Linking stable water isotopes in a firn core from the Weddell Sea sector to regional atmospheric patterns

Stable water isotopes data extracted from polar ice/firn cores provides valuable climate information. This study presents isotopic time series from a shallow firn core (∼9 m deep) in the Möller Ice Stream basin, Weddell Sea sector, Antarctica. We investigated the relationships between water isotopic...

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Main Authors: Andressa Marcher, Jefferson C Simōes, Ronaldo T Bernardo, Pedro T Valente, Isaias U Thoen, Francisco E Aquino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:Environmental Research Communications
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/adc5ce
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author Andressa Marcher
Jefferson C Simōes
Ronaldo T Bernardo
Pedro T Valente
Isaias U Thoen
Francisco E Aquino
author_facet Andressa Marcher
Jefferson C Simōes
Ronaldo T Bernardo
Pedro T Valente
Isaias U Thoen
Francisco E Aquino
author_sort Andressa Marcher
collection DOAJ
description Stable water isotopes data extracted from polar ice/firn cores provides valuable climate information. This study presents isotopic time series from a shallow firn core (∼9 m deep) in the Möller Ice Stream basin, Weddell Sea sector, Antarctica. We investigated the relationships between water isotopic ratios ( δ s; i.e., δ ^18 O and δ D), d-excess data, hemispheric and regional meteorological data, large-scale atmospheric modes, specifically the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and Pacific South America pattern (PSA), as well as the position and depth of the Amundsen Sea Low (ASL). The interannual variability of δ s from 1999–2014 is largely explained by changes in SAM and PSA phases and the ASL response. Positive δ s anomalies are associated with (1) warming in the Antarctic Peninsula, southern tip of South America, and high latitudes of the western Southern Atlantic Ocean; (2) northerly flow of heat and moisture from the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea sector; (3) establishment of positive geopotential anomalies over the southeast of South America and New Zealand, and negative geopotential anomalies over the ASL region; and, to a lesser extent, (4) the decrease in sea ice in the Weddell Sea sector. Although the δ s reflect large-scale atmospheric forcing, it is important to note that core-based studies may have biases and limited regional representation. This underscores the need for further ice core research to refine these connections at the basin scale and improve regional climate reconstructions.
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spelling doaj-art-cae45f574c0540b5b7f7cc7e980d1d872025-08-20T02:25:43ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Communications2515-76202025-01-017404100410.1088/2515-7620/adc5ceLinking stable water isotopes in a firn core from the Weddell Sea sector to regional atmospheric patternsAndressa Marcher0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2680-1757Jefferson C Simōes1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5555-3401Ronaldo T Bernardo2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1143-7916Pedro T Valente3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2783-0069Isaias U Thoen4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2419-8838Francisco E Aquino5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2993-1100Centro Polar e Climático, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, CEP 91.540-000, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilCentro Polar e Climático, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, CEP 91.540-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Climate Change Institute, University of Maine , Orono, ME 04469-5790, United States of AmericaCentro Polar e Climático, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, CEP 91.540-000, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilCentro Polar e Climático, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, CEP 91.540-000, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilCentro Polar e Climático, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, CEP 91.540-000, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilCentro Polar e Climático, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, CEP 91.540-000, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilStable water isotopes data extracted from polar ice/firn cores provides valuable climate information. This study presents isotopic time series from a shallow firn core (∼9 m deep) in the Möller Ice Stream basin, Weddell Sea sector, Antarctica. We investigated the relationships between water isotopic ratios ( δ s; i.e., δ ^18 O and δ D), d-excess data, hemispheric and regional meteorological data, large-scale atmospheric modes, specifically the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and Pacific South America pattern (PSA), as well as the position and depth of the Amundsen Sea Low (ASL). The interannual variability of δ s from 1999–2014 is largely explained by changes in SAM and PSA phases and the ASL response. Positive δ s anomalies are associated with (1) warming in the Antarctic Peninsula, southern tip of South America, and high latitudes of the western Southern Atlantic Ocean; (2) northerly flow of heat and moisture from the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea sector; (3) establishment of positive geopotential anomalies over the southeast of South America and New Zealand, and negative geopotential anomalies over the ASL region; and, to a lesser extent, (4) the decrease in sea ice in the Weddell Sea sector. Although the δ s reflect large-scale atmospheric forcing, it is important to note that core-based studies may have biases and limited regional representation. This underscores the need for further ice core research to refine these connections at the basin scale and improve regional climate reconstructions.https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/adc5ceice coresstable water isotopesatmospheric patternswest Antarctica
spellingShingle Andressa Marcher
Jefferson C Simōes
Ronaldo T Bernardo
Pedro T Valente
Isaias U Thoen
Francisco E Aquino
Linking stable water isotopes in a firn core from the Weddell Sea sector to regional atmospheric patterns
Environmental Research Communications
ice cores
stable water isotopes
atmospheric patterns
west Antarctica
title Linking stable water isotopes in a firn core from the Weddell Sea sector to regional atmospheric patterns
title_full Linking stable water isotopes in a firn core from the Weddell Sea sector to regional atmospheric patterns
title_fullStr Linking stable water isotopes in a firn core from the Weddell Sea sector to regional atmospheric patterns
title_full_unstemmed Linking stable water isotopes in a firn core from the Weddell Sea sector to regional atmospheric patterns
title_short Linking stable water isotopes in a firn core from the Weddell Sea sector to regional atmospheric patterns
title_sort linking stable water isotopes in a firn core from the weddell sea sector to regional atmospheric patterns
topic ice cores
stable water isotopes
atmospheric patterns
west Antarctica
url https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/adc5ce
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