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Antarctic surface mass balance (SMB) is a direct regulator of global sea level changes, but quantification of its long-term evolution at the ice sheet scale is challenging. Here, we combine for the first time a recently complied dataset of ice core records with the outputs of five different reanalysis products and two regional climate models to produce a reconciled 310-yr reconstruction of spatially and temporally complete SMB over the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS). Despite greatly variable signs and magnitudes of reconstructed SMB trends in the different regions, a significant positive trend (3.6 ± 0.8 Gt yr−1 decade−1) is observed for SMB over the entire AIS during the past 300 years, with a larger increase rate since 1801. The increased SMB cumulatively dampened global sea level rise by ∼14 mm between 1901 and 2010, which did not account for the ice sheet dynamical imbalance. The first and second modes of empirical orthogonal function analysis (EOF1 and EOF2) capture 38.0% and 24.6% of the total variability in reconstructed SMB, respectively. EOF1 consists of an east–west dipole of SMB changes over West Antarctica, primarily driven by Southern Annular Mode (SAM) variability. EOF2 represents a strong signal over the whole Antarctic Peninsula and coastal West Antarctica, which is not associated with SAM, but with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) at the decadal scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from three automatic weather stations (LGB69, Eagle and Dome A) from distinctly different climatological zones along the CHINARE (Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition) traverse route from Zhongshan Station to Dome A, we investigated the characteristics of meteorological conditions and subsurface heat conduction. Spatial analysis indicated decreasing trends in air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed from the coastal katabatic wind zone to the inland plateau region, and air temperatures clearly showed a strong daily variability in winter, suggesting the effect from the fluctuation in the Antarctic atmospheric system. We also analyzed the optimal response time of the 1 and 3 m depth snow temperatures to the 0.1 m depth snow temperature for each site under clear/overcast and day/night situations. This showed an important enhancement to the heat transfer from shortwave radiation penetration. Using an iterative optimization method, we estimated the subsurface heat conduction variations along the transect. This was ~3–5 W m–2. Multiple maxima in daily mean subsurface fluxes were found in winter, with a typical value above 2 W m–2, while a single minimum value under –2 W m–2 was found in summer. On an annual scale, a larger mean loss of subsurface heat conduction was observed in the inland plateau compared to in the coastal katabatic area. Finally, we discussed the possible influences of turbulent and radiant transport on the vertical heat response and confirmed the wind enhancement on the growth of thermal conductivity. This preliminary study provides a brief perspective and an important reference for studying subsurface heat conduction in inland areas of Antarctica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiogenic isotope compositions of strontium (Sr) and neodymium (Nd) on the surface of the Earth are powerful tools for tracing dust sources and sinks on the Earth's surface. To differentiate between the spatial variabilities in eolian dust sources in key cryospheric regions at the three poles (the Arctic; Antarctica; and the "third pole", covering the high mountainous area in Asia), a dataset of Sr–Nd isotopic compositions from extremely cold or arid terrestrial environments was compiled, similar to the method of Blanchet (2019). The database includes Holocene and Quaternary snow, ice, sand, soil (loess), sediment, and rock samples from the three poles based on 90 different references and our own measurement data, with a total of 1989 data points, comprising 206 data points with different grain sizes and 212 data points with fraction measurements. There are 485 data points from the third pole, 727 data points from the Arctic, and 777 data points from Antarctica. The sampling and measurement methods of these data are introduced. For each pole, geographical coordinates and other information are provided. The main scientific purpose of this dataset is to provide a Sr–Nd dataset based on collective documentation and our own measurements, which will be useful for determining the sources and transport pathways of dust in snow, ice, rivers, and oceans at or near the three poles as well as to investigate whether multiple dust sources are present at each of the poles. This dataset provides exhaustive detailed documentation of the isotopic signatures at the three poles during specific time intervals in the Quaternary period, which are useful for understanding the sources or sinks of eolian dust and sediments at the three poles. The dataset is available from the National Tibetan Plateau Data Center (10.11888/Cryos.tpdc.272100, Du, 2022). