Paleoclimate from Mount Everest Ice Cores

这项研究的主要目标是分析2001年春季中美联合研究小组收集的三个冰芯。当时，在海拔6500米的东荣布(ERC)冰川上发现了117米高的冰芯。除了这些分析，研究人员还将参加中美联合考察队前往该地区，获取现代冰川和气象数据，以帮助解释冰芯数据。根据当地的累积速度和层变薄估计，新的117米ERC岩芯可能代表了至少几个世纪的积雪。因此，研究人员有机会从该地区开发出校准的、高分辨率的古气候记录，这将补充之前来自山上的古气候研究。对冰芯的分析将侧重于产生主要离子浓度(即氯、硝酸盐、硫酸盐、钙、镁、钠、钾和铵)、稳定同位素比率(即氧和氢)以及总元素浓度(即铁、铝、钙和硫)的详细时间序列。这些数据将被用来开发：--该地区涉及大气环流、温度和降水的晚全新世气候变化的高分辨率时间序列，以及--生物质燃烧、沙尘暴、人为污染物以及海洋和大陆生物来源生产力的详细环境记录。对冰芯的分析可以增加我们对影响世界人口稠密地区的重要天气系统的大气动力学的了解。来自美国和中国的科学同行的互动和合作将增强成功的前景。

The primary goal of this research is to analyze three ice cores collected by a joint Chinese-US team of researchers in the spring of 2001. At that time, a 117-meter ice core was recovered from the East Rongbuk (ERC) glacier at 6500 meters above sea level. In addition to these analyses, the researchers will participate in a joint Chinese-US expedition to the region to retrieve modern day glaciological and meteorological data to aid in the interpretation of the ice core data.Based on local accumulation rates and layer thinning estimates, the new 117-meter ERC core likely represents at least several centuries of snow deposition. Thus, the researchers have the opportunity to develop a calibrated, high-resolution paleoclimate record from the region that will complement previous paleoclimatological research from Mt. Everest and Central Asia.The analysis of the ice cores will focus on producing a detailed time-series of major ion concentrations (i.e., chloride, nitrate, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and ammonium), stable isotope ratios (i.e., oxygen and deuterium), and total element concentration (i.e., iron, aluminum, calcium, and sulfur). These data will be used to develop:-- high-resolution time series of Late Holocene climate variability for the region involving atmospheric circulation, temperature, and precipitation, and -- detailed environmental records of biomass burning, dust storms, anthropogenic pollutants, and marine and continental biogenic source productivity. The analyses of the ice cores could increase our understanding of the atmospheric dynamics of an important weather system that impacts a heavily populated region of the world. The interaction and cooperation of scientific colleagues from the United States and China will enhance the prospects for success.