssen, A.J., 1988, Modelled historical concentrations and depositions of ammonia and ammonium in Europe, Atmospheric Environment, 22, 725–735.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blunier, T., 1995, Methanmessungen aus Arktis, Antarktis und den Walliser Alpen, Interhemisphärischer Gradient und Quellenverteilung, Thesis, Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern.

    Google Scholar 

  • BUWAL, 1995, Vom Menschen verursachte Luftschadstoff — Emissionen in der Schweiz von 1900 bis 2010, pp. 122, Bundesamt für Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft, Bern.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Angelis, M., and Gaudichet, A., 1991, Saharan dust deposition over Mount Blanc (French Alps) during the last 30 years, Tellus B, 43 (1), 61–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dällenbach, A., 2000, Methan-und Lachgasmessungen aus Arktis, Antarktis und den Alpen, Thesis, Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern, Bern.

    Google Scholar 

  • Döscher, A., Gäggeler, H.W., Schotterer, U., and Schwikowski, M., 1996, A historical record of ammonium concentration from a glacier in the Alps, Geophysical Research Letters, 23, N.20, 2741–2744.

    Google Scholar 

  • Döscher, A., Gäggeler, H.W., Schotterer, U., and Schwikowski, M., 1995, A 130 years deposition record of sulfate, nitrate and chloride from a high-alpine glacier, Water Air and Soil Pollution, 85 (2), 603–609.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eichler, A., Schwikowski, M., and Gäggeler, H.W., 2001, Meltwater-induced relocation of chemical species in Alpine firn, Tellus Series B-Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 53 (2), 192–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eichler, A., Schwikowski, M., and Gäggeler, H.W., 2000a, An Alpine ice-core record of anthropogenic HF and HCl emissions, Geophysical Research Letters, 27 (19), 3225–3228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eichler, A., Schwikowski, M., Gäggeler, H.W., Furrer, V., Synal, H.W., Beer, J., Saurer, M., and Funk, M., 2000b, Glaciochemical dating of an ice core from upper Grenzgletscher (4200 m a.s.l.), Journal of Glaciology, 46 (154), 507–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Funk, M., 1994, Possible Alpine ice-core drilling sites, an overview, in Proceedings of the ESF/EPC workshop on Greenhouse gases, isotopes and trace elements in glaciers as climate evidence of the Holocene, edited by W. Haeberli, and B. Stauffer, VAW Arbeitsheft, pp. 40–44, Zürich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gäggeler, H., von Gunten, H.R., Rössler, E., Oeschger, H., and Schotterer, U., 1983, 210Pb-Dating of cold alpine firn/ice cores from Colle Gnifetti, Switzerland, Journal of Glaciology, 29 (101), 165–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haeberli, W., 1997, Sahara dust in the Alps — A short review, Zeitschrift fuer Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie, 13 (1/2), 206–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haeberli, W., Gäggeler, H., Baltensperger, U., Jost, D., and Schotterer, U., 1988a, The signal from the Chernobyl accident in high-altitude firn areas of the Swiss Alps, Annals of Glaciology, 10, 48–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haeberli, W., Schmid, W., and Wagenbach,, D., 1988b, On the geometry, flow and age of firn and ice at the Colle Gnifetti core drilling site, Zeitschrift fuer Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie, 24 (1), 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harnisch, J., R. Borchers, P. Fabian, H.W. Gäggeler, and U. Schotterer, 1996, Effect of natural tetrafluoromethane, Nature, 384 (6604), 32–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiefer, H., 1986, The consequences of the Chernobyl reactor accident for the dose commitment of the general public, KFK (Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe) Nachrichten, 18 (3), 133–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavanchy, V.M.H., Gäggeler, H.W., Schotterer, U., Schwikowski, M., and Baltensperger, U., 1999, Historical record of carbonaceus particle concentrations from a European high-alpine glacier (Colle Gnifetti, Switzerland), J Geophys Res., 104, 21227–21236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lefohn, A.S., Husar, J.D., and Husar, R. B., 1999, Estimating historical anthropogenic global sulfur emission patterns for the period 1850–1990, Atmospheric Environment, 33 (21), 3435–3444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luethi, M., and Funk, M., 2000, Dating ice cores from a high Alpine glacier with a flow model for cold firn, Annals of Glaciology, Vol 31, 2000, 31, 69–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luethi, M.P., and Funk, M., 2001, Modelling heat flow in a cold, high-altitude glacier: interpretation of measurements from Colle Gnifetti, Swiss Alps, Journal of Glaciology, 47 (157), 314–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moor, H.C., Schaller, T., and Sturm, M., 1996, Recent changes in stable lead isotope ratios in sediments of Lake Zug, Switzerland, Environmental Science and Technology, 30 (10), 2928–2933.