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a unique multiyear dataset and the monitoring capability of the PANDA automatic weather station network, which includes 11 automatic weather stations (AWSs) across the Prydz Bay–Amery Ice Shelf–Dome A area from the coast to the summit of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. The ∼ 1460 km transect from Zhongshan to Panda S follows roughly along ∼ 77 ∘ E longitude and covers all geographic units of East Antarctica. Initial inland observations, near the coast, started in the 1996/97 austral summer. All AWSs in this network measure air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, wind speed and wind direction at 1 h intervals, and some of them can also measure firn temperature and shortwave/longwave radiation. Data are relayed in near real time via the Argos system. The data quality is generally very reliable, and the data have been used widely. In this paper, we firstly present a detailed overview of the AWSs, including the sensor characteristics, installation procedure, data quality control protocol and the basic analysis of each variable. We then give an example of a short-term atmospheric event that shows the monitoring capacity of the PANDA AWS network. This dataset, which is publicly available, is planned to be updated on a near-real-time basis and should be valuable for climate change estimation, extreme weather events diagnosis, data assimilation, weather forecasting, etc. The dataset is available at 10.11888/Atmos.tpdc.272721 (Ding et al., 2022b). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refractory black carbon (rBC) is an important climate‐forcing agent emitted by biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion. Antarctica can receive rBC aerosols emitted in Southern Hemisphere (SH) and preserve the history of emissions and atmospheric transport. Here, we present a high‐resolution record of rBC in an ice core (CA2016‐75) acquired from the coastal Eastern Antarctica, which accumulated during the past 100 years (1915–2015). The rBC concentration (0.030 ng g−1) and flux (7.22 μg m−2 yr−1) are both among the lowest values in Antarctic snow and ice. The rBC concentration reaches higher values on average in the period aligned with the austral Winter. The rBC concentrations show a long‐term descending trend during the period between 1950s and mid‐1990s, followed by an ascending trend to 2015. Back trajectory analysis indicates that the emissions resulting from the biomass burning and anthropogenic biofuel consumption in Southern America and Australia were the main sources for the rBC deposition. Wavelet spectral analysis and temporal correlation analysis on rBC deposition and the atmospheric circulation indices (El Niño–Southern Oscillation, Southern Annular Mode and Antarctic Oscillation) confirmed that the atmospheric circulations have certain influences on the rBC deposition, likely by their direct effects on rBC transport and on weather conditions driving the occurrence of fires and subsequent emissions in source regions. Key Points: Yearly resolution black carbon (BC) data during the past century in east Antarctica were presented and showed the lowest BC values over AntarcticaBC showed a decrease between 1980s and mid‐1990s and then an increase to 2015, the variation was associated with the BC emissions in Southern HemisphereSouthern America, Australia were the potential source regions and the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, Southern Annular Mode both had influences on BC transport and source emissions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine density-dependent empirical thermal conductivity relationships for firn were compared against data from three automatic weather stations at climatically different sites in East Antarctica (Dome A, Eagle, and LGB69). The empirical relationships were validated using a vertical, 1D thermal diffusion model and a phase-change-based firn diffusivity estimation method. The best relationships for the abovementioned sites were identified by comparing the modeled and observed firn temperature at a depth of 1 and 3 m, and from the mean heat conductivities over two depth intervals (1–3 and 3–10 m). Among the nine relationships, that proposed by Calonne et al. (2011) appeared to show the best performance. The density- and temperature-dependent relationship given in Calonne et al. (2019) does not show clear superiority over other density-dependent relationships. This study provides a useful reference for firn thermal conductivity parameterizations in land modeling or snow–air interaction studies on the Antarctica ice sheet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plain Language Summary: Melting of the Antarctic ice sheet and shelf in the future will be influenced by interannual changes in the surface air temperature (SAT) in Antarctica. The SAT changes in Antarctica are related to variations in the Southern Hemisphere Annular Mode (SAM) during the austral summer. The SAM is a