Articles | Volume 25, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5727-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5727-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
11 Jun 2025
Research article |
| 11 Jun 2025
| 11 Jun 2025
A 60-year atmospheric nitrate isotope record from a southeastern Greenland ice core with minimal postdepositional alteration
Zhao Wei
International Center for Isotope Effects Research, State Key Laboratory of Critical Earth Material Cycling and Mineral Deposits, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
International Center for Isotope Effects Research, State Key Laboratory of Critical Earth Material Cycling and Mineral Deposits, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8502, Japan
Asuka Tsuruta
Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8502, Japan
Zhuang Jiang
National Key Laboratory of Deep Space Exploration, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
Sakiko Ishino
Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
Koji Fujita
Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
Sumito Matoba
Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0819, Japan
National Key Laboratory of Deep Space Exploration, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
Alexis Lamothe
University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, INRAE, IGE, 38000 Grenoble, France
Ryu Uemura
Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
Naohiro Yoshida
Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8502, Japan
National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8795, Japan
Earth-Life Science Institute, Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
Joel Savarino
University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, INRAE, IGE, 38000 Grenoble, France
Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, France
Yoshinori Iizuka
Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0819, Japan
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Glacier ice surfaces appear dark due to many light-absorbing impurities (LAIs), such as mineral dust, microbial organic matter, and black carbon. In contrast, the development of a weathering crust on bare ice brightens the surface by increasing albedo. Field studies on the Potanin Glacier, Mongolia, defined a low-density surface layer as weathering granular ice. Broad-band albedo increased with this layer’s thickness but decreased with organic matter. High LAI amounts hindered crust growth.
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Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 3167–3184, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3167-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3167-2026, 2026
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The Cryosphere, 19, 6171–6186, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-6171-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-6171-2025, 2025
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Alexis Lamothe, Edouard Bard, Nicolas Thouveny, Ellyn Auriol, Mirko Severi, Rita Traversi, Martine de Angelis, Frank Wilhelms, Robert Mulvaney, Fawzi Zaidi, Georges Aumaitre, Karim Keddadouche, and Mélanie Baroni
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The Cryosphere, 19, 5283–5298, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5283-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5283-2025, 2025
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Agnese Petteni, Elise Fourré, Elsa Gautier, Azzurra Spagnesi, Roxanne Jacob, Pete D. Akers, Daniele Zannoni, Jacopo Gabrieli, Olivier Jossoud, Frédéric Prié, Amaëlle Landais, Titouan Tcheng, Barbara Stenni, Joel Savarino, Patrick Ginot, and Mathieu Casado
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 5435–5455, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-5435-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-5435-2025, 2025
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Fairbanks is among the most polluted cities, with the highest particulate matter (PM) levels in the US during winters. Highly time-resolved measurements of the submicron PM found residential heating with wood and oil and hydrocarbon-like organics from traffic, as well as sulfur-containing aerosol, to be the key pollution sources. Remarkable differences existed between complementary instruments, warranting the deployment of multiple tools at sites, with wide-ranging influences.
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Particulate methanesulfonic acid (MSAp) is vital for the Arctic climate system. Numerical models struggle to reproduce the MSAp seasonal cycle. We evaluate three numerical models and one reanalysis product’s ability to simulate MSAp. We develop data-driven models for MSAp at four Arctic stations. The data-driven models outperform the numerical models and reanalysis product and identified precursor source-, chemical-processing-, and removal-related features as being important for modeling MSAp.
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The West Antarctic Ice Sheet shows opposing snow accumulation trends: decreasing in the west and increasing in the east. Our study reveals that tropical ocean temperature shifts – Pacific cooling and Atlantic warming – drive changes in winds and moisture, boosting snowfall in the east while reducing it in the west. Using ice cores and models, we highlight how distant ocean changes shape Antarctic Ice Sheet, crucial for predicting future sea level rise.
Naoko Nagatsuka, Kumiko Goto-Azuma, Kana Nagashima, Koji Fujita, Yuki Komuro, Motohiro Hirabayashi, Jun Ogata, Kaori Fukuda, Yoshimi Ogawa-Tsukagawa, Kyotaro Kitamura, Ayaka Yonekura, Fumio Nakazawa, Yukihiko Onuma, Naoyuki Kurita, Sune Olander Rasmussen, Giulia Sinnl, Trevor James Popp, and Dorthe Dahl-Jensen
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1522, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1522, 2025
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We present the first continuous records of dust size, composition, and temporal variations in potential sources from the northeastern Greenland ice core (EGRIP) over the past 100 years. Using a multi-proxy provenance approach based on individual particle analysis, we identify the primary dust sources as the Asian (Gobi) and African (Sahara) deserts. Our findings show shifts in their contributions since the 1970s–1980s, highlighting the effectiveness of this approach during low dust periods.