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mylona, S., 1996, Sulphur dioxide emissions in Europe 1880–1991 and their effect on sulphur concentrations and depositions, Tellus Series B-Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 48 (5), 662–689.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu, J.O., 1978, Biogeochemistry of lead in the environment, Elsevier, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu, J.O., 1998, Global atmospheric metal pollution, in From urban air pollution to extrasolar planets, edited by C.F. Boutron, pp. 205–226, Les Editions de Physique, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oeschger, H., 1997, First results from Alpine core drilling projects, Zeitschrift fuer Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie, 13 (1/2), 193–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preunkert, S., Legrand, M., and Wagenbach, D., 2001a, Causes of enhanced fluoride levels in Alpine ice cores over the last 75 years: Implications for the atmospheric fluoride budget, Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, 106 (D12), 12619–12632.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preunkert, S., Legrand, M., and Wagenbach, D., 2001b, Sulfate trends in a Col du Dome (French Alps) ice core: A record of anthropogenic sulfate levels in the European midtroposphere over the twentieth century, Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, 106 (D23), 31991–32004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preunkert, S., Wagenbach, D., and Legrand, M., 2002, Improvement and characterization of an automatic aerosol sampler for remote (glacier) sites, Atmospheric Environment, 36 (7), 1221–1232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preunkert, S., Wagenbach, D., Legrand, M., and Vincent, C., 2000, Col du Dome (Mt Blanc Massif, French Alps) suitability for ice-core studies in relation with past atmospheric chemistry over Europe, Tellus B, 51 (3), 993–1012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosman, K.J.R., Ly, C., Van de Velde, K., and Boutron, C.F., 2000, A two century record of lead isotopes in high altitude Alpine snow and ice, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 176 (3–4), 413–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sachsenhauser, H., Zerle, L., Beer, J., Masarik, J., and Nolte, E., 1997, Atmospheric transport of cosmogenic radionuclides, in Glaciers from the Alps: Climate and Environmental Archives (Proceedings of the Wengen workshop, 21–23 October 1996, Switzerland), pp. 103–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schäfer, J., 1995, Rekonstruktion bio-geochemischer Spurenstoffkreisläufe anhand eines alpinen Eisbohrkerns, Diploma Thesis, Universität Heidelberg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schotterer, U., Oeschger, H., Wagenbach, D., and Münnich, K.O., 1985, Information on paleo-precipitation on a high-altitude glacier, Monte Rosa, Switzerland, Zeitschrift fuer Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie, 21 (85), 379–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schotterer, U., Schwarz, P., and Rajner, V., 1998, From pre-bomb levels to industrial times: A complete tritium record from an alpine ice core and its relevance for environmental studies, in International symposium on isotope techniques in the study of past and current environmental changes in the hydrosphere and the atmosphere, pp. 581–590, Vienna.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schotterer, U., Stichler, W., Graf, W., Bürki, H.U., Gourcy, L., Ginot, P., and Huber, T., 2001, Stable isotopes in alpine ice cores: do they record climate variability? in Conference on isotope techniques in the study of past and current environmental changes in the hydrosphere and the atmosphere, IAEA Vienna, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwikowski, M., Barbante, C., Doring, T., Gaageler, H.W., Boutron, C., Schotterer, J., Tobler, L., VandeVelde, K., Ferrari, C., Cozzi, G., Rosman, K., and Cescon, P., Post 17th century changes of European pb emission records in Alpine ice, manuscript in preparation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwikowski, M., Brütsch, S., Gäggeler, H.W., and Schotterer, U., 1999a, A high-resolution air chemistry record from an Alpine ice core: Fiescherhorn glacier, Swiss Alps, Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, 104 (D11), 13709–13719.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwikowski, M., Döscher, A., Gäggeler, H.W., and Schotterer, U., 1999b, Anthropogenic versus natural sources of atmospheric sulphate from an Alpine ice core, Tellus, 51B, 938–951.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seibert, P., H. KrompKolb, A. Kasper, M. Kalina, H. Puxbaum, D.T. Jost, M. Schwikowski, and U. Baltensperger, 1998, Transport of polluted boundary layer air from the Po Valley to high-alpine sites, Atmospheric Environment, 32 (23), 3953–3965.