dominant pattern of atmospheric variability in the Southern Hemisphere and influences the Antarctic SAT with opposite changes between the northern Antarctic Peninsula (AP) and Eastern Antarctica (EA). To project future changes in the Antarctic SAT, we analyzed historical and future simulations from the Climate Model Intercomparison Project 5 models. We found that the degree of opposite interannual SAT changes between EA and the AP increases in the future due to intensified magnitude of the SAM‐related circulation anomalies, and summers of warmer SAT in the northern AP and cooler SAT in EA increase by 4% in the future compared to the historical period. This finding has major consequences for glacier melting in the northern AP in the future because more days of extremely high SAT in the northern AP may occur in the future. In this study, using the Climate Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) simulations and by empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis, the first mode of variability in interannual surface air temperature (SAT) in Antarctica (EOF1) was examined for the period between 1979–2004 and 2051–2099 during the austral summer. The ensemble mean of EOF1 of the CMIP5 models shows a positive SAT anomaly over the northern Antarctic Peninsula (AP) and a negative SAT anomaly over Eastern Antarctica (EA) in both periods. A poleward expansion of the AP positive anomaly and an increase in the negative anomaly over interior EA are expected in 2051–2099, resulting in a larger difference of interannual SAT between interior EA and the AP in 2051–2099 than in 1979–2004. The increasing difference in the interannual SAT is consistent with a larger magnitude of the SAM‐related circulation anomalies in the future. Key Points: An increasing summer interannual surface air temperature (SAT) variability in interior Eastern Antarctica (EA) and the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) simulated in 2051–2099An increasing difference in summer interannual SAT between EA and the AP simulated in 2051–2099 than in 1979–2004The increasing difference in summer interannual SAT caused by a larger Southern Hemisphere Annular Mode‐related circulation anomaly in 2051–2099 than in 1979–2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable isotope ratios (δ18O and δD) in Antarctic snow and ice are basic proxy indices of climate in ice core studies. The relation between the ratios has important indicative significance for moisture sources. In general, the fractionation characteristics of the two isotopes vary with different meteorological and topographical conditions. This paper presents the spatial and temporal distribution of meteoric water line (MWL) slopes along a traverse from the Zhongshan Station (ZSS) to Dome A in East Antarctica. It is found that the slopes decrease with the increasing distance inland from the coast and the lowest slope occurred at Dome A, where the long-range transported moisture dominates and clear sky snowing have an influence. The slopes in different layers of the snowpack showed a decreasing trend with depth and this is attributed to the fractionation during the interstitial sublimation and re-condensation processes of the water vapor. Frost flower development on the interior plateau surface can greatly alter the depth evolution of the MWL slope. The coastal snow pits also go through the post-depositional smoothing effect, but their influences are not so significant as the inland regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive compilation of observed records is needed for accurate quantification of surface mass balance (SMB) over Antarctica, which is a key challenge for calculation of Antarctic contribution to global sea level change. Here, we present the AntSMB dataset: a new quality-controlled dataset of a variety of published field measurements of the Antarctic Ice Sheet SMB by means of stakes, snow pits, ice cores, ultrasonic sounders, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR). The dataset collects 3579 individual multi-year-averaged observations, 687 annually resolved time series from 675 sites extending back over the past 1000 years, and daily resolved records covering 245 years from 32 sites across the whole ice sheet. These records are derived from ice cores, snow pits, stakes/stake farms, and ultrasonic sounders. Furthermore, GPR multi-year-averaged measurements are included in the dataset, covering an area of 22 025 km 2. This is the first ice-sheet-scale compilation of SMB records at different temporal (daily, annual, and multi-year) resolutions from multiple types of measurement and is available at 10.11888/Glacio.tpdc.271148 (Wang et al., 2021). The database has potentially wide applications such as the investigation of temporal and spatial variability in SMB, model validation, assessment of remote sensing retrievals, and data assimilation. As a case of model estimation, records of the AntSMB dataset are used to assess the performance of ERA5 for temporal and spatial variability in SMB over Antarctica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dome