Accumulation rates over the past 260 years archived in Elbrus ice core, Caucasus

Abstract

Abstract. In this study, we present a seasonal-resolution accumulation record spanning the period from 1750 to 2009 Common Era (CE), based on a 181.8-m ice core obtained from the Elbrus Western Plateau in the Caucasus. We implemented various methods to account for uncertainties associated with glacier flow, layer thinning, and dating. Additionally, we developed a novel approach to calculate a seasonal calendar for meteorological data, enabling comparison with ice core records. The reconstructed accumulation data were compared with available meteorological data, gridded precipitation records, and paleo reanalysis data. Reconstructed accumulation is representative for a large region south of Eastern European plain and Black sea region. Summer precipitation was found to be the primary driver of precipitation variability. We identified a statistically significant but unstable in time relationship between changes in precipitation in the region and fluctuations of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index.

20th Century Changes of DOC and Its 14C Signature Archived in Caucasus Ice‐Core: Implications for Past Sources of Organic Carbon Aerosol in South‐Eastern Europe

“…Based on complementary data including the acidity, the dating was recently revisited by Mikhalenko et al. (2024), suggesting the presence of the 1815 Tambora horizon either at 153.7 or 154.7 m depth and an age of 1752 at 168.5 m depth (Text S1 and Figure S1 in Supporting Information ). Data reported in this work are reported with this new dating.…”