Inconsistent relationships between major ions and water stable isotopes in Antarctic snow under different accumulation environments

Major ions, stable oxygen isotopes (δ18O), and accumulation rates are analyzed using high temporal resolution data from shallow ice cores and snow pits from East and West Antarctica. Seasonal cycles of major ions and δ18O are well preserved at sites with an accumulation rate threshold of >100 kg m−2 a−1 and calm wind conditions. The seasonal cycle is unclear at sites with high wind speeds, even if the accumulation rate is greater than the threshold. To eliminate the influences of different source regions on major ion and δ18O signals in ice cores, we calculate correlation coefficients between annually averaged major ion concentrations and δ18O, and then compare these with accumulation rates and other geographical variables such as latitude, elevation, and distance from the coast. We find that accumulation rates are highly correlated with elevation and the 10-m snow temperature, and that major ions and δ18O are negatively correlated at low accumulation sites in inland Antarctica. Negative correlations could reflect inconsistent accumulation due to a large inter-annual variability in the accumulation rate. The results show that the relationships between major ions and δ18O may not reflect climatic signatures, and could be a result of the unique characteristics of this arid environment.