A, the summit of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, is an area challenging to access and is one of the harshest environments on Earth. Up until recently, long-term automated observations from Dome A (DA) were only possible with very low power instruments such as a basic meteorological station. To evaluate the characteristics of near-surface O3 , continuous observations were carried out in 2016. Together with observations at the Amundsen–Scott Station (South Pole – SP) and Zhongshan Station (ZS, on the southeast coast of Prydz Bay), the seasonal and diurnal O3 variabilities were investigated. The results showed different patterns between coastal and inland Antarctic areas that were characterized by high concentrations in cold seasons and at night. The annual mean values at the three stations (DA, SP and ZS) were 29.2±7.5 , 29.9±5.0 and 24.1±5.8 ppb, respectively. We investigated the effect of specific atmospheric processes on near-surface summer O3 variability, when O3 enhancement events (OEEs) are systematically observed at DA (average monthly frequency peaking at up to 64.5 % in December). As deduced by a statistical selection methodology, these O3 enhancement events (OEEs) are affected by significant interannual variability, both in their average O3 values and in their frequency. To explain part of this variability, we analyzed the OEEs as a function of specific atmospheric processes: (i) the role of synoptic-scale air mass transport over the Antarctic Plateau was explored using the Lagrangian back-trajectory analysis Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) method, and (ii) the occurrence of "deep" stratospheric intrusion events was investigated using the Lagrangian tool STEFLUX. The specific atmospheric processes, including synoptic-scale air mass transport, were analyzed by the HYSPLIT back-trajectory analysis and the potential source contribution function (PSCF) model. Short-range transport accounted for the O3 enhancement events (OEEs) during summer at DA, rather than efficient local production, which is consistent with previous studies of inland Antarctica. Moreover, the identification of recent (i.e., 4 d old) stratospheric-intrusion events by STEFLUX suggested that deep events only had a minor influence (up to 1.1 % of the period, in August) on deep events during the variability in near-surface summer O3 at DA. The deep events during the polar night were significantly higher than those during the polar day. This work provides unique data on ozone variation at DA and expands our knowledge of such events in Antarctica. Data are available at 10.5281/zenodo.3923517 (Ding and Tian, 2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-frequency and precise ultrasonic sounder was used to monitor precipitated/deposited and drift snow events over a 3-year period (17 January 2005 to 4 January 2008) at the Eagle automatic weather station site, inland Antarctica. Ion species and oxygen isotope ratios were also generated from a snow pit below the sensor. These accumulation and snowdrift events were used to examine the synchronism with seasonal variations of δ O and ion species, providing an opportunity to assess the snowdrift effect in typical Antarctic inland conditions. There were up to 1-year differences for this 3-year-long snow pit between the traditional dating method and ultrasonic records. This difference implies that in areas with low accumulation or high wind, the snowdrift effect can induce abnormal disturbances on snow deposition. The snowdrift effect should be seriously taken into account for high-resolution dating of ice cores and estimation of surface mass balance, especially when the morphology of most Antarctic inland areas is similar to that of the Eagle site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatiotemporal distribution pattern of marine-origin matter on the Antarctica ice sheet was used to study variations in the source regions, transport mechanisms and post-depositional influences. We present data on sea salt ions, sulfur components and stable isotopes from surface and snow pit samples collected along the transect route from Zhongshan Station to Dome A during the austral summer in 2012–2013. A general decreasing trend in the accumulation, sea salt ions and sulfur components occurred with increasing distance from the coast and increasing elevation. However, different sources of the marine components, transport pathways and post-depositional influences were responsible for their different spatial distribution patterns. The marine ions in the coastal snow pit varied seasonally, with higher sea salt ion concentrations in the winter and lower concentrations in the summer; the opposite pattern was found for the sulfur compounds. The sea ice area surrounding Antarctica was the main source region for the deposited sea salt and the open sea water for the sulfur compounds. No significant trends in the marine-origin components were detected during the past 3 decades. Several periods of elevated deposition of sea salt ions were associated