Abstract
This study investigates the regional distribution of marine aerosol originated species (Na+, Cl−, nss-SO4 2− and MSA) in the snow pits (or firn cores) collected along a transect between Zhongshan Station and the Grove Mountain area (450 km inland) on the eastern side of the Lambert Glacier Basin. Concentrations of Na+ and Cl− decrease exponentially with distance from the coast to 100 km inland (i.e., 1500 m a.s.l.). Statistical results demonstrate that distance from the coast inland and elevation affect the concentration of sea-salt originated ions in inland areas significantly. Increase of Cl-/Na+ ratio and higher variability in its standard deviation suggest that there are other sources of ions in addition to sea-salt in inland areas of the Antarctic continent. The concentrations of Na+ and Cl− from nine sampling sites in the Grove Mountain area are relatively higher than those from sites along CHINARE transect, although all sites are at similar distance inland. This phenomenon indicates that the barrier effect of the mountain may be the most important factor influencing ion deposition. In addition, nss-SO4 2− and MSA vary differently, with nss-SO4 2− decreasing with distance more significantly. This implies that sources and transporting pathways influence the deposition of the two sulfur compounds considerably, being supported by the spatial pattern of correlation coefficients between the nss-SO4 2− and MSA.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Becagli S, Benassai S, Castellano E, et al. 2004. Chemical characterization of the last 250 years of snow deposition at Talos Dome (East Antarctica). Int J Environ Anal Chem, 84: 523–536
Broecker W S, Peng T H. 1982. Tracers in the Sea. New York: Eldigio Press. 26-27
Delmas R J. 1992. Environmental information from ice core. Rev Geophys, 30: 1–21
Ding M H, Xiao C D, Li Y S, et al. 2011. Spatial variability of surface mass balance along a traverse route from Zhongshan station to Dome A, Antarctica. J Glaciol, 57: 658–666
EPICA Community Members. 2004. Eight glacial cycles from an Antarctic ice core. Nature, 429: 623–629
Herron M M. 1982. Impurity sources of F−, Cl−, NO3 − and SO4 2− in Greenland and Antarctic precipitation. J Geophys Res, 87: 3052–3060
Kang S C, Mayewski P A, Qin D H, et al. 2002. Glaciochemical records from a Mt. Everest ice core: Relationship to atmospheric circulation over Asia. Atmos Environ, 36: 3351–3361
Kreutz K J, Mayewski P A. 1999. Spatial variability of Antarctic surface snow glaciochemistry: Implications for palaeoatmospheric circulation reconstructions. Antarc Sci, 35: 105–118
Legrand M, Saigne C F. 1991. Methanesulfonic acid in south polar snow layers: A record of strong El Nino? Geophys Res Let, 18: 187–190
Li Y S, Cole-Dai J H, Zhou L Y. 2009. Glaciochemical evidence in an East Antarctica ice core of a recent (AD1450-1850) neoglacial episode. J Geophys Res, 114: D08117
Minikin A, Wagenbach D, Graf W, et al. 1994. Spatial and seasonal variations of the snow chemistry at the central Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Ann Glaciol, 20: 283–290
Qin D H, Ren J W, Kang J C, et al. 2000. Primary results of glaciological study along a 1100 km transect from Zhongshan station to Dome A, east Antarctic ice sheet. Ann Glaciol, 31: 198–204
Ren J W, Qin D H, Allison I. 1999. Variations of snow accumulation and temperature over past decades in the Lambert Glacier basin, Antarctica. Ann Glaciol, 29: 29–32
Ren J W, Xiao C D, Qin D H. 2002. Mass balance of the Lambert Glacier basin and the change of Antarctic ice sheet (in Chinese). Prog Nat Sci, 12: 1064–1069
Ren J W, Li C J, Hou S G, et al. 2010. A 2680 year volcanic record from the DT401 East Antarctic ice core. J Geophys Res, 115: D11301
Saltzman E S. 1995. Ocean/atmosphere cycling of dimethylsulfide. In: Delmas R J, ed. Ice-core Studies of Global Biogeochemical Cycles. NATO ASI Series, Global Environmental Change, Vol. 30. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. 65–89
Sun J Y, Ren J W, Qin D H. 2002. 60 years record of biogenic sulfur from Lambert Glacier basin firn core, East Antarctica. Ann Glaciol, 35: 362–367
Suzuki T, IIzuka Y, Matsuoka K, et al. 2002. Distribution of sea salt components in snow cover along the traverse route from the coast to Dome Fuji station 1000 km inland at east Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Tellus B, 54: 407–411
Traversi R, Becagli S, Castellano E, et al. 2004. Spatial and temporal distribution of environmental markers from Coastal to Plateau areas in Antarctica by firn core chemical analysis. Int J Environ Analy Chem, 84: 457–470
Xiao C D, Mayewski P A, Qin D H, et al. 2004. Sea level pressure variability over the southern Indian Ocean inferred from a glaciochemical record in Princess Elizabeth Land, east Antarctica. J Geophys Res, 109: D16101
Xiao C D, Ren J W, Qin D H, et al. 2001. Complexity of climate regime over the Lambert Glacier Basin: Firn core evidences. J Glaciol, 147: 160–162
Zhou L Y, Li Y S, Cole-Dai J H, et al. 2006. A 780-year record of explosive volcanism from DT263 ice core in east Antarctica. Chin Sci Bull, 2006, 51: 2771–2780
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Qin, X., Li, C., Xiao, C. et al. Spatial distribution of marine chemicals along a transect from Zhongshan Station to the Grove Mountain area, Eastern Antarctica. Sci. China Earth Sci. 57, 2366–2373 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-014-4907-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-014-4907-3