title: Optimization of high-resolution continuous flow analysis for transient climate signals in ice cores.
abstract: Over the past two decades, continuous flow analysis (CFA) systems have been refined and widely used to measure aerosol constituents in polar and alpine ice cores in very high-depth resolution. Here we present a newly designed system consisting of sodium, ammonium, dust particles, and electrolytic meltwater conductivity detection modules. The system is optimized for high-resolution determination of transient signals in thin layers of deep polar ice cores. Based on standard measurements and by comparing sections of early Holocene and glacial ice from Greenland, we find that the new system features a depth resolution in the ice of a few millimeters which is considerably better than other CFA systems. Thus, the new system can resolve ice strata down to 10 mm thickness and has the potential of identifying annual layers in both Greenland and Antarctic ice cores throughout the last glacial cycle.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ice and Climate, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. bigler@climate.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bigler
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kettner
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vallelonga
authors.forename: Maibritt E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Jørgen Peder
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Steffensen
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis*; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D057231:Climate Change; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006116:Greenland; D007053:Ice / Q000032:analysis*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D007053:Ice; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds