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A 220 kyr record of Pb isotopes at Dome C Antarctica from analyses of the EPICA ice core

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Authors
Vallelonga, Paul
Gabrielli, P.
Rosman, Kevin
Barbante, C.
Boutron, C.
Date
2005
Type
Journal Article

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Vallelonga, P. and Gabrielli, P. and Rosman, K. J. R. and Barbante, C. and Boutron, C. F. 2005. A 220 kyr record of Pb isotopes at Dome C Antarctica from analyses of the EPICA ice core. Geophysical Research Letters. 32 (1).
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Geophysical Research Letters
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Department of Medical Imaging and Applied Physics
School of Science
Faculty of Science and Engineering
School
Department of Imaging and Applied Physics
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Accepted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters. Copyright © 2005. American Geophysical Union. Further reproduction or electronic distribution is not permitted.

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Abstract

[1] Pb isotopic compositions and Pb and Ba concentrations are reported in EPICA Dome C ice core samples dating to 220 kyr BP, indicating that Pb isotopic compositions in Antarctic ice vary with changing climate. 206Pb/207Pb ratios decrease during glacial periods, with the lowest values occurring during colder climatic periods (stages 2, 4 and 6) and the Holocene. Low Pb concentrations (<1 pg/g) were found during the Holocene and the last interglacial (climate stage 5.5) while higher Pb concentrations (>10 pg/g) were found during cold climatic periods. Ba, a proxy for mineral dust, was used to determine that dust usually accounts for ~ 70% of Pb in Dome C ice, while the remaining ~ 30% was attributed to volcanic emissions. Pb isotopic compositions at Dome C differ from those reported in pre-industrial ice from other Antarctic locations, due to greater proportions of dust Pb at Dome C.