with lower temperatures (based on δD and δ 18 O) or intensified wind fields. In comparison to the sea salt ions, the sulfur concentrations exhibited the opposite distribution patterns and were associated with changes in the surrounding sea ice extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At Dome Argus, East Antarctica, the surface mass balance (SMB) from 2008 to 2013 was evaluated using 49 stakes installed across a 30×30 km area. Spatial analysis showed that at least 12 and 20 stakes are needed to obtain reliable estimates of SMB at local scales (a few hundred square metres) and regional scales (tens of square kilometres), respectively. The estimated annual mean SMB was 22.9±5.9 kg m−2 yr−1, including a net loss by sublimation of −2.22±0.02 kg m−2 yr−1 and a mass gain by deposition of 1.37±0.01 kg m−2 yr−1. Therefore, ca. 14.3% of precipitation was modified after deposition, which should be considered when interpreting snow or ice core records produced by future drilling projects. The surface snow density and SMB in the western portion of Dome Argus are higher than in other areas, and these differences are likely related to the katabatic wind, which is strengthened by topography in this sector. A new digital elevation model (DEM) of Dome Argus was generated, confirming that both peaks of the dome can be considered as the summit of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Findings from this study should be valuable for validating SMB estimates obtained from regional climate models and DEMs established using remote-sensing data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the regional distribution of marine aerosol originated species (Na, Cl, nss-SO and MSA) in the snow pits (or firn cores) collected along a transect between Zhongshan Station and the Grove Mountain area (450 km inland) on the eastern side of the Lambert Glacier Basin. Concentrations of Na and Cl decrease exponentially with distance from the coast to 100 km inland (i.e., 1500 m a.s.l.). Statistical results demonstrate that distance from the coast inland and elevation affect the concentration of sea-salt originated ions in inland areas significantly. Increase of Cl-/Na ratio and higher variability in its standard deviation suggest that there are other sources of ions in addition to sea-salt in inland areas of the Antarctic continent. The concentrations of Na and Cl from nine sampling sites in the Grove Mountain area are relatively higher than those from sites along CHINARE transect, although all sites are at similar distance inland. This phenomenon indicates that the barrier effect of the mountain may be the most important factor influencing ion deposition. In addition, nss-SO and MSA vary differently, with nss-SO decreasing with distance more significantly. This implies that sources and transporting pathways influence the deposition of the two sulfur compounds considerably, being supported by the spatial pattern of correlation coefficients between the nss-SO and MSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrate, an oxidized product of NO preserved in the polar ice cores, has often been used to estimate past changes of the atmospheric nitrogen cycle. A 102.65 m ice core drilled at DT-401 (79°01′S, 77°00′E) in 1999 provides an opportunity to investigate the possible influencing factors for the nitrate budget in the eastern Antarctica. We studied the relationship between the δO (representing the temperature), accumulation rate, volcanic deposition and the astronomical factors (such as the solar activities, supernovae, etc.), and the nitrate variation along the whole duration (2680-year) of the ice core. Prominent impacts of the accumulation rate acting on the nitrate flux rather than the concentration were detected. However, no significant correlation was found between the δO and the nitrate deposition characteristics (concentration and the flux variations). Volcanic deposition can significantly affect the deposition of nitrate with a decreasing trend accompanied by the nss-SO (volcanic signal) peak values. Impacts of the solar activities on the nitrate deposition can be detected at this site, and three prominent periodicities (16.6, 24.0 and 102.0 yr) were found for the nitrate concentration variations. Six climatic events (Dalton Minimum, Maunder Minimum, Sporer Minimum, Wolf Minimum, Oort Minimum and Medieval Maximum) during the past 1150 years were observed with lower nitrate values for the foregoing five events and higher value for the last one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 109.9 m ice core was extracted at a location about 300 m away from the Dome A summit (80°00′S, 77°21″E) by the Chinese team of the International Trans-Antarctic Science Expedition (ITASE) during the 21st Chinese National Antarctica Research Expedition (CHINARE) in January 2005. Two independent methods were used for dating the ice core, volcanic event markers shown by prominent non-sea-salt sulfate (nss-SO) and the Herron and Langway (H-L) firn densification model. Six prominent volcanic events (Agung 1963 AD, Tambora 1815 