Major ion chemistry data from the WAIS Divide ice core in West Antarctica. The dataset contains measurements of ions including Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, Na+, K+, NH4+, Mg2+, and Ca2+. The project was supported by SCIOPS, with data last updated in 2006.
Use Cases
- Reconstruct past atmospheric aerosol loading by analyzing trends in SO42- and NO3- concentrations over time.
- Investigate sea salt contributions to Antarctic precipitation using Na+, Mg2+, and Cl- ion ratios.
- Model past climate events by correlating NH4+ and Ca2+ levels with volcanic or biomass burning signals.
- Calibrate ice core dating models using the chemical stratigraphy of major ion profiles.
Strengths
- Focuses on a major, deep ice core from a critical Antarctic location.
- Includes measurements for eight specific major ions relevant to climate science.
Limitations
- Exact sample size, temporal coverage, and data granularity are unknown.
- Data is from 2006 and may not reflect the most recent analytical standards or extended core records.
Provenance
- Source
- SCIOPS project contributing to the US WAIS Divide ice core project.
- Collection Method
- Developed via new instrumentation and analytical procedures for ice core analysis.
- Time Range
- null
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide ice core site.