Transport of crustal microparticles from Chilean Patagonia to the Antarctic Peninsula by SEM-EDS analysis

Abstract

The individual elemental composition of insoluble airborne particulates found in King George Island (KGI), Antarctic Peninsula (atmosphere, snow, firn and ice deposits) and in the atmosphere of Chilean Patagonia by SEM-EDS analysis identify probable sources and transport mechanisms for the atmospheric aerosols observed in these regions. Insoluble airborne particulates found in the snow, firn and ice in a core from Lange Glacier (KGI) call for significant crustal influence, mainly associated with aluminium potassium, aluminium calcium and magnesium iron silicates together with other aluminium silicates of calcium and magnesium, among rare others containing Ti, Ni and Cr. Our study suggests that 95% of the bulk mode insoluble particulates deposited in Lange Glacier can be explained by atmospheric transport from Chilean Patagonia. Cyclonic systems passing between southernmost South America and the Antarctic Peninsula are the most probable atmospheric transport mechanism, tracked by measurements of ²²²Rn and Si.