Carbon Footprints Precede Real Footprints
Jul 30
Using data from 16 ice cores collected from widely spaced locations around Antarctica, including the South Pole itself, the DRI team created the most accurate and precise reconstruction of lead pollution on the Earth’s southern region to date. The new record, described in an article published in the online edition of the Nature journal Scientific Reports, spans a 410-year period from 1600 to 2010 A.D.
According to another recent article by ClickGreen Staff and Environmental New Network, “All measurements of lead and other chemicals used in this study were made using DRI's unique continuous ice core analytical system. Low background atmospheric concentrations, together with well-known and often distinct isotopic characteristics of industrial sources make lead an ideal tracer of industrial pollution.”
"Lead is a toxic heavy metal with strong potential to harm ecosystems," said co-author Paul Vallelonga of the University of Copenhagen. "While concentrations measured in Antarctic ice cores are very low, the records show that atmospheric concentrations and deposition rates increased approximately six-fold in the late 1880's, coincident with the start of mining at Broken Hill in southern Australia and smelting at nearby Port Pirie."
"It is very clear that industrial lead contamination was pervasive throughout Antarctica by the late 19th century, more than two decades before the first explorers made it to the South Pole," he added. "The idea that Amundsen and Scott were traveling over snow that clearly was contaminated by lead from smelting and mining in Australia, and that lead pollution at that time was nearly as high as any time ever since, is surprising to say the least."
Source: http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/47641
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