Contrary to widespread assumptions, next-generation high (annual multiannual) and ultra-high (subannual) resolution analyses of an Alpine glacier reveal that true historical minimum natural levels lead in the atmosphere occurred only once last ~2000 years. During Black Death pandemic, demographic economic collapse interrupted metal production atmospheric dropped undetectable levels. This finding challenges current government industry understanding preindustrial pollution its potential...

Abstract Ice cores provide a robust reconstruction of past climate. However, development timescales by annual-layer counting, essential to detailed climate and interpretation, on ice collected at low-accumulation sites or in regions compressed ice, is problematic due closely spaced layers. Ice-core analysis laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) provides sub-millimeter-scale sampling resolution (on the order 100 μm this study) low detection limits (ng L −1 )...

Abstract. Among ice core drilling sites in the European Alps, Colle Gnifetti (CG) is only non-temperate glacier to offer climate records dating back at least 1000 years. This unique long-term archive result of an exceptionally low net accumulation driven by wind erosion and rapid annual layer thinning. However, full exploitation CG time series has been hampered considerable uncertainties seasonal summer bias snow preservation. Using a new drilled 2013 we extend counting, for first CG, over...

Abstract Deciphering the localisation of solid and dissolved impurities on micron-scale in glacial ice remains a challenge, but is critical to understand integrity core records internal deformation. Here we report state-of-the-art microstructural impurity research by highlighting recent progress bringing together cryo-Raman spectroscopy laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). We show potential both methods discuss possibilities improve inter-method approaches...

Abstract Understanding the microscopic variability of impurities in glacier ice on a quantitative level has importance for assessing preservation paleoclimatic signals and enables study macroscopic deformational as well dielectric properties. Two‐dimensional imaging via laser‐ablation‐inductively‐coupled‐plasma‐mass‐spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) can provide key insight into localization ice. So far, these findings are mostly qualitative gaining insights remains challenging. Recent advances...

In the European Alps, ice core studies have been mainly performed in view of recent man‐made influence on atmospheric load aerosol‐related species, while respective investigations pre‐industrial aerosol or stable water isotope‐based climate records remained sparse. We address from a glaciological perspective specific conditions Alpine drilling sites and, particular, role depositional noise. Thereby, we refer to two major areas (located summit range Monte Rosa and Mt Blanc massif,...

Abstract The high-Alpine ice-core drilling site Colle Gnifetti (CG), Monte Rosa, Swiss/Italian Alps, provides climate records over the last millennium and beyond. However, full exploitation of oldest part existing ice cores requires complementary knowledge intricate glacio-meteorological settings, including glacier dynamics. Here, we present new ice-flow modeling studies CG, focused on characterizing flow at two neighboring drill sites in eastern glacier. The3-D Stokes model is...

The novel combination of ice core LA-ICP-MS with improved imaging techniques reveals impurity localization without artifacts.

Abstract In 2010 a reflection seismic survey was carried out on the Alpine glacier Colle Gnifetti. The processed and depth-converted data could be compared to nearby ice core, drilled almost bed. Comparisons showed that depth of P-wave bed too shallow, while SH-wave fitted ice-core length well. We are now able explain major part these differences using existing crystal orientations at calculate anisotropic velocities for P- SH-waves usually picked stacking compare them with zero-offset...

Among Alpine ice core drilling sites, the Colle Gnifetti glacier saddle situated in Monte Rosa summit range is only one whose net snow accumulation rate low enough to offer climate records back some 1000 yr. It demonstrated that strong erosion at this site particularly hampers interpretation of stable water isotope δ18O, δD terms atmospheric temperature changes. We evaluate δ18O from four cores for their common variability extract a composite record may be compared with instrumental...

Abstract Ice cores from cold Alpine glaciers may provide unique paleoclimate information non-polar latitudes. We explore the three-dimensional internal age distribution of small glacier saddle (Colle Gnifetti, Monte Rosa, Italy/Switzerland) to compare age/depth relations four local deep ice cores. Tracking isochronous reflection horizons detected by ground-penetrating radar (GPR) among core locations reveals consistent dating up 80 years BP. This approach is confined recent ages, due lack...

