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Inclusions in ice layers formed by melting and refreezing processes in a Greenland ice core
- Source :
- Journal of Glaciology. :1-13
- Publication Year :
- 2022
- Publisher :
- Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2022.
-
Abstract
- In recent decades, surface melting on the inland Greenland ice sheet has increased, leading to significant meltwater-refreezing in the snow and firn. Increased knowledge of the physical and chemical characteristics of these melt features (i.e., ice layers) is needed to help estimate future global sea-level rise. Here, using a combination of microscopy and spectroscopy, we investigate the size, shape, location, and chemical compositions of inclusions in 12 ice layers of the SIGMA-A ice core in the northwestern Greenland ice sheet (78°03′06″N, 67°37′42″W, 1490 m a.s.l.). In the ice layers, we found inclusions exceeding 30 μm diameter that could only be formed by melting–refreezing, which we classify into columnar-, particle-, and rod-like inclusions. We propose that the smaller columnar- and particle-like inclusions of solid Na2SO4⋅10H2O and CaSO4⋅2H2O form first, within the ice grains, followed by the larger rod-like inclusions of brines with mainly Na+ and Cl− in grain boundaries. Our results suggest a new proxy that may help identify past warm climates in deeper ice cores in Greenland and for studying future ice sheet melting behavior.
- Subjects :
- Earth-Surface Processes
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 17275652 and 00221430
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Glaciology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........fa79be82f0169f0ad9088bf27d31ef23