AD, Kuwae 1453 AD, Unknown 1259 AD, Taupo 186 AD and Pinatubo 1050 BC) were identified by comparison with other Antarctic ice cores. Based on the mean accumulation rates between adjacent events, we estimate the age at the firn pore close-off depth (102 m) was 3516±100 a BP. This is the oldest close-off age ever reported from the Antarctic and the Greenland ice sheets. Calculations using the H-L model show that the age at the same depth is 3581±100 a BP. The two dating techniques differ by 65 years, or ∼1.8% of the record. We calculated the bottom age of the ice core as 4009±150 a BP using the volcanic dating method and 4115±150 a BP using the H-L model method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study regarding the spatial variability of surface mass balance along a route from Zhongshan state to Dome A in Antarctica. It stresses the importance of determining the surface mass-balance (SMB) conditions in the Antarctic ice sheet in order to come up with an estimation of ice sheet conditions and predict future net losses. Results show that Zone 1 of the route posted the highest snow accumulation rate as well as the lowest spatial variability and highest precipitation. Another finding indicates that Zone 5, located in the Dome A area, possesses the lowest accumulation rate and moderate spatial variability due its high altitude and low wind speed.

Surface snow samples were collected during the 14th (1997/1998) and 24th (2007/2008) Chinese National Antarctica Research Expeditions along a transect from Zhongshan Station to Dome A. The stable oxygen isotope ratios of these samples were measured to investigate their relationships with temperature and geographical parameters (latitude, longitude, altitude and distance to the coast). The results reveal a strong positive correlation (R=0.945) between δ18 O and mean annual temperature, with a gradient of 0.84‰°C , which is a little higher than that in Terre Adelie Land. Regression analyses also show that the δ18O of surface snow is strongly correlated with distance to the coast (R=0.942), latitude (R=0.942), and altitude (R=0.941). But no significant correlation was found between δ18O and longitude in study area. Altitude should be the most important factor influencing the d O distribution because of distinctive topography. The δ18O-altitude and T-altitude gradients along this transect are determined to be -1.1‰/100 m and 1.31°C/100 m, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the summit of the Antarctic Plateau, Dome A has been received international attentions. In this paper, observational data of an automatic weather station (AWS) at Dome A in 2005-2007 were used to analyze the seasonal variations of air temperatures near the ground and snow temperatures within a depth of 10 m. Analyses on the air temperatures show a typical feature of the coreless winter, and strong inversion maintains during the long winter. Accordingly the stratification near the ground is dominated by the near-neutral stable states. Seasonal fluctuations of the snow temperature decrease in amplitude and lag in phase with depth increasing, which leads to distinct seasonal temperature profiles within the depth of 10 m. Measurements show the mean annual air temperature near ground is about 5°C higher than the 10 m firn temperature due to the strong inversion near the ground. However, our estimation of the annual mean of air temperature at the ground based on the boundary layer theory is close to the mean 10 m firn temperature. The lowest air temperature (-82.7°C) currently measured at the Dome A is not the lowest one ever recorded in Antarctica, but the extremely low mean 10 m firn temperature (-58.2°C) indicates very low ground temperature. Given the prominent inversion near the ground, it is expected that Dome A might house the lowest ground temperature on the planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lowest temperature and snow accumulation rate are preconditions for retrieving the oldest ice core from the polar ice sheets. The 10-m depth firn temperature at Dome A, the summit of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, recorded by an automatic weather station (AWS) was -58.3°C in 2005 and -58.2°C in 2006, respectively. The 10-m firn temperature is an approximation of the annual mean air temperature (AMAT), and this is the lowest AMAT that has been recorded on the surface of the Earth. The stable isotopic ratios (δ18O and δD) of surface snow at Dome A are also lower than at other ice sheet domes along the East Antarctic Ice Divide such as Dome C, Dome F, Dome B and Vostok. These facts indicate that Dome A is the "pole of cold" on the Earth. The total amount of snow accumulation rate in 2005 and 2006 was only 0.16 cm, equaling 0.016 m water equivalent per year, the lowest precipitation ever recorded from Antarctica. Preliminary evidences indicate that Dome A is a candidate site for recovering the oldest ice core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the horizon of β activity and the density profiles, recent accumulation rate at Dome A, Antarctica