Nitrate Fluctuations in Antarctic Snow and Firn: Potential Sources and Mechanisms of Formation
Open Access
- 1 January 1982
- journal article
- research article
- Published by International Glaciological Society in Annals of Glaciology
- Vol. 3, 243-248
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0260305500002858
Abstract
We summarize here data on in situ nitrate ion concentrations in snow pits and firn cores over the last ∼3 250 a. Nitrate fluctuations show seasonal, 11 and 22 a periodicities, and long-term changes both at South Pole station and Vostok. High nitrate levels conform to winter darkness and solar activity peaks. Long-term lows and highs conform to solar activity minima and maxima. The data available support the hypothesis that nitrate is fixed in the upper atmosphere by some solar-mediated phenomenon causing a periodicity in East Antarctica snow. Background levels and non-periodic spikes in nitrate come from other sources.Keywords
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