INSOLUBLE PARTICLES IN POLAR ICE - IDENTIFICATION AND MEASUREMENT OF THE INSOLUBLE BACKGROUND AEROSOL

We have completed a new series of measurements of the size distributio n of insoluble particles in the radius range 0.050 - 1.31 mum retrieve d from Greenland ice cores. Taken together with our previous measureme nts, our work demonstrates that an insoluble background aerosol with a very distinctive size distribution exists. We also demonstrate that, in looking for evidence of the background aerosol, size distribution i s a better indicator than particle concentration.