POLAR ICE STRATIGRAPHY FROM LASER-LIGHT SCATTERING - SCATTERING FROM MELTWATER

We describe a new laser-light-scattering instrument for measuring vari ations in dust concentration along polar ice cores. We have used this instrument with considerable success on the GISP2 ice core from centra l Greenland. Reproducibility is excellent and the required ice-sample size is relatively small. When combined with visual stratigraphy and E CM, the distinct annual spring/summer dust peaks we observe can be use d to date the core with tree-ring-like precision.