Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

The record of global pollution in polar snow and ice

Nature volume 313, pages 535–540 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

Many attempts have been made to trace increases in global pollution from the record of impurities preserved in polar snow and ice layers. Although inadequate sampling and analysis techniques have hampered some of the studies, others have improved uniquely our understanding of the history of changes in airborne pollution.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hammer, C. U. in Atmospheric Chemistry (ed. Goldberg, E. D.) 119–134 (Springer, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Herron, M. M. & Herron, S. L. Hydrol. Sci. J. 28, 139–153 (1983).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Peel, D. A. New Scient. 98, 476–483 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Lorius, C., Merlivat, L., Jouzel, J. & Pourchet, M. Nature 280, 644–648 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Dansgaard, W. et al. Science 218, 1273–1277 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Schwander, J. & Stauffer, B. Nature 311, 45–47 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Craig, H. & Chou, C. C. Geophys. Res. Lett. 9, 1221–1224 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Robbins, R. C., Cavanagh, L. A., Salas, L. J. & Robinson, E. J. geophys. Res. 78, 5341–5344 (1973).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Khalil, M. A. K. & Rasmussen, R. A. Chemosphere 11, 877–883 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ehhalt, D. H., Zander, R. J. & Lamontage, R. A. J. geophys. Res. 88, 8442–8446 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rasmussen, R. A. & Khalil, M. A. K. J. geophys. Res. 86, 9826–9832 (1981).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Delmas, R. J., Ascencio, J.-M. & Legrand, M. Nature 284, 155–157 (1980).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Oeschger, H., Stauffer, B., Neftel, A., Schwander, J. & Zumbrunn, R. Ann. Glacial. 3, 227–232 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Neftel, A., Oeschger, H., Schwander, J., Stauffer, B. & Zumbrunn, R. Nature 295, 220–223 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Stauffer, B., Hofer, H., Oeschger, H., Schwander, J. & Siegenthaler, U. Ann. Glacial. 5, 160–164 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Sarmiento, J. L. & Toggweiler, J. R. Nature 308, 621–624 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Siegenthaler, U. & Wenk, Th. Nature 308, 624–626 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Raynaud, D. & Barnola, J. M. Ann. Glacial. 5, 224 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Barnola, J. M., Raynaud, D., Neftel, A. & Oeschger, H. Nature 303, 410–413 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Lorius, C. & Raynaud, D. in Carbon Dioxide, a Text on Current Views and Developments in Energy/Climate Research (eds Bach, W. et al.) 145–176 (Dordrecht, Reidel, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Moor, E. & Stauffer, B. J. Glaciol. 30, 358–361 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Siegenthaler, U. & Oeschger, H. Ann. Glaciol. 5, 153–159 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Robinson, E. & Robbins, R. C. Emission, concentrations and fate of particulate atmospheric pollutants (Am. Petr. Inst. Publ. 4070, Washington DC, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Junge, C. E. in Isotopes and Impurities in Snow and Ice No. 118, 63–77 (IAHS, Grenoble, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Pourchet, M., Pinglot, F. & Lorius, C. J. geophys. Res. 88, 6013–6020 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Peel, D. A. & Wolff, E. W. Ann. Glaciol. 3, 255–259 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Dick, A. L. & Peel, D. A. Ann. Glaciol. 7 (in the press).

  28. Davidson, C. I., Chu, L., Grimm, T. C., Nasta, M. A. & Qamoos, M. P. Atmos. Envir. 15, 1429–1437 (1981).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Nriagu, J. O. Nature 279, 409–411 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Ninth Rep. Royal Commission Env. Pollution paras 8.13–8.14 (HMSO, London, 1983).

  31. Boutron, C. F. & Patterson, C. C. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 47, 1355–1368 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Boutron, C. F. in Toxic Metals in the Air (eds Davidson, C. I. & Nriagu, J. O.) (Wiley, New York, in the press).

  33. Murozumi, M., Chow, T. J. & Patterson, C. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 33, 1247–1294 (1969).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Wolff, E. W. & Peel, D. A. Ann. Glaciol. 7 (in the press).

  35. Ng, A. & Patterson, C. C. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 45, 2109–2121 (1981).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Boutron, C. Analyt. chim. Acta. 106, 127–130 (1979).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Patterson, C. C. & Settle, D. M. National Bureau of Standards Spec. Publ. 422, 321–351 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Patterson, C. C. J. Ass. Official analyt. Chem. (1982).