Brice Barret, Patrice Medina, Natalie Brett, Roman Pohorsky, Kathy S. Law, Slimane Bekki, Gilberto J. Fochesatto, Julia Schmale, Steve R. Arnold, Andrea Baccarini, Maurizio Busetto, Meeta Cesler-Maloney, Barbara D'Anna, Stefano Decesari, Jingqiu Mao, Gianluca Pappaccogli, Joel Savarino, Federico Scoto, and William R. Simpson
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 1163–1184, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1163-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1163-2025, 2025
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The Fairbanks area experiences severe pollution episodes in winter because of enhanced emissions of pollutants trapped near the surface by strong temperature inversions. Low-cost sensors were deployed on board a car and a tethered balloon to measure the concentrations of gaseous pollutants (CO, O3, and NOx) in Fairbanks during winter 2022. Data calibration with reference measurements and machine learning methods enabled us to document pollution at the surface and power plant plumes aloft.
Xia Wang, Tao Che, Xueyin Ruan, Shanna Yue, Jing Wang, Chun Zhao, and Lei Geng
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 651–670, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-651-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-651-2025, 2025
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We employed the WRF-Chem model to parameterize atmospheric nitrate deposition in snow and evaluate its performance in simulating snow cover, snow depth, and concentrations of dust and nitrate using new observations from northern China. The results generally exhibit reasonable agreement with field observations in northern China, demonstrating the model's capability to simulate snow properties, including concentrations of reservoir species.
Natalie Brett, Kathy S. Law, Steve R. Arnold, Javier G. Fochesatto, Jean-Christophe Raut, Tatsuo Onishi, Robert Gilliam, Kathleen Fahey, Deanna Huff, George Pouliot, Brice Barret, Elsa Dieudonné, Roman Pohorsky, Julia Schmale, Andrea Baccarini, Slimane Bekki, Gianluca Pappaccogli, Federico Scoto, Stefano Decesari, Antonio Donateo, Meeta Cesler-Maloney, William Simpson, Patrice Medina, Barbara D'Anna, Brice Temime-Roussel, Joel Savarino, Sarah Albertin, Jingqiu Mao, Becky Alexander, Allison Moon, Peter F. DeCarlo, Vanessa Selimovic, Robert Yokelson, and Ellis S. Robinson
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 1063–1104, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1063-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-1063-2025, 2025
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Processes influencing dispersion of local anthropogenic pollution in Arctic wintertime are investigated with Lagrangian dispersion modelling. Simulated power plant plume rise that considers temperature inversion layers improves results compared to observations (interior Alaska). Modelled surface concentrations are improved by representation of vertical mixing and emission estimates. Large increases in diesel vehicle emissions at temperatures reaching −35°C are required to reproduce observed NOx.
Kumiko Goto-Azuma, Yoshimi Ogawa-Tsukagawa, Kaori Fukuda, Koji Fujita, Motohiro Hirabayashi, Remi Dallmayr, Jun Ogata, Nobuhiro Moteki, Tatsuhiro Mori, Sho Ohata, Yutaka Kondo, Makoto Koike, Sumito Matoba, Moe Kadota, Akane Tsushima, Naoko Nagatsuka, and Teruo Aoki
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 657–683, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-657-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-657-2025, 2025
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Monthly ice core records spanning 350 years from Greenland show trends in refractory black carbon (rBC) concentrations and sizes. rBC levels have increased since the 1870s due to the inflow of anthropogenic rBC, with larger diameters than those from biomass burning (BB) rBC. High summer BB rBC peaks may reduce the ice sheet albedo, but BB rBC showed no increase until the early 2000s. These results are vital for validating aerosol and climate models.
