Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Glaciology

Rights and Access Note

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Publication Date

2007

First Page

681

Last Page

693

Issue Number

183

Volume Number

53

Abstract/ Summary

Samples of snow and firn from accumulation zones on Clark, Commonwealth, Blue and Victoria Upper Glaciers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (similar to 77-78 degrees S, 161-164 degrees E), Antarctica, are evaluated chemically and isotopically to determine the relative importance of local (site-specific) factors vs regional-scale influences in defining glaciochemistry. Spatial variation in snow and firn chemistry confirms documented trends within individual valleys regarding major-ion deposition relative to elevation and to distance from the coast. Sodium and methylsulfonate (MS-), for example, follow a decreasing gradient with distance from the coast along the axis of Victoria Valley (350-119 mu gL(-1) for Na+; 33-14 mu gL(-1) for MS-); a similar pattern exists between Commonwealth and Newall Glaciers in the Asgaard Range. When comparing major-ion concentrations (e.g. Na-+,Na- MS-, Ca2+) or trace metals (e.g. Al, Fe) among different valleys, however, site-specific exposures to marine and local terrestrial chemical sources play a dominant role. Because chemical signals at all sites respond to particulates with varying mixtures of marine and terrestrial sources, each of these influences on site glaciochemistry must be considered when drawing temporal climate inferences on regional scales.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Williamson, BR, Kreutz, KJ, Mayewski, PA, Bertler, NAN, Sneed, S, Handley, M, and Introne, D, 2007, A Coastal Transect of McMurdo Dry Valleys (Antarctica) Snow and Firn: Marine and Terrestrial Influences on Glaciochemistry: Journal of Glaciology, v. 53, p. 681-693. Available on publisher's site at: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/igsoc/jog/2007/00000053/00000183/art00018

Publisher Statement

© Copyright 2007 by the International Glaciological Society

DOI

10.3189/002214307784409225

Version

publisher's version of the published document

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted.