A 2000-year record of arsenic variability from a South Pole ice core

TL;DR

This study presents a detailed 2000-year record of arsenic deposition from a South Pole ice core, revealing natural volcanic and human contributions, with implications for understanding atmospheric circulation and pollution history.

Contribution

It provides the first high-resolution, continuous record of arsenic in Antarctic ice, highlighting natural sources and early human impacts over two millennia.

Findings

Volcanic emissions significantly contribute to arsenic levels.

Human activities, especially copper production and coal burning, increased arsenic deposition since 1975.

Differences in arsenic deposition between East and West Antarctica are due to atmospheric circulation patterns.

Abstract

Using a South Pole ice core covering the last ~2050 years we present a high-resolution (4-27 samples/year), continuous record of natural and anthropogenic arsenic (As) deposition. Our results show that volcanic emissions (notably from Mt. Erebus) are a significant source of As for South Pole, and human activities potentially contributed to As deposition as early as 225 C.E. The most significant anthropogenic source As enrichment in the record, starting in 1975 C.E., is linked to increased copper production in Chile and at least partially to coal combustion from throughout the Southern Hemisphere. East and West Antarctic ice core delivered deposition differences are a result of differences in the atmospheric circulation patterns that transport As to these regions.