A CONTINUOUS ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE FOR TRACE SPECIES IN ICE CORES

A continuous melting technique, combined with continuous flow analysis , has been developed for in situ measurements of chemical trace specie s in ice cores. A cross-section of 1.8 x 1.8 cm2 of the core is needed for the simultaneous analysis of at least four species. The subcore i s melted continuously from one side, and only the inner, uncontaminate d part of the melted sample is used for the analysis. The main advanta ge of this method as compared to conventional sampling and analysis pr ocedures is given by a very high spatial resolution, combined with a s ignificant reduction of sample handling work. The method can be applie d for any species for which a sensitive continuous flow analysis metho d exists. This technique has been applied successfully for the paralle l measurement of H2O2, HCHO, NH4+, and Ca2+ during the Greenland Ice C ore Project (GRIP) deep drilling project at Summit, central Greenland (72-degrees-34'N, 37-degrees-38'W, 3200 m above mean sea level).