A CONTINUOUS ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE FOR TRACE SPECIES IN ICE CORES

A continuous melting technique, combined with continuous flow analysis, has been developed for in situ measurements of chemical trace species in ice cores. A cross-section of 1.8 x 1.8 cm2 of the core is needed for the simultaneous analysis of at least four species. The subcore is melted continuously from one side, and only the inner, uncontaminated part of the melted sample is used for the analysis. The main advantage of this method as compared to conventional sampling and analysis procedures is given by a very high spatial resolution, combined with a significant reduction of sample handling work. The method can be applied for any species for which a sensitive continuous flow analysis method exists. This technique has been applied successfully for the parallel measurement of H2O2, HCHO, NH4+, and Ca2+ during the Greenland Ice Core Project (GRIP) deep drilling project at Summit, central Greenland (72-degrees-34'N, 37-degrees-38'W, 3200 m above mean sea level).