Atmospheric Nitrate Isotopic Analysis at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, A Twenty-Five Year Record

This data set contains snow pit measurements of oxygen isotopes, 17O and 18O,  in nitrate and ion concentrations, and surface measurements of oxygen isotopes in nitrate and in nitrate aerosols  from the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica. The 6-meter snow pit provides  investigators with a 25-year record of nitrate isotope variations and  ion concentrations for a period spanning from 1979 to 2004. Monthly  surface snow and weekly aerosol collections yield a year-long record of  nitrate isotopic composition starting 01 December 2003 and ending 31  December 2004.

Little is known about the past denitrification of the stratosphere in high latitude regions. Such knowledge is important to understanding the chemical state of the ancient atmospheres and evaluating the present climate models. With this research, investigators aim to understand the denitrification of the Antarctic stratosphere and quantify the sources of nitrate aerosols over time.

Data are in Microsoft Excel format and are available via FTP.