Comment on "Low time resolution analysis of polar ice cores cannot detect impulsive nitrate events" by D.F. Smart et al.

Wolff, E. W. and Bigler, M and Curran, MAJ and Dibb, JE and Frey, MM and Legrand, M and Mcconnell, JR (2016) Comment on "Low time resolution analysis of polar ice cores cannot detect impulsive nitrate events" by D.F. Smart et al. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 121 (3). pp. 1920-1924. ISSN 2169-9291 DOI doi/10.1002/2015JA021570

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Abstract

©2016. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. Smart et al. (2014) suggested that the detection of nitrate spikes in polar ice cores from solar energetic particle (SEP) events could be achieved if an analytical system with sufficiently high resolution was used. Here we show that the spikes they associate with SEP events are not reliably recorded in cores from the same location, even when the resolution is clearly adequate. We explain the processes that limit the effective resolution of ice cores. Liquid conductivity data suggest that the observed spikes are associated with sodium or another nonacidic cation, making it likely that they result from deposition of sea salt or similar aerosol that has scavenged nitrate, rather than from a primary input of nitrate in the troposphere. We consider that there is no evidence at present to support the identification of any spikes in nitrate as representing SEP events. Although such events undoubtedly create nitrate in the atmosphere, we see no plausible route to using nitrate spikes to document the statistics of such events.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	2015AREP; IA70; weekly list
Subjects:	01 - Climate Change and Earth-Ocean Atmosphere Systems
Divisions:	01 - Climate Change and Earth-Ocean Atmosphere Systems 08 - Green Open Access
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Volume:	121
Page Range:	pp. 1920-1924
Identification Number:	doi/10.1002/2015JA021570
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	22 Apr 2016 11:41
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2016 00:00
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/3621

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