Premium
Anomalous nitrate concentrations in polar ice cores—Do they result from solar particle injections into the polar atmosphere?
Author(s) -
Zeller Edward J.,
Dreschhoff Gisela A. M.
Publication year - 1995
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 - 10.1029/95gl02560
Subject(s) - polar , atmosphere (unit) , atmospheric sciences , particle (ecology) , environmental science , polar cap , ice core , nitrate , astrobiology , geology , climatology , meteorology , physics , astronomy , chemistry , oceanography , organic chemistry
Nitrate concentrations and electrical conductivity in an ice core from central Greenland have been measured simultaneously on 1.5 cm sections along the entire length of the 122 m core. This method of micro‐resolution (time resolution is 1 week‐1 month) provides for statistically significant determinations of rapid variations in nitrate fallout from the polar stratosphere superimposed on a background from all other sources. The seasonal NO 3 − background variations and the volcanic signal contained in the electrical conductivity data provide accurate dating of the ice core. This type of micro‐resolution nitrate measurement appears to be useful as a tool to investigate the possible sources of polar nitrate anomalies such as solar proton events.