Kumiko Goto-Azuma, Remi Dallmayr, Yoshimi Ogawa-Tsukagawa, Nobuhiro Moteki, Tatsuhiro Mori, Sho Ohata, Yutaka Kondo, Makoto Koike, Motohiro Hirabayashi, Jun Ogata, Kyotaro Kitamura, Kenji Kawamura, Koji Fujita, Sumito Matoba, Naoko Nagatsuka, Akane Tsushima, Kaori Fukuda, and Teruo Aoki
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 12985–13000, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12985-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-12985-2024, 2024
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We developed a continuous flow analysis system to analyze an ice core from northwestern Greenland and coupled it with an improved refractory black carbon (rBC) measurement technique. This allowed accurate high-resolution analyses of size distributions and concentrations of rBC particles with diameters of 70 nm–4 μm for the past 350 years. Our results provide crucial insights into rBC's climatic effects. We also found previous ice core studies substantially underestimated rBC mass concentrations.
Tianming Ma, Zhuang Jiang, Minghu Ding, Pengzhen He, Yuansheng Li, Wenqian Zhang, and Lei Geng
The Cryosphere, 18, 4547–4565, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4547-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4547-2024, 2024
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We constructed a box model to evaluate the isotope effects of atmosphere–snow water vapor exchange at Dome A, Antarctica. The results show clear and invisible diurnal changes in surface snow isotopes under summer and winter conditions, respectively. The model also predicts that the annual net effects of atmosphere–snow water vapor exchange would be overall enrichments in snow isotopes since the effects in summer appear to be greater than those in winter at the study site.
V. Holly L. Winton, Robert Mulvaney, Joel Savarino, Kyle R. Clem, and Markus M. Frey
Clim. Past, 20, 1213–1232, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-1213-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-1213-2024, 2024
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In 2018, a new 120 m ice core was drilled in a region located under the Antarctic ozone hole. We present the first results including a 1300-year record of snow accumulation and aerosol chemistry. We investigate the aerosol and moisture source regions and atmospheric processes related to the ice core record and discuss what this means for developing a record of past ultraviolet radiation and ozone depletion using the stable isotopic composition of nitrate measured in the same ice core.
Zhuang Jiang, Becky Alexander, Joel Savarino, and Lei Geng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 4895–4914, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4895-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-4895-2024, 2024
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Ice-core nitrate could track the past atmospheric NOx and oxidant level, but its interpretation is hampered by the post-depositional processing. In this work, an inverse model was developed and tested against two polar sites and was shown to well reproduce the observed nitrate signals in snow and atmosphere, suggesting that the model can properly correct for the effect of post-depositional processing. This model offers a very useful tool for future studies on ice-core nitrate records.
Linia Tashmim, William C. Porter, Qianjie Chen, Becky Alexander, Charles H. Fite, Christopher D. Holmes, Jeffrey R. Pierce, Betty Croft, and Sakiko Ishino
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 3379–3403, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3379-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-3379-2024, 2024
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Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is mostly emitted from ocean surfaces and represents the largest natural source of sulfur for the atmosphere. Once in the atmosphere, DMS forms stable oxidation products such as SO2 and H2SO4, which can subsequently contribute to airborne particle formation and growth. In this study, we update the DMS oxidation mechanism in the chemical transport model GEOS-Chem and describe resulting changes in particle growth as well as the overall global sulfur budget.
Sarah Albertin, Joël Savarino, Slimane Bekki, Albane Barbero, Roberto Grilli, Quentin Fournier, Irène Ventrillard, Nicolas Caillon, and Kathy Law
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 1361–1388, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1361-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1361-2024, 2024
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This study reports the first simultaneous records of oxygen (Δ17O) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrate (NO3−). These data are combined with atmospheric observations to explore sub-daily N reactive chemistry and quantify N fractionation effects in an Alpine winter city. The results highlight the necessity of using Δ17O and δ15N in both NO2 and NO3− to avoid biased estimations of NOx sources and fates from NO3− isotopic records in urban winter environments.
Vigan Mensah, Koji Fujita, Stephen Howell, Miho Ikeda, Mizuki Komatsu, and Kay I. Ohshima
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2492, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2492, 2023
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We estimated the volume of freshwater released by sea ice, glaciers, rivers, and precipitation into Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea, and their changes over the past 70 years. We found that the freshwater volume has risen in Baffin Bay due to increased glacier melting, and dropped in the Labrador Sea because of the decline in sea ice production. We also infer that freshwater from the Arctic Ocean has been exported to our study region for the past 30 years, possibly as a result of global warming.