To answer pressing new research questions about the rate and timing of abrupt climate transitions, a robust system for ultrahigh-resolution sampling glacier ice is needed. Here, we present multielement method LA-ICP-MS analysis wherein an array chemical elements simultaneously measured from same ablation area. Although techniques are commonplace high-concentration materials, prior to development this method, all analyses involved single element per pass or spot. This developed using at W. M....

Abstract Radiometric dating of glacier ice is an essential tool where stratigraphic methods cannot be applied. This study focuses on Alpine and presents a new sample preparation system for samples via radiocarbon ( 14 C) the microscopic particulate organic carbon (POC) fraction incorporated in matrix. An adaptable, low-cost inline filtration-oxidation-unit (REFILOX) has been developed, which first time unifies all steps from filtration to CO 2 quantification one closed setup. A systematic C...

Abstract. Due to its micrometer-scale resolution and inherently micro-destructive nature, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is particularly suited exploring the thin closely spaced layers in oldest sections of polar ice cores. Recent adaptions LA-ICP-MS instrumentation mean we have faster washout times allowing state-of-the-art 2-D imaging an core. This new method has great potential especially when applied localization impurities on sample, something...

Abstract. Polar ice cores contain an archive of chemical impurities, which can be used as a proxy for the past climate. State-of-the-art methods increase our knowledge about these especially when applying cascade complementary techniques to same samples. Single particle inductively coupled plasma-time flight mass spectrometry (SP ICP-TOFMS) has yet fully utilised study polar ice; only two studies have described its application so far. This is surprising given capability access critical...

Paleoclimate reconstructions from ice core records can be hampered due to the lack of a reliable chronology, especially in deep ice, when stratigraphy is disturbed and conventional dating methods cannot applied. The noble gas radioisotopes 81Kr 39Ar these cases provide robust constraints as they yield absolute, radiometric ages. (t1/2=229 ka) covers time span 30-1500 ka, which relevant for polar cores, whereas (t1/2=268 a) with range 50-1600 suitable alpine glaciers. anthropogenic 85Kr...

High-altitude glaciers in the western European Alps have preserved long-term records of anthropogenic air pollution, as shown by numerous ice core studies over past three decades. These reveal a significant increase pollutants last two centuries, closely linked to industrialization, with transported from nearby regions. In contrast, eastern remain limited, these were considered unsuitable for undisturbed preservation due their lower elevations and temperate basal conditions. However, recent...

Aerosol-related impurities trapped in ice cores can supply important insights into the mechanics of our climate system. Mineral dust particles provide information on past atmospheric transport and sheet size. This is encoded geochemical composition size particles: Local sources are characterised by large particles. As a prominent example, changes particle sizes RECAP core from Renland cap (East Greenland) have been shown to reflect smaller extent during interglacial periods [1]. To better...

Mythological narratives of reglaciation are found in story collections all over the Eastern Alps. For glaciers like Marmolada (IT), Übergossene Alm, Gurgler Ferner (AT) and many others, almost identical lines describe heavy thunderstorms during summer that covered fertile alpine pastures with large amounts snow. Snow did not melt following years, burying huts, hay storage barns people. heights could range from buried cooking which can be as low 1.5 m to several metres height....

The remote sensing observation of ices and cryospheres in planets satellites our Solar System have been accompanied by studies on field analogs (e.g., Antarctica Cianfarra et al. 2022; Svalbard, Preston Dartnell 2024;) spectroscopy analysis dusty ice mixtures laboratory Stephan 2021, Yoldi 2021).In this project, we used the Mars Global (MGS-1) High-Fidelity Martian Dirt Simulant (Cannon 2019) to create artificial similar layer North Polar Cap acquired their spectra at low temperature....

Abstract. Measuring aerosol-related impurities in ice cores gives insight into Earth's past climate conditions. In order to resolve highly thinned layers and investigate post-depositional processes, such measurements require high-resolution analysis, especially deep ice. Micron-resolution impurity data can be collected using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), but this requires careful assessment avoid misinterpretation. Two-dimensional (2D) imaging with...

Abstract. Aerosol-related impurities play an important part in the set of paleoclimate proxies obtained from polar ice cores. However, order to avoid misinterpretation, post-depositional changes need be carefully assessed, especially deep ice. Na, S and Cl are among relatively abundant impurity species (albeit still at low ppb level bulk samples), with applications reconstructions dating, e.g. via identification volcanic eruptions. Especially has been studied intensely respect peak...