Sea Ice Versus Storms: What Controls Sea Salt in Arctic Ice Cores?


Change log
Abstract

The sea ice surface is thought to be a major source of sea salt aerosol, suggesting that sodium records of polar ice cores may trace past sea ice extent. Here we test this possibility for the Arctic, using a chemical transport model to simulate aerosol emission, transport and deposition in the satellite era. Our simulations suggest that sodium records from inland Greenland ice cores are strongly influenced by the impact of meteorology on aerosol transport and deposition. In contrast, sodium in coastal Arctic cores is predominantly sourced from the sea ice surface and the strength of these aerosol emissions controls the ice core sodium variability. Such ice cores may therefore record decadal to centennial scale Holocene sea ice changes. However, any relationship between ice core sodium and sea ice change may depend on how sea ice seasonality impacts sea salt emissions. Field-based observations are urgently required to constrain this.

Publication Date
2018
Online Publication Date
2018-06-09
Acceptance Date
2018-05-23
Keywords
sea salt aerosol, sea ice proxy, chemical transport model, Arctic, ice core
Journal Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Journal ISSN
0094-8276
1944-8007
Volume Title
45
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Sponsorship
Natural Environment Research Council (NE/J023051/1)
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) Marie Sk?odowska-Curie actions (658120)
Royal Society (RP120096)
Royal Society (NF171273)
European Union Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (658120, SEADOG) awarded to RHR. EWW acknowledges support from the Royal Society (RP 120096) XY acknowledges funding from NERC (NE/J023051/1).