Formate and acetate records in the Muztagata ice core, Northwest Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

Formate and acetate concentrations are measured in a 22.56 m-depth ice core recovered in Mt. Muztagata Glacier, northwest Tibetan Plateau. The mean concentrations for formate and acetate in this ice core are 186.6±160.1 and 136.4±133.9 ng/g, respectively. Study shows that there is a positive correlation between formate and nitrate, suggesting both continental origins. However, no significant relationship has been found between formate and acetate, though they both have obvious periodical variations. Because Mt. Muztagata lies in the mid-latitude and is correlative to the nearby human activities, formate and acetate concentrations are higher than those in Greenland and Antarctica. During recent decades, the increase of formate concentration in the Muztagata ice core and formaldehyde production shows a close correlation. We preliminarily presume that the high formate concentration in the Muztagata ice core is concerned with the thriving of house decoration in which excess formaldehyde was used.

Historic records of organic aerosols from a high Alpine glacier: implications of biomass burning, anthropogenic emissions, and dust transport

“…There are only few studies reporting concentration records of monoand dicarboxylic acids as well as α-dicarbonyls in ice cores (see Table 2). The average concentration of formate determined in this work is in the same range as reported in glaciers from Siberian Altai (period 1250-2001 AD, mean concentration 89 ng g −1 , Eichler et al, 2009), Col du Dôme, 1925-1995 ng g −1 , Legrand et al, 2003), and Tianshan (1981-1998.8 ng g −1 , Li et al, 2001), yet about 2 times lower than measured in an ice core from the Tibetan Plateau (1983)(1984)(1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)186.6 ng g −1 , Wang, 2004). The concentration…”

Promising Trends in Ice Core Research

“…Studies of organic compounds were performed for core samples from Altai [46], Tien Shan [27], the Alps [47], and Tibet [48]. K. Kawamura et al [49] were the first to obtain data on the Kamchatka Peninsula for specific markers of biomass combustion such as levoglucosan, dehydroabietic acid, vanillic acid, and parahydroxybenzoic acid.…”