D.C. CONDUCTIVITY OF ANTARCTIC ICE IN RELATION TO ITS CHEMISTRY

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Abstract
The D.C. conductivity of natural ice generally shows a strong correlation with the acidity of the meltwater sample. This method was successfully applied by Hammer (1) to detect debris of volcanic eruptions recorded in Greenland ice cores. In this paper we study several conductivity profiles for antarctic ice cores (Vostok and South Pole stations) in relation with a comprehensive study of soluble species. Our profiles revealed an important "double spike" on both conductivity and sulfuric acid record for snow deposited during the "Tambora years (1815)'' which is used as a statigraphic marker. Among the three acids (H2SO4, HCl and HNO3) usually present in the ice HCl and HNO3 seem to be more effective than H2SO4 on the conductivity background. In addition it is suggested a negative effect of aluminosilicates. These results suggest that impurities are located at grain boundaries where the pH can reach very low values. This assumption is in agreement with the conductivity model previously proposed by Wolff and Paren (2)

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