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shotyk, W., Weiss, D., Appleby, P.G., Cheburkin, A.K., Frei, R., Gloor, M., Kramers, J.D., Reese, S., and Van der Knapp, W.O., 1998, History of atmospheric lead deposited since 12,370 14C yr BP from a peat bog, Jura Mountains, Switzerland, Science, 281, 1635–1640.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shumskii, P., 1964, Principles of Structural Glaciology. Translation D. Krauss, Dover Publications Inc. Dover, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suter, S., M. Laternser, W. Haeberli, R. Frauenfelder, and M. Hoelzle, 2001, Cold firn and ice of high-altitude glaciers in the Alps: measurements and distribution modelling, Journal of Glaciology, 47 (156), 85–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van de Velde, K., Barbante, K., Cozzi, K.C., Moret, G., Bellomi, I., Ferrari, C., and Boutron, C., 2000, Changes in the occurrence of silver, gold, platinum, palladium and rhodium in Mont Blanc ice and snow since the 18th century, Atmospheric Environment, 34 (19), 3117–3127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van de Velde, K., Ferrari, C. Barbante, C., Moret, I., Bellomi, T., Hong, S.M., and Boutron, C., 1999, A 200 year record of atmospheric cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, and antimony in high altitude alpine firn and ice, Environmental Science and Technology, 33 (20), 3495–3501.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent, C., Vallon, M., Pinglot, J.F., Funk, M., and Reynaud, L., 1997, Snow accumulation and ice flow at Dome du Gouter (4300m), Mont Blanc, French Alps, Journal of Glaciology, 43 (145), 513–521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Gunten, H.R., Rössler, E., and Gäggeler, H., 1982, Dating of ice cores from Vernagtferner (Austria) with fission products and lead-210, Zeitschrift fuer Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie, 18 (1), 37–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Gunten, H.R., Sturm, M., Moser, R.N., 1997, 200-year record of metals in lake sediments and natural background concentrations, Environmental Science and Technology, 31, 2193–2197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagenbach, D., 1994, Results from the Colle Gnifetti ice-core programme, in ESF/EPL Workshop on Greenhouse gases, isotopes and trace elements in glaciers as climatic evidence of the Holocene, edited by W. Haeberli, Stauffer, B., VAW Arbeitsheft, pp. 19–22, Zürich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagenbach, D., 1997, High Alpine Air and Snow Chemistry, in Cloud Multi-phase Processes and High Alpine Air and Snow Chemistry, edited by S. Fuzzi and D. Wagenbach, pp. 163–199, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagenbach, D., and Geis, K., 1989, The mineral dust record in a high altitude Alpine glacier (Colle Gnifetti, Swiss Alpsa), in Paleoclimatology and Paleometeorology: Modern and Past Patterns of Global Atmospheric Transport, edited by M. Leinen, and M. Sarnthein, pp. 543–564, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dortrecht, Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagenbach, D., Muennich, K.O., Schotterer, U., and Oeschger, H., 1988, The anthropogenic impact on snow chemistry at Colle Gnifetti, Swiss Alps, Annals of Glaciology, 10, 183–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagenbach, D., Preunkert, S., Schäfer, J., Jung, W., and Tomadin, L., 1996, Northward transport of Saharan dust recorded in a deep Alpine ice core, in The Impact of Desert Dust across the Mediterranean, edited by S. Guerzoni, and R. Chester, pp. 291–300, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dortrecht, Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, M.J.M., DittrichHannen, B., Synal, H.A., Suter, M., and Schotterer, U., 1996, Increase of I-129 in the environment, Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section B-Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 113 (1–4), 490–494.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, S., 1996, Dreidimensionale Modellierung zweier Gletscher und Deformationsanalyse von eisreichem Permafrost, Thesis, ETH Zürich, Zürich.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Margit Schwikowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Falls, USA

    L. DeWayne Cecil

  2. Garden City Community College, Kansas, USA

    Jaromy R. Green

  3. The Ohio State University, Ohio, USA

    Lonnie G. Thompson

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Schwikowski, M. (2004). Reconstruction of European Air Pollution from Alpine Ice Cores. In: DeWayne Cecil, L., Green, J.R., Thompson, L.G. (eds) Earth Paleoenvironments: Records Preserved in Mid- and Low-Latitude Glaciers. Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-2146-1_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-2146-1_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-2145-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-2146-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation