Atmospheric trace metals and sulfate in the Greenland Ice Sheet

Chemical analyses of surface snow and dated deep ice core samples from central Greenland suggest that Zn, Pb and sulfate are presently being deposited there at two to three times the natural rates. No recent increases in Cd or V concentrations were observed. Pre-1900 ice shows no measurable effect of the activities of man and represents a good natural aerosol baseline. High enrichment factors relative to average crustal material were observed for Zn, Pb, Cd and sulfate in all samples indicating a natural source other than continental dust is responsible. A high temperature process or vapor phase origin for these enriched elements, possibly volcanism, seems likely.