Motoshi Nishimura, Teruo Aoki, Masashi Niwano, Sumito Matoba, Tomonori Tanikawa, Tetsuhide Yamasaki, Satoru Yamaguchi, and Koji Fujita
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 5207–5226, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-5207-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-5207-2023, 2023
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We presented the method of data quality checks and the dataset for two ground weather observations in northwest Greenland. We found that the warm and clear weather conditions in the 2015, 2019, and 2020 summers caused the snowmelt and the decline in surface reflectance of solar radiation at a low-elevated site (SIGMA-B; 944 m), but those were not seen at the high-elevated site (SIGMA-A; 1490 m). We hope that our data management method and findings will help climate scientists.
Alexis Lamothe, Joel Savarino, Patrick Ginot, Lison Soussaintjean, Elsa Gautier, Pete D. Akers, Nicolas Caillon, and Joseph Erbland
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 4015–4030, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4015-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4015-2023, 2023
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Ammonia is a reactive gas in our atmosphere that is key in air quality issues. Assessing its emissions and how it reacts is a hot topic that can be addressed from the past. Stable isotopes (the mass of the molecule) measured in ice cores (glacial archives) can teach us a lot. However, the concentrations in ice cores are very small. We propose a protocol to limit the contamination and apply it to one ice core drilled in Mont Blanc, describing the opportunities our method brings.
Yukihiko Onuma, Koji Fujita, Nozomu Takeuchi, Masashi Niwano, and Teruo Aoki
The Cryosphere, 17, 3309–3328, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3309-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3309-2023, 2023
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We established a novel model that simulates the temporal changes in cryoconite hole (CH) depth using heat budgets calculated independently at the ice surface and CH bottom based on hole shape geometry. The simulations suggest that CH depth is governed by the balance between the intensity of the diffuse component of downward shortwave radiation and the wind speed. The meteorological conditions may be important factors contributing to the recent ice surface darkening via the redistribution of CHs.
Naoko Nagatsuka, Kumiko Goto-Azuma, Koji Fujita, Yuki Komuro, Motohiro Hirabayashi, Jun Ogata, Kaori Fukuda, Yoshimi Ogawa-Tsukagawa, Kyotaro Kitamura, Ayaka Yonekura, Fumio Nakazawa, Yukihiko Onuma, Naoyuki Kurita, Sune Olander Rasmussen, Giulia Sinnl, Trevor James Popp, and Dorthe Dahl-Jensen
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1666, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1666, 2023
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We present a new high-temporal-resolution record of mineral composition in a northeastern Greenland ice-core (EGRIP) over the past 100 years. The ice core dust composition and its variation differed significantly from a northwestern Greenland ice core, which is likely due to differences in the geological sources of the dust. Our results suggest that the EGRIP ice core dust was constantly supplied from Northern Eurasia, North America, and Asia with minor contribution from Greenland coast.
Simone Ventisette, Samuele Baldini, Claudio Artoni, Silvia Becagli, Laura Caiazzo, Barbara Delmonte, Massimo Frezzotti, Raffaello Nardin, Joel Savarino, Mirko Severi, Andrea Spolaor, Barbara Stenni, and Rita Traversi
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-393, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-393, 2023
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The paper reports the spatial variability of concentration and fluxes of chemical impurities in superficial snow over unexplored area of the East Antarctic ice sheet. Pinatubo and Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic eruptions in non-sea salt sulfate and dust snow pits record were used to achieve the accumulation rates. Deposition (wet, dry and uptake from snow surface) and post deposition processes are constrained. These knowledges are fundamental in Antarctic ice cores stratigraphies interpretation.
Pete D. Akers, Joël Savarino, Nicolas Caillon, Olivier Magand, and Emmanuel Le Meur
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 15637–15657, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15637-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-15637-2022, 2022
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Nitrate isotopes in Antarctic ice do not preserve the seasonal isotopic cycles of the atmosphere, which limits their use to study the past. We studied nitrate along an 850 km Antarctic transect to learn how these cycles are changed by sunlight-driven chemistry in the snow. Our findings suggest that the snow accumulation rate and other environmental signals can be extracted from nitrate with the right sampling and analytical approaches.
Jiajia Wang, Hongxi Pang, Shuangye Wu, Spruce W. Schoenemann, Ryu Uemura, Alexey Ekaykin, Martin Werner, Alexandre Cauquoin, Sentia Goursaud Oger, Summer Rupper, and Shugui Hou
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2022-384, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2022-384, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted
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Stable water isotopic observations in surface snow over Antarctica provide a basis for validating isotopic models and interpreting Antarctic ice core records. This study presents a new compilation of Antarctic surface snow isotopic dataset based on published and unpublished sources. The database has a wide range of potential applications in studying spatial distribution of water isotopes, model validation, and reconstruction and interpretation of Antarctic ice core records.
