Identifying atmospheric processes favouring the formation of bubble-free layers in the Law Dome ice core, East Antarctica

Zhang, Lingwei; Vance, Tessa R.; Fraser, Alexander D.; Jong, Lenneke M.; Thompson, Sarah S.; Criscitiello, Alison S.; Abram, Nerilie J.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-5155-2023

Articles | Volume 17, issue 12

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-5155-2023

© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Special issue:

Ice core science at the three poles (CP/TC inter-journal SI)

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-5155-2023

© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 17, issue 12

Research article

|

06 Dec 2023

Research article |

| 06 Dec 2023

Identifying atmospheric processes favouring the formation of bubble-free layers in the Law Dome ice core, East Antarctica

Lingwei Zhang, Tessa R. Vance, Alexander D. Fraser, Lenneke M. Jong, Sarah S. Thompson, Alison S. Criscitiello, and Nerilie J. Abram

Data sets

AAS_4537_DSS1617_Bubble_Free_Layers T. R. Vance, L. Zhang, A. Fraser, L.M. Jong, and S. S. Thompson https://doi.org/10.26179/5vnb-zc56

ERA5-Land hourly data from 1950 to present J. Muñoz Sabater https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.e2161bac

Bubble free layers in a Law Dome ice core (DSS1617), East Antarctica, Ver. 1 T. R. Vance, L. Zhang, A. Fraser, L. M. Jong, and S. S. Thompson https://doi.org/10.26179/5vnb-zc56

Short summary

Physical features in ice cores provide unique records of past variability. We identified 1–2 mm ice layers without bubbles in surface ice cores from Law Dome, East Antarctica, occurring on average five times per year. The origin of these bubble-free layers is unknown. In this study, we investigate whether they have the potential to record past atmospheric processes and circulation. We find that the bubble-free layers are linked to accumulation hiatus events and meridional moisture transport.