Glaciological studies at Siple Station (Antarctica): potential ice- core paleoclimatic record

Abstract

The quality and utility of the records of oxygen-isotopic abundances, dust concentrations and anionic concentrations preserved in the ice at Siple Station (75°55′S, 84°15′W) are assessed from four shallow (20m) cores. The combination of high accumulation (0.56 m a-1 w.e.) and low mean annual temperature (-24°C) preserves the prominent seasonal variations in δ18O which are very spatially coherent. Sulfate concentrations vary seasonally and, in conjunction with δ18O, will allow accurate dating of deeper cores from Siple Station. The concentrations of insoluble dust are the lowest measured in Antarctica, making Siple Station an excellent location to examine large increases in atmospheric turbidity. The strong spatial coherence of the preserved records, the potential for accurate dating, and possible relevance to larger-scale processes make Siple Station an excellent site for paleoenvironmental reconstruction from ice cores. -from Authors