Dirty Air in Cold Places: Ice Core Records of Atmospheric Pollutants

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Dirty Air in Cold Places Ice Core Records of
Atmospheric Pollutants

• Karl J. Kreutz
• Department of Geological Sciences Institute for
  Quaternary and Climate Studies
• Matt Gove-Dupont
• Department of Chemistry

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Ice Core Research

• Monitor pollutant transport to remote areas
• high elevation
•  high latitudes
• background atmosphere
• 2) Historic deposition
• measure background atmosphere prior to
  Industrial Revolution

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Global Ice Core Sites
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The Mercury Cycle
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Mercury in Greenland
Boutron, et al 1998
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Historic Pb Deposition in Greenland
Hong, et al 1994
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Pb Concentration in Antarctic and Greenland Snow
Boutron, et al 1994
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Pb Concentration in Greenland Snow
Rosman, et al 1993
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206Pb/207Pb in Greenland Snow
Rosman, et al 1993
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The Sulfur Cycle
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The Nitrogen Cycle
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Sulfate and Nitrate in Greenland
SO42- NO3-
Mayewski et al., 1986
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List of Ice Core Resources on the Internet

• Greenland Ice Cores
• http//www.gisp2.sr.unh.edu/GISP2/
• Antarctic Ice Cores
• http//www.ume.maine.edu/USITASE/
• http//waiscores.dri.edu/
• General Ice Core Sites
• www.glacier.rice.edu
• http//www.nicl-smo.sr.unh.edu/