Isotopic view on nitrate loss in Antarctic surface snow

Abstract

Massive post‐depositional processes alter the nitrate concentration in polar firn where the annual snow accumulation is low. This hinders a direct atmospheric interpretation of the ice core nitrate record. Fractionation of nitrate isotopes during post‐depositional nitrate loss may allow estimating the amount of nitrate loss in the past. We measured δ 15 N of nitrate in two Antarctic surface cores from the Dome C area. In concert with the known concentration decrease with depth we observe an increase in the isotopic signature. Assuming a Rayleigh type process we find an isotope effect of ɛ = −54‰. We measured the fractionation factor for photolysis in the laboratory and obtained ɛ = −11.7 ± 1.4‰. As the observed fractionation factor in the firn is much lower this rules out that photolysis in the surface snow is the main process leading to the dramatic nitrate loss in the top centimeters of the firn.