Yanzhi Cao, Zhuang Jiang, Becky Alexander, Jihong Cole-Dai, Joel Savarino, Joseph Erbland, and Lei Geng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 13407–13422, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13407-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-13407-2022, 2022
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We investigate the potential of ice-core preserved nitrate isotopes as proxies of stratospheric ozone variability by measuring nitrate isotopes in a shallow ice core from the South Pole. The large variability in the snow accumulation rate and its slight increase after the 1970s masked any signals caused by the ozone hole. Moreover, the nitrate oxygen isotope decrease may reflect changes in the atmospheric oxidation environment in the Southern Ocean.
Albane Barbero, Roberto Grilli, Markus M. Frey, Camille Blouzon, Detlev Helmig, Nicolas Caillon, and Joël Savarino
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 12025–12054, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12025-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-12025-2022, 2022
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The high reactivity of the summer Antarctic boundary layer results in part from the emissions of nitrogen oxides produced during photo-denitrification of the snowpack, but its underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. The results of this study suggest that more NO2 is produced from the snowpack early in the photolytic season, possibly due to stronger UV irradiance caused by a smaller solar zenith angle near the solstice.
Xueyin Ruan, Chun Zhao, Rahul A. Zaveri, Pengzhen He, Xinming Wang, Jingyuan Shao, and Lei Geng
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 6143–6164, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-6143-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-6143-2022, 2022
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Accurate prediction of aerosol pH in chemical transport models is essential to aerosol modeling. This study examines the performance of the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) on aerosol pH predictions and the sensitivities to emissions of nonvolatile cations and NH3, aerosol-phase state assumption, and heterogeneous sulfate production. Temporal evolution of aerosol pH during haze cycles in Beijing and the driving factors are also presented and discussed.
Tomotaka Saruya, Shuji Fujita, Yoshinori Iizuka, Atsushi Miyamoto, Hiroshi Ohno, Akira Hori, Wataru Shigeyama, Motohiro Hirabayashi, and Kumiko Goto-Azuma
The Cryosphere, 16, 2985–3003, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2985-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2985-2022, 2022
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Crystal orientation fabrics (COF) of the Dome Fuji ice core were investigated with an innovative method with unprecedentedly high statistical significance and dense depth coverage. The COF profile and its fluctuation were found to be highly dependent on concentrations of chloride ion and dust. The data suggest deformation of ice at the deepest zone is highly influenced by COF fluctuations that progressively develop from the near-surface firn toward the deepest zone within ice sheets.
Zhuang Jiang, Joel Savarino, Becky Alexander, Joseph Erbland, Jean-Luc Jaffrezo, and Lei Geng
The Cryosphere, 16, 2709–2724, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2709-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2709-2022, 2022
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A record of year-round atmospheric nitrate isotopic composition along with snow nitrate isotopic data from Summit, Greenland, revealed apparent enrichments in nitrogen isotopes in snow nitrate compared to atmospheric nitrate, in addition to a relatively smaller degree of changes in oxygen isotopes. The results suggest that at this site post-depositional processing takes effect, which should be taken into account when interpreting ice-core nitrate isotope records.
Yota Sato, Koji Fujita, Hiroshi Inoue, Akiko Sakai, and Karma
The Cryosphere, 16, 2643–2654, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2643-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2643-2022, 2022
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We investigate fluctuations in Bhutanese lake-terminating glaciers focusing on the dynamics change before and after proglacial lake formation at Thorthormi Glacier (TG) based on photogrammetry, satellite, and GPS surveys. The thinning rate of TG became double compared to before proglacial lake formation, and the flow velocity has also sped up considerably. Those changes would be due to the reduction in longitudinal ice compression by the detachment of the glacier terminus from the end moraine.
Saehee Lim, Meehye Lee, Joel Savarino, and Paolo Laj
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 5099–5115, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5099-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-5099-2022, 2022
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We determined δ15N(NO3−) and Δ17O(NO3−) of PM2.5 in Seoul during 2018–2019 and estimated quantitatively the contribution of oxidation pathways to NO3− formation and NOx emission sources. The nighttime pathway played a significant role in NO3− formation during the winter, and its contribution further increased up to 70 % on haze days when PM2.5 was greater than 75 µg m−3. Vehicle emissions were confirmed as a main NO3− source with an increasing contribution from coal combustion in winter.
