N-Alkanes in fresh snow in Hokkaido, Japan: Implications for ice core studies
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N-Alkanes in fresh snow in Hokkaido, Japan : Implications for ice core studies. / Sankelo, Paula; Kawamura, Kimitaka; Seki, Osamu; Shibata, Hideaki; Bendle, James.
In: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, Vol. 45, No. 1, 01.02.2013, p. 119-131.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - N-Alkanes in fresh snow in Hokkaido, Japan
T2 - Implications for ice core studies
AU - Sankelo, Paula
AU - Kawamura, Kimitaka
AU - Seki, Osamu
AU - Shibata, Hideaki
AU - Bendle, James
PY - 2013/2/1
Y1 - 2013/2/1
N2 - Plant waxes (e.g. long-chain n-alkanes) in ice cores are a promising paleovegetation proxy. However, much work needs to be done to assess how n-alkanes are transported from source areas to, and incorporated into, glacial archives. In this paper we present analyses of n-alkanes in seasonal snow and assess the information on source vegetation. n-Alkanes with carbon numbers C18 to C43 were extracted from snow samples collected at two sites in Hokkaido, northern Japan, during winter 2009-2010. Molecular distributions revealed that the majority of the n-alkanes originated from higher vegetation (ca. 65%), rather than anthropogenic sources. The distribution characteristics confirmed that the n-alkane signal had a wide regional origin, rather than a local source. We determined stable carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions for the C27n-alkane. The δ13C of the C27 (- 28.2 to - 33.0‰) was more representative of C 3 than C4 vegetation, while the δD of the C 27 (- 169.9 to - 223.1%‰) indicated growth latitudes more northerly than Hokkaido. The n-alkanes in the snow preserve information about the source vegetation type (photosynthetic group, growth site), confirming that if deposited with seasonal snows that firnify to form glacial ice, they have potential to record broad, regional vegetation changes over time.
AB - Plant waxes (e.g. long-chain n-alkanes) in ice cores are a promising paleovegetation proxy. However, much work needs to be done to assess how n-alkanes are transported from source areas to, and incorporated into, glacial archives. In this paper we present analyses of n-alkanes in seasonal snow and assess the information on source vegetation. n-Alkanes with carbon numbers C18 to C43 were extracted from snow samples collected at two sites in Hokkaido, northern Japan, during winter 2009-2010. Molecular distributions revealed that the majority of the n-alkanes originated from higher vegetation (ca. 65%), rather than anthropogenic sources. The distribution characteristics confirmed that the n-alkane signal had a wide regional origin, rather than a local source. We determined stable carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions for the C27n-alkane. The δ13C of the C27 (- 28.2 to - 33.0‰) was more representative of C 3 than C4 vegetation, while the δD of the C 27 (- 169.9 to - 223.1%‰) indicated growth latitudes more northerly than Hokkaido. The n-alkanes in the snow preserve information about the source vegetation type (photosynthetic group, growth site), confirming that if deposited with seasonal snows that firnify to form glacial ice, they have potential to record broad, regional vegetation changes over time.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84878163525&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1657/1938-4246-45.1.119
DO - 10.1657/1938-4246-45.1.119
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84878163525
VL - 45
SP - 119
EP - 131
JO - Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
JF - Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
SN - 1523-0430
IS - 1
ER -