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Provenance of dust to Antarctica: A lead isotopic perspective
Author(s) -
Gili Stefania,
Gaiero Diego M.,
Goldstein Steven L.,
Chemale Jr Farid,
Koester Edinei,
Jweda Jason,
Vallelonga Paul,
Kaplan Michael R.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl068244
Subject(s) - interglacial , geology , southern hemisphere , provenance , mineral dust , earth science , glacial period , ice core , glacier , marine isotope stage , oceanography , physical geography , climatology , geochemistry , geomorphology , aerosol , geography , meteorology
Antarctic ice preserves an ~800 kyr record of dust activity in the Southern Hemisphere. Major efforts have been dedicated to elucidate the origin of this material in order to gain greater insight into the atmospheric dust cycle. On the basis of Pb isotopes in Antarctic dust samples and potential sources, this contribution demonstrates for the first time that Patagonia is the main contributor of dust to Antarctica during interglacial periods as well as glacials, although the potential importance of Tierra del Fuego remains unclear because of its geochemical similarities to Patagonia. An important new finding is that the Puna‐Altiplano sector of the continent is a second important dust source to eastern Antarctica during both glacials and interglacials, being more prominent during interglacials. The data indicate South America is the primary dust source to Antarctica during both glacials and interglacials.