Laura Crick, Andrea Burke, William Hutchison, Mika Kohno, Kathryn A. Moore, Joel Savarino, Emily A. Doyle, Sue Mahony, Sepp Kipfstuhl, James W. B. Rae, Robert C. J. Steele, R. Stephen J. Sparks, and Eric W. Wolff
Clim. Past, 17, 2119–2137, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-2119-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-2119-2021, 2021
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The ~ 74 ka eruption of Toba was one of the largest eruptions of the last 100 ka. We have measured the sulfur isotopic composition for 11 Toba eruption candidates in two Antarctic ice cores. Sulfur isotopes allow us to distinguish between large eruptions that have erupted material into the stratosphere and smaller ones that reach lower altitudes. Using this we have identified the events most likely to be Toba and place the eruption on the transition into a cold period in the Northern Hemisphere.
Zhuang Jiang, Becky Alexander, Joel Savarino, Joseph Erbland, and Lei Geng
The Cryosphere, 15, 4207–4220, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4207-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4207-2021, 2021
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We used a snow photochemistry model (TRANSITS) to simulate the seasonal nitrate snow profile at Summit, Greenland. Comparisons between model outputs and observations suggest that at Summit post-depositional processing is active and probably dominates the snowpack δ15N seasonality. We also used the model to assess the degree of snow nitrate loss and the consequences in its isotopes at present and in the past, which helps for quantitative interpretations of ice-core nitrate records.
Sarah Albertin, Joël Savarino, Slimane Bekki, Albane Barbero, and Nicolas Caillon
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 10477–10497, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-10477-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-10477-2021, 2021
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We report an efficient method to collect atmospheric NO2 adapted for multi-isotopic analysis and present the first NO2 triple oxygen and double nitrogen isotope measurements. Atmospheric samplings carried out in Grenoble, France, highlight the NO2 isotopic signature sensitivity to the local NOx emissions and chemical regimes. These preliminary results are very promising for using the combination of Δ17O and δ15N of NO2 as a probe of the atmospheric NOx emissions and chemistry.
Naoko Nagatsuka, Kumiko Goto-Azuma, Akane Tsushima, Koji Fujita, Sumito Matoba, Yukihiko Onuma, Remi Dallmayr, Moe Kadota, Motohiro Hirabayashi, Jun Ogata, Yoshimi Ogawa-Tsukagawa, Kyotaro Kitamura, Masahiro Minowa, Yuki Komuro, Hideaki Motoyama, and Teruo Aoki
Clim. Past, 17, 1341–1362, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-1341-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-1341-2021, 2021
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Here we present a first high-temporal-resolution record of mineral composition in a Greenland ice core (SIGMA-D) over the past 100 years using SEM–EDS analysis. Our results show that the ice core dust composition varied on multi-decadal scales, which was likely affected by local temperature changes. We suggest that the ice core dust was constantly supplied from distant sources (mainly northern Canada) as well as local ice-free areas in warm periods (1915 to 1949 and 2005 to 2013).
Kun Wang, Shohei Hattori, Mang Lin, Sakiko Ishino, Becky Alexander, Kazuki Kamezaki, Naohiro Yoshida, and Shichang Kang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 8357–8376, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-8357-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-8357-2021, 2021
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Sulfate aerosols play an important climatic role and exert adverse effects on the ecological environment and human health. In this study, we present the triple oxygen isotopic composition of sulfate from the Mt. Everest region, southern Tibetan Plateau, and decipher the formation mechanisms of atmospheric sulfate in this pristine environment. The results indicate the important role of the S(IV) + O3 pathway in atmospheric sulfate formation promoted by conditions of high cloud water pH.
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Short summary
Nitrate isotope records in ice cores reveal changes in NOₓ emissions and atmospheric oxidation chemistry driven by human activity. However, UV-driven postdepositional processes can alter nitrate in snow, making snow accumulation rates critical for preserving these records. This study examines nitrate isotopes in a southeastern Greenland ice core, where high snow accumulation minimizes these effects, providing a reliable archive of atmospheric nitrogen cycling.
Nitrate isotope records in ice cores reveal changes in NOₓ emissions and atmospheric oxidation...
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