The Cryosphere
The Cryosphere
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Articles | Volume 18, issue 10
Articles | Volume 18, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4645-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4645-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 18, issue 10
Research article
 | 
09 Oct 2024
Research article |  | 09 Oct 2024

The grain-scale signature of isotopic diffusion in ice

Felix S. L. Ng

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Cited articles

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Bigler, M., Svensson, A., Kettner, E., Vallelonga, P., Nielsen, M. E., and Steffensen, J. P.: Optimization of high resolution continuous flow analysis for transient climate signals in ice cores, Environ. Sci. Technol., 45, 4483–4489, https://doi.org/10.1021/es200118j, 2011. 
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Liquid veins and grain boundaries in ice can accelerate the decay of climate signals in δ18O and δD by short-circuiting the slow isotopic diffusion in crystal grains. This theory for "excess diffusion" has not been confirmed experimentally. We show that, if the mechanism occurs, then distinct isotopic patterns must form near grain junctions, offering a testable prediction of the theory. We calculate the patterns and describe an experimental scheme for testing ice-core samples for the mechanism.
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