  39. Mart, L. Tellus 35B, 131–141 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Boutron, C. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 43, 1253–1258 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Boutron, C. & Lorius, C. Nature 277, 551–554 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Boutron, C. J. geophys. Res. 85, 7426–7432 (1980).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Herron, M. M., Langway, C. C. Jr., Weiss, H. V. & Cragin, J. H. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 41, 915–920 (1977).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Boutron, C. Z. für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie, 17, 79–113 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  45. Boutron, C. Atmos. Envir. 16, 2451–2459 (1982).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Boutron, C., Leclerc, M. & Risler, N. Atmos. Envir. 18, 1947–1954 (1984).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Boutron, C. F. & Batifol, F. M. Ann. Glacial. 7 (in the press).

  48. Landy, M. P. & Peel, D. A. Nature 291, 144–146 (1981).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Landy, M. P. Analyt. chim. Acta 121, 39–49 (1980).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Wolff, E. W., Landy, M. P. & Peel, D. A. Analyt. Chem. 53, 1566–1570 (1981).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Boutron, C. & Martin, S. Analyt. Chem. 51, 140–145 (1979).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Boutron, C. & Martin, S. J. geophys. Res. 85, 5631–5638 (1980).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Herron, M. M. et al. in Isotopes and Impurities in Snow and Ice No 118, 98–102 (IAHS, Grenoble, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  54. Weiss, H. V., Koide, M. & Goldberg, E. D. Science 174, 692–694 (1971).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Appelquist, H., Jensen, K. O., Sevel, T. & Hammer, C. Nature 273, 657–659 (1978).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Dickson, E. M. Science 177, 536–538 (1972).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Robinson, J. Ecotoxicol. environ. Safety 5, 24–37 (1981).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Hinkley, T. K. in USGS Open File Report No. 78–701, 179–180 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  59. Jaworowski, Z., Bysiek, M. & Kownacka, L. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 45, 2185–2199 (1981).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Patterson, C. C. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 47, 1163–1168 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Jaworowski, Z., Bysiek, M. & Kownacka, L. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 47, 1169–1175 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Gjessing, Y. T. & Gjessing, E. T. Vatten 3, 233–237 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  63. Murozumi, M., Nakamura, S. & Yoshida, Y. Mem. Nat. Inst. Polar Res. Spec. Issue 7, 255–263 (1978).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Yoshida, Y. & Murozumi, M. Ant. Record (Japan) 59, 26–29 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  65. Miklishanskiy, A. Z., Yakovlev, Y. V., Savel'yev, B. V. & Zuyev, A. P. Geochem. Int. 1980, 152–158 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  66. Weiss, H., Bertine, K., Koide, M. & Goldberg, E. D. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 39, 1–10 (1975).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Carr, R. A. & Wilkniss, P. E. Science 181, 843 (1973).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Weiss, H. V., Koide, M., Bertine, K. K. & Goldberg, E. D. in Isotopes and Impurities in Snow and Ice No. 118, 103–107 (IAHS, Grenoble, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  69. Warburton, J. A., Linkletter, G. O., Owens, M. S., Young, L. G. & Anderson, A. V. J. rech. Atmos. 9, 119–126 (1975).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Warburton, J. A., Molenar, J. V., Owens, M. S. & Anderson, A. Pure appl. Geophys. 118, 1130–1144 (1980).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Taylor, S. R. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 28, 1273–1285 (1964).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Nriagu, J. O. (ed.) The Biogeochemistry of Lead in the Environment (North Holland, Amsterdam, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  73. Nriagu, J. O. (ed.) Cadmium in the Environment (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  74. Maenhaut, W., Zoller, W. H., Duce, R. A. & Hoffman, G. L. J. geophys. Res. 84, 2421–2431 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Picciotto, E. & Wilgain, S. J. geophys. Res. 68, 5965–5972 (1963).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Jouzel, J., Merlivat, L., Mazaudier, D., Pourchet, M. & Lorius, C. Geophys. res. Lett. 9, 1191–1194 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Jouzel, J., Merlivat, L., Pourchet, M. & Lorius, C. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 45, 188–200 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Crozaz, G., Langway, C. C. Jr & Picciotto, E. Res. Rept. 208 (US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, 1966).