is calculated to be 0.023 m water equivalent per year. This value is comparative to the accumulation rates deduced from the other inland sites of Antarctica. Clear-sky precipitation (or diamond dust) dominates the total precipitation at Dome A region. We speculate Dome A as a potential site to discover the oldest ice in Antarctica due to its tremendous ice thickness (>3000 m), extremely low accumulation rate, and low ice velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen stable isotopic and ionic records, covering a period of 1745-1996, are recovered in DTOOI ice core drilled in Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica. Using empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of the annually resolved glaciochemical time series, we find the first EOF (EOF1) represents sea-salt aerosols and is the proxy of sea level pressure (SLP) over a quasi-stationary low in the Southern Indian Ocean (SIO).δ18O represents the sea surface temperature (SST) of the same ocean area. In the past two decades, four climatic waves as represented by SLP and SST proxies are found in the DTOO1 ice core, which in coincident with four Antarctic Circumpolar Waves (ACW) as revealed by NCEPINCAR reanalysis. The phase difference between SST and SLP in the ice core is also coincident with that in ACW. Both ice-core record and reanalysis suggest that there were no signals of ACW during 1958-1980, none during the overall recording period between 1745-1996, as there is no regular phase difference between SST and SLP. The ACW signal after early 1980s is probably attributable to the climate shift occurring over Antarctic Peninsula-Drake Passage region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on a 50-m firn core drilled in Princess Elizabeth Land, Antarctica, during the 1996/1997 Chinese First Antarctic Inland Expedition, which was measured for δ18O and major ions. Indication the firn core was dated with errors within ±3 years because of seasonal variations in major ions; Idea that the study of temperature change over the past 150 years was based on the oxygen isotope in the upper 32.93 m of the firn core; Finding that the temperature decreased by nearly 2°C in the past 150 years; Suggestion the Southern Hemispheric warming, atmospheric circulation, Antarctic Circumpolar Wave (ACW), and the special terrain, including large drainage basins, on the coastal regions were factors in the temperature decline.

The spatial glaciochemical variability of snow samples collected along a transect from Zhongshan Station to Lambert Glacier Basin 69 (LGB69) in Antarctica was investigated. Sea-salt ion concentrations exponentially decreased with increasing distance from the coast and/or altitude. The observed high sea-salt ion concentrations within 20.6 km of the coast may be related to preferential wet or dry deposition of sea-salt aerosols. Methanesulfonic acid (MSA), non-sea-salt sulfate (nssSO42−), and calcium (Ca2+) concentrations decreased along the transect. The mean MSA/nssSO42− value of the surface snow samples (0.34 ± 0.08) indicates that coastal sea areas are their likely source regions. The non-sea-salt Ca2+ (nssCa2+)/Ca2+ percentages of the surface snow and LGB69 snow pit samples reveal that continental dust is the primary Ca2+ source. The δD and δ18O values decreased from the coast inland. The variation of deuterium excess (d-excess) along the transect was stable and d-excess values in the two snow pit samples were low and similar, which indicates that the moisture source region between Zhongshan Station and LGB69 is a coastal sea area. These results reveal the spatial distribution patterns and sources of ions and stable isotopes, as well as factors that influence the deposition of ions and the composition of stable isotopes, which provide important insight for further studies of ice cores drilled in Antarctic coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a shallow ice core (12.5 m, called LGB) was drilled at the Lambert Glacial Basin, East Antarctica. The major ion and metal elements were measured at 5–6 cm resolution in this shallow core, which covered the period 1990–2017. Therefore, an annual-resolution record of iron (Fe) concentrations and fluxes were reconstructed in this shallow ice core. Although the Fe data is comparable to previous results, our results emphasized that much more dissolved Fe (DFe) from the Cerro Hudson volcanic event (August 1991) was transported to the East Antarctic ice sheet, in comparison with the Pinatubo volcanic event (June 1991). The aeolian dust may be the primary DFe source during 1990–2017. In particular, the DFe variations may be affected by the biomass burning emissions in two periods (1990–1998 and 2014–2017). While total dissolved Fe (TDFe) variations were controlled by the climatic conditions since 2000 because of the temperature (δ18O) decreasing at East Antarctica. These Fe data will be useful to assess the modern bioavailable Fe release for the Antarctica ice sheet. • High resolution DFe (TDFe) data was collected from an East Antarctic shallow core. • The eruption events can provide plenty DFe and stored in Antarctica ice sheet. • Fe variations during 1990–2017 were controlled by natural climatic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution stable isotope records obtained from Antarctic ice cores can be used as proxies to investigate past climatic changes in Antarctica, overcoming the spatiotemporal limitations of observational and instrumental records. Here, we used a new high-resolution ice core stable isotope record (1709–2001 AD) obtained from the Lambert Glacier Basin 69 (LGB69) site and a published stable isotope record (1757–1987 AD) from coastal Princess Elizabeth Land (PEL) to reconstruct temperature variability in the coastal region of PEL over the past three centuries. The dominant moisture source region for coastal PEL is mid-high latitudes of the South Indian Ocean (SIO) and this has remained stable over the past three centuries. Owing to non-climatic noise, no statistically significant isotope‒temperature relationship can be evidenced at annual-to-decadal scales. However, the ice core δD records do enable us to reconstruct multi-decadal temperature variability in the coastal region of PEL. The temperature reconstructions showed a consistent warming trend during the 20th century, whereas the cold periods prior to the 20th century may be related to the Little Ice Age (LIA). Our reconstructions exhibit high reliability, evidenced by their agreement with previous reconstructions from PEL. We also found that annual temperature variability is related to the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), whereas multi-decadal temperature variability is related to the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). However, the relationship between the SAM and temperature is unclear before the 1970s. The results of this study are helpful in understanding long-term temperature changes in Antarctica and provide an important reference for the attribution of temperature changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow pit (and a firn core) samples obtained from coastal areas in the eastern Lambert basin of eastern Antarctica enabled us to investigate the temporal variations in soluble marine ion concentrations and the possible mechanisms influencing their variations. The concentrations of seasonal sea salt ions (Na + , Cl − and Mg 2+ ) at the coastal site (LH406) were maximal in the spring and minimal in the summer; broad maximal values also occurred in the winter and minimal values occurred in the summer in the interior site (ZG050). The sea ice extent (SIE) in the Indian Ocean sector of eastern Antarctica followed similar temporal distribution patterns. Two sulfur compounds (SO 4 2− and MSA) experienced seasonal variations similar to those observed for sea salt ions at the LH406 site. However, distinct variations were reported at the ZG050 site. The variations in nssSO 4 2− levels in the ZG050 snow pit that occurred over a 14-year period were positively correlated with variations in SIE. However, this relationship was different from that at the western Lambert basin. The change in direction of the supplementary prevailing wind during 1994–1995 produced a significant change in the concentrations of marine ions. A change in the source region may be the primary cause of this difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the accumulation and temperature changes in Princess Elizabeth Land, Antarctica. Trend of temperature and accumulation rate; Trend of climate change in the region.

Refractory black carbon (rBC) aerosols emitted by biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion can cause significant climatic forcing when it deposited on the snow. The Southern Hemisphere (SH) biomass burning emissions represent a significant part of rBC in and around Antarctica. Here we present the spatial and temporal variations of rBC from the surface snow and snow pits samples along the coastal Zhongshan Station (ZSS) to inland Dome A transect in Lambert Glacier region of eastern Antarctica. The geometric mean concentrations of surface snow rBC was 0.017 ± 0.018 ng g−1 and showed higher values in the inland plateau region (900–1248 km, 0.031 ± 0.024 ng g−1) than the coastal region (0–400 km, 0.011 ± 0.005 ng g−1) and there exist similar spatial results for the inland snowpit (0.021 ± 0.017 ng g−1) and coastal snowpit (0.018 ± 0.013 ng g−1). The records from the coastal snowpit (SP-A) show that the rBC from 2009 to 2016 displays weak seasonal variations, while in the inland snowpit (SP–C) the records spans from 1950 to 2015 and showed the rBC concentrations vary and relate with the open biomass burning emission in the Southern Hemisphere. • Spatial and temporal variations of the rBC along the transect from ZSS to Dome A in eastern Antarctica were retrieved. • Higher geometric mean rBC concentrations in the interior section than the coastal section were detected. • Dome A rBC record during 1950 and 2015 shows good relation with the open biomass burning in the Southern Hemisphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]