Abstract It is estimated that the explosive Hudson volcano eruption in Southern Chile injected approximately 2.7 km3 of basalt and trachyandesite tephra into the troposphere between August 8-15, 1991. The Hudson signal has been detected in Antarctica at the eastern sector and in South Pole snow. In this work, we track the Hudson volcanic plume using a dispersion model, remote sensing, and a re-analysis of a high-resolution ice core analysis from the Detroit Plateau in the Antarctic Peninsula and sedimentary records from shallow lakes from King George Island (KGI). The Hudson eruption imprint in these records is confirmed by using a weekly resolved aerosol concentration database from KGI demonstrating that the regional impact of Hudson eruption predominates over the Mount Pinatubo/Phillippines volcanic signal, dated from June 1991, in terms of particulate matter depositions. The aerosol elemental composition of Ca, Fe, Ti, Si, Al, Zn, and Pb increases from 2 to 3 orders of magnitude in background level during the days following the eruption of the Hudson volcano.

Abstract Trace elements are emitted to the atmosphere from natural and anthropogenic sources. The increase in industrialization and mining occurring from the late 19th century released large quantities of toxic trace elements into the Earth’s atmosphere. Here we investigate the variability of concentrations of bismuth, cadmium, chromium, and lead in two Mount Johns – MJ (79°55’28”S, 94°23’18”W, 2100 m a.s.l) ice cores over 132 years (1883-2015). Trace element concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CCI/UMaine). The data show evidence of pollution for these elements in Antarctica as early as the 1883. Several maxima concentrations were observed: first at the beginning of the 20th century and the last from 1970s to 1990s, with a clear decrease during recent years. Emissions occur from different anthropogenic sources and appear to be variable throughout the record. The main source of these elements is attributed to mining and smelting of non-ferrous metals in South America, Africa, and Australia. As well as a probable lead enrichment due to the use of fossil fuels. The MJ ice core record also reflects changes in atmospheric circulation and transport processes, probably associated with a strengthening of the westerlies.

RESUMO: Um testemunho de neve de 92,26 m foi coletado em um dos divisores da bacia de drenagem glacial do manto de gelo da Antártica Ocidental no verão austral de 2008/2009. Este artigo descreveu os trabalhos de campo no sítio Mount Johns (79º55'S; 94º23'W) e apresentou os resultados das análises dos 45,00 m do registro superiores do testemunho e que representam cerca de 125 anos (1883 - 2008) de precipitação de neve, datados por meio da contagem anual das camadas e dos horizontes vulcânicos de referência. Os elementos-traço estudados neste trabalho foram determinados usando espectrometria de massas por plasma indutivamente acoplado em 2.137 amostras. As concentrações obtidas para Al, Ba, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Sr e Ti são controladas pelas variações climáticas, pela distância de transporte e pelas fontes naturais desses aerossóis. Contribuições naturais de poeira, oriundas principalmente das áreas áridas da Patagônia e da Austrália, são importantes fontes para alumínio, bário, ferro, manganês e titânio. Os aerossóis marinhos, provenientes do gelo marinho e transportados pelas massas de ar, são fontes importantes de sódio e magnésio. Cálcio, potássio e estrôncio apresentam aportes consideráveis tanto de poeira continental como de aerossóis marinhos.

ABSTRACT: An ice core, 92.26 m in length, was collected near the ice divide of the West Antarctica ice sheet during the 2008/2009 austral summer. This paper described the fieldwork at the Mount Johns site (79º55'S; 94º23'W) and presented the first results of the upper 45.00 m record covering approximately 125 years (1883 - 2008), dated by annual layer counting and volcanic reference horizons. Trace element concentrations in 2,137 samples were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The concentrations obtained for Al, Ba, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Sr and Ti are controlled by climate variations, the transport distance, and the natural sources of these aerosols. Natural dust contributions, mainly derived from the arid areas of Patagonia and Australia, are important sources for aluminum, barium, iron, manganese and titanium. Marine aerosols from sea ice and transported by air masses are important sources of sodium and magnesium. Calcium, potassium and strontium showed considerable inputs of both continental dust and marine aerosols.

Antarctica is the Earth’s largest environmental library for ice cores. Examples of the scientific fin-dings of the 21-nation consortium called the International Trans Antarctic Scientific Expedition (ITASE) under the auspices of the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) are presented with special emphasis on the value of these records in reconstructing atmospheric circulation over Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

La Antártica es la biblioteca medioambiental de testigos de hielo más grande del planeta. Algunos ejemplos de los hallazgos científicos del consorcio de 21 países llamado la Expedición Científica Internacional Trans Antártica (ITASE), bajo los auspicios del Comité Científico de Investigaciones Antárticas (SCAR) se presentan con especial énfasis en el valor de estos registros en la reconstrucción de la circulación atmosférica sobre la Antártica y el Océano Austral.

Two recently released reports document the past, present and future predictions for climate over the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean. From these syntheses it is clear that the Antarctic plays a critical role in hemispheric to regional climate change and that in recent times human activities are beginning to have a marked impact on Antarctic temperature, precipitation, atmospheric circulation, ocean circulation, sea ice extent and chemistry of the atmosphere.

Dos informes recientemente publicados documentan el pasado y presente, y las predicciones futuras para el clima sobre la Antártica y el Océano Austral. De estas síntesis es claro que Antártica juega un rol crítico en el cambio climático sufrido a nivel hemisférico y regional, y que las actividades humanas en tiempos recientes están empezando a tener un marcado impacto sobre la temperatura, precipitación, circulación atmosférica, circulación oceánica, extensión del hielo marino y química de la atmósfera en la Antártica.