Characteristics of electrical conductivity in a shallow ice core at GV7, Esat Antarctica

Abstract

Electrical conductivity measured from ice surface has been used as a direct measure of acidity ([H+]) in an ice core. Fallout of volcanogenic aerosols, especially sulfuric (H2SO4), hydrochloric (HCl) and hydrofluoric acids (HF), increases acidity in an ice core. Peaks detected from the electrical conductivity measurement (ECM) can therefore be used as time markers of historically known volcanic eruptions and consequently provide information for depth-age relationship of the ice core and snow accumulation rates at the ice core drilling site. We applied ECM to a 78.43 m-long ice core drilled at GV7, East Antarctica to detect the conductivity peaks produced by volcanic activities and to use them as time markers. During the last ~230 years that the GV7 ice core covered, we could detect the conductivity peaks resulted from the eruptions of Pinatubo (1991 AD), Agung (1963 AD), Tarawera (1886 AD), Krakatau (1883 AD) and Tambora (1815 AD). This study stressed that ECM can be a useful tool for establishing the depth-age relationship in ice core studies.