    Google Scholar 

  79. Lambert, G., Ardouin, B., Sanak, J., Lorius, C. & Pourchet, M. in Isotopes and Impurities in Snow and Ice No. 118, 146–158 (IAHS, Grenoble, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  80. Pourchet, M. & Pinglot, J. F. Geophys. Res. Lett. 6, 365–367 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  81. Carter, M. W. & Moghissi, A. A. Health Physics 33, 55–71 (1977).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Merlivat, L., Ravoire, J., Vergnaud, J. P. & Lorius, C. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 19, 235–240 (1973).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  83. Merlivat, L., Jouzel, J., Robert, J. & Lorius, C. in Isotopes and Impurities in Snow and Ice No. 118, 138–145 (IAHS, Grenoble, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  84. Hebert, D. & Frohlich, K. ZFI-Mitteilungen 51, 87–100 (1982).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  85. Koide, M., Michel, R., Goldberg, E. D., Herron, M. M. & Langway, C. C. Jr Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 44, 205–223 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Koide, M., Michel, R., Goldberg, E. D., Herron, M. M. & Langway, C. C. Jr. Nature 296, 544–547 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  87. Aristarain, A. J. & Delmas, R. J. J. Glaciol. 27, 371–379 (1981).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  88. Peel, D. A. & Clausen, H. B. J. Glaciol. 28, 43–55 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  89. Cutter, G. A., Bruland, K. W. & Risebrough, R. W. Nature 279, 628–629 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  90. Koide, M., Goldberg, E. D., Herron, M. M. & Langway, C. C. Jr Nature 269, 137–139 (1977).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  91. Koide, M. & Goldberg, E. D. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 65, 245–248 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  92. Elmore, D. et al. Nature 300, 735–737 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  93. Peterle, T. J. Nature 224, 620 (1969).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  94. Peel, D. A. Nature 254, 324–325 (1975).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  95. Risebrough, R. W., Walker, W. II, Schmidt, T. T., de Lappe, B. W. & Connors, C. W. Nature 264, 738–739 (1976).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  96. Tanabe, S., Hidaka, H. & Tatsukawa, R. Chemosphere 12, 277–288 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  97. Delmas, R. J. & Gravenhorst, G. in Proc. EEC workshop on Acid Deposition (eds Beilke, F. & Elshout, A. J.) 82–107 (Reidel, Berlin, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  98. Legrand, M., De Angelis, M. & Delmas, R. J. Analyt. chim. Acta 156, 181–192 (1984).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  99. Legrand, M. R., Aristarain, A. J. & Delmas, R. J. Analyt. Chem. 54, 1336–1339 (1982).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  100. Legrand, M. R. & Delmas, R. J. Atmos. Envir. 18, 1867–1874 (1984).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  101. Hammer, C. U. J. Glaciol. 25, 359–372 (1980).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  102. Hammer, C. U., Clausen, H. B. & Dansgaard, W. Nature 288, 230–235 (1980).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  103. Hammer, C. U. J. phys. Chem. 87, 4099–4103 (1983).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  104. Herron, M. M. J. geophys. Res. 87, 3052–3060 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  105. Delmas, R. J., Barnola, J. M. & Legrand, M. Ann. Glaciol. 3, 71–76 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  106. Lorius, C., Baudin, G., Cittanova, J. & Platzer, R. Tellus 21, 136–148 (1969).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  107. Vilenskii, V. D. & Koroleva, N. I. Antarktika 12, 94–101 (1973).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  108. Aristarain, A. J., Delmas, R. J. & Briat, M. J. geophys. Res. 87, 11004–11012 (1982).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  109. Koerner, R. M. & Fisher, D. Nature 295, 137–140 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  110. Hammer, C. U. Nature 270, 482–486 (1977).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  111. Delmas, R. & Boutron, C. J. geophys. Res. 85, 5645–5649 (1980).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  112. Delmas, R. J., Aristarain, A. & Legrand, M. in Ecological Impact of Acid Precipitation (eds Drablos, D. & Tollan, A.) 104–105 (SNSF, Oslo, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  113. Rood, R. T., Sarazin, C. L., Zeller, E. J. & Parker, B. C. Nature 282, 701–703 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  114. Parker, B. C., Zeller, E. J. & Gow, A. J. Ann. Glaciol. 3, 243–248 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  115. Risbo, T., Clausen, H. B. & Rasmussen, K. L. Nature 294, 637–639 (1981).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  116. Cullis, C. F. & Hirschler, M. M. Atmos. Envir. 14, 1263–1278 (1980).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  117. Koide, M. & Goldberg, E. D. J. geophys. Res. 76, 6589–6596 (1971).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  118. Cragin, J. H., Herron, M. M., Langway, C. C. Jr. & Klouda, G. in Polar Oceans (ed. Dunbar, M. J.) 617–631 (Arctic Institute of North America, Calgary, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  119. Cragin, J. H., Herron, M. M. & Langway, C. C. Jr Res. Rept 341, US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (1975).

  120. Busenberg, E. & Langway, C. C. Jr J. geophys. Res. 84, 1705–1709 (1979).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  121. Delmas, R. & Boutron, C. Atmos. Envir. 12, 723–728 (1978).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  122. Doronin, A. N. Inf. ByulL sov. Antarkt. Eksped. 91, 62–69 (1975).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK

    Eric W. Wolff & David A. Peel

Authors
  1. Eric W. Wolff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David A. Peel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wolff, E., Peel, D. The record of global pollution in polar snow and ice. Nature 313, 535–540 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/313535a0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/313535a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing