Skip to main content
Log in

Recent high-resolution glaciochemical record from a Dasuopu firn core of middle Himalayas

  • Articles
  • Geography
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

A 16.8 m firn core of middle Himalayas was recovered on the col of Dasuopu glacier in August 2006, being 7000 m above sea level. A total of 317 samples were measured for stable oxygen isotope ratios (δ 18O) and major ion concentrations (Na+, NH +4 , K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl, SO 2−4 , and NO 3 ). The firn core dating and seasonal partitioning were carried out based on the marked seasonal variations along the stable oxygen isotopes and crustal species (Ca2+, Mg2+) profiles. The multi-parameters and high-resolution glaciochemical data set of Dasuopu firn core recorded the detailed chemical characteristics of precipitation in high-elevation region, middle Himalayas, since 1991 A.D., which mainly originated from the crustal and anthropogenic sources, while the sea-salt contribution was minor. The seasonal variability of major ion concentrations was dominated by the seasonal alternation of the prevalent air mass, atmospheric circulation situation and precipitation regime. Linear regression analysis indicated that most of the variance in annual ionic fluxes can be explained by a linear dependence on snow accumulation rate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Thompson L G. Ice core evidence for climate change in the Tropics: implication for our future. Quat Sci Rev, 2000, 19: 19–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Thompson L G, Yao T, Mosley-Thompson E, et al. A high-resolution millennial record of the South Asian monsoon from Himalayan ice cores. Science, 2000, 289: 1916–1919

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kang S, Mayewski P A, Qin D, et al. Glaciochemical records from a Mt. Everest ice core: relationship to atmospheric circulation over Asia. Atmos Environ, 2002, 36(21): 3351–3361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Shrestha A B, Wake C P, Dibb J E. Chemical composition of aerosol and snow in the high Himalaya during the summer monsoon season. Atmos Environ, 1997, 31(17): 2815–2826

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Shrestha A B, Wake C P, Dibb J E, et al. Aerosol and precipitation chemistry at a remote Himalayan site in Nepal. Aerosol Sci Technol, 2002, 36(4): 441–456

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wake C P, Mayewski P A, Xie Z C, et al. Regional distribution of monsoon and desert dust signals recorded in Asian glaciers. Geophys Res Lett, 1993, 20(14): 1411–1414

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wake C P, Mayewski P A, Kang S C. Climatic interpretation of the gradient in glaciochemical signals across the crest of the Himalaya. In: Cecil L D, Green J R, Thompson L G, eds. Earth Paleoenvironments: Records Preserved in Mid-and Low-latitude Glaciers. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004. 81–94

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  8. Balerna A, Bernieri E, Pecci M, et al. Chemical and radio-chemical composition of freshsnow samples from northern slopes of Himalayas (Cho Oyu range, Tibet). Atmos Environ, 2003, 37(12): 1573–1581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kang S C, Qin D H, Mayewski P A, et al. Chemical composition of fresh snow on Xixabangma peak, central Himalaya, during the summer monsoon season. J Glaciol, 2002, 48: 337–339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kang S C, Mayewski P A, Qin D H, et al. Seasonal differences in snow chemistry from the vicinity of Mt. Everest, central Himalayas. Atmos Environ, 2004, 38(18): 2819–2829

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Marinoni A, Polesello S, Smiraglia C, et al. Chemical composition of freshsnow samples from the southern slope of Mt. Everest region (Khumbu-Himal region, Nepal). Atmos Environ, 2001, 35(18): 3183–3190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Yao T D, Thompson L G. New achievements in glaciology in Tibet, China. Chin Sci Bull, 1998, 43(14): 1231–1232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Yao T D, Pu J C, Wang N L, et al. A new type of ice formation zone found in the Himalayas. Chin Sci Bull, 1999, 44(5): 469–474

    Google Scholar 

  14. Tian L, Yao T, MacClune K, et al. Stable isotopic variations in West China: A consideration of moisture sources. J Geophys Res, 2007, 112, D10112, doi: 10.1029/2006JD007718

  15. Wang N L, Yao T D, Thompson L G, et al. Indian monsoon and North Atlantic Oscillation signals reflected by Cl and Na+ in a shallow ice core from Dasuopu glacier, Xixiabangma, Himalaya. Ann Glaciol, 2002, 35: 273–277

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Yao T D, Duan K Q, Xu B Q, et al. Temperature and methane changes over the past 1000 years recorded in Dasuopu glacier (central Himalaya) ice core. Ann Glaciol, 2002, 35: 379–383

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Duan K Q, Yao T D, Thompson L G. Response of monsoon precipitation in the Himalayas to global warming. J Geophys Res, 2006, 111, D19110, doi: 10.1029/2006JD007084

  18. Kang S C, Qin D H, Yao T D, et al. Summer monsoon and dust signals recorded in Dasuopu firn core, Mt. Xixiabangma. Chin Sci Bull, 1999, 44(21): 2010–2015

    Google Scholar 

  19. Duan K Q, Thompson L G, Yao T, et al. A 1000 year history of atmospheric sulfate concentrations in southern Asia as recorded by a Himalayan ice core. Geophys Res Lett, 2007, 34, L01810, doi: 10.1029/2006GL027456

  20. Ren J W, Qin D H, Kang S C, et al. Glacier variations and climate warming and drying in the central Himalayas, Chin Sci Bull, 2004, 49(1): 65–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Fujita K, Thompson L G, Ageta Y, et al. Thirty-year history of glacier melting in the Nepal Himalayas. J Geophys Res, 2006, 111, D03109, doi: 10.1029/2005JD005894

  22. Barlow M, Cullen H, Lyon B. Drought in Central and Southwest Asia: La Nina, the Warm Pool, and Indian Ocean Precipitation. J Clim, 2002, 15(7): 697–700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Ramanathan V, Crutzen P J. New directions: Atmospheric Brown “Clouds”. Atmos Environ, 2003, 38(21): 4033–4035

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hou S G, Qin D H, Zhang D Q, et al. A 154a high-resolution ammonium record from the Rongbuk Glacier, north slope of Mt. Qomolangma (Everest), Tibet-Himal region. Atmos Environ, 2003, 37(5): 721–729

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Tian L D, Yao T D, White J W C, et al. Westerly moisture transport to the middle of Himalayas revealed from the high deuterium excess. Chin Sci Bull, 2005, 50(10): 1026–1030

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Schwikowski M, Brütsch S, Gäggeler H W, et al. A high-resolution air chemistry record from an Alpine ice core: Fiescherhorn glacier, Swiss Alps. J Geophys Res, 1999, 104(D11): 13709–13720

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Savoie D L, Prospero J M, Nees R T. Nitrate, non-sea-salt sulfate and mineral aerosol over the northwest Indian Ocean. J Geophys Res, 1987, 92: 933–942

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Mori I, Nishikawa M, Iwasaka Y. Chemical reaction during the coagulation of ammonium sulphate and mineral particles in the atmosphere. Sci Total Environ, 1998, 224(1–3): 87–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Smith S, Pitcher J H, Wigley T M L. Global and regional anthropogenic sulfur dioxide emissions. Glob Planet Change, 2001, 29: 99–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Dentener F J, Carmichael G R, Zhang Y, et al. Role of mineral aerosol as a reactive surface in the global troposphere. J Geophys Res (D), 1996, 101(D17): 22869–22889

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Ming J, Zhang D Q, Kang S C, et al. Aerosol and fresh snow chemistry in the East Rongbuk Glacier on the northern slope of Mt. Qomolangma (Everest). J Geophys Res, 2007, 112, D15307, doi: 10.1029/2007JD008618.

  32. Keene W C, Pszenny A A P, Galloway J N, et al. Sea salt corrections and interpretation of constituent ratios in marine precipitation. J Geophys Res, 1986, 92(D6): 6647–6658

    Google Scholar 

  33. Yalcin K, Wake C P, Kang S C, et al. Seasonal and spatial variability in snow chemistry at Eclipse Icefield, Yukon Territory, Canada. Ann Glaciol, 2006, 43: 230–238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Valsecchi S, Smiraglia C, Tartari G, et al. Chemical composition of Monsoon deposition in the Everest region. Sci Total Environ, 1999, 226(2–3): 187–199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Wang N L, Thompson L G, Davis M E. Variations of atmospheric dust loading in the southern and northern Tibetan Plateau over the last millennium recorded in ice cores. Quat Sci (in Chinese), 2006, 26(5): 752–761

    Google Scholar 

  36. Carrico C M, Bergin M H, Shrestha A B, et a1. The importance of carbon and mineral dust to seasonal aerosol properties in the Nepal Himalaya. Atmos Environ, 2003, 37(20): 2811–2824

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Krishnamurthy V, Shukla J. Intraseasonal and interannual variability of rainfall over India. J Clim, 2000, 13(24): 4366–4377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Kang S C. A study of the present process in the snow/ice and the climatic and environmental records in the northern slope of the middle Himalayas (in Chinese). Doctor Dissertation Thesis. Beijing, Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1999. 49–68

    Google Scholar 

  39. Yang Q, Mayewski P A, Whitlow S, et al. Global perspective of nitrate flux in ice cores. J Geophys Res, 1995, 100(D3): 5113–5122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yao TanDong.

Additional information

Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2005CB422004), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40571039 and 40121101)

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, P., Yao, T., Tian, L. et al. Recent high-resolution glaciochemical record from a Dasuopu firn core of middle Himalayas. Chin. Sci. Bull. 53, 418–425 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-0098-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-0098-7

Keywords

Navigation