Law Dome Ice Core Lead Isotope and Barium Data from 500 Years

Ice core measurements from Antarctica include parameters such as lead isotopes and barium, providing a record of atmospheric composition. The data coverage spans from 450 to -39 calendar years before present (BP), representing approximately 500 years. This study is archived and made available by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) under the World Data Service for Paleoclimatology, with an associated last update date of 1989.

Use Cases

• Analyze temporal trends in lead isotope ratios to trace historical sources of atmospheric lead pollution.
• Correlate barium concentrations with volcanic activity or dust deposition events recorded in the ice core.
• Reconstruct past atmospheric conditions over Antarctica using the 500-year time-series of geochemical parameters.
• Calibrate climate models by comparing the ice core lead and barium data with other paleoclimate proxy records.

Strengths

• Data covers a specific 500-year time period from 450 to -39 BP.
• Sourced from the authoritative NOAA NCEI World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.
• Focuses on a specific geographic location: Antarctica's Law Dome.

Limitations

• The dataset's last known update was in 1989, indicating potential staleness compared to modern analytical techniques.
• Specific sample size, row count, and data granularity (e.g., measurement resolution) are unknown.
• The geographic scope is limited to a single ice core site (Law Dome), which may not be representative of wider Antarctic conditions.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology.

Collection Method

Data derived from chemical analysis of an ice core drilled at Law Dome, Antarctica.

Time Range

From 450 to -39 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

Last updated in 1989.

Geography

Antarctica (Law Dome ice core site).