While the majority of ice core investigations have been undertaken in the polar regions, a few ice cores recovered from carefully selected high altitude/mid-to-low latitude glaciers have also provided valuable records of climate variability in these regions (Mayewski et al., 1984; Thompson et al., 1989; 1995; 1997; 2000; Aizen et al., 1996, 1997; Wagenbach, 1989; Wake and Mayewski, 1996; Wake et al., 1998; Kreutz and Sholkovitz, 2000). A regional array of high resolution, multi-parameter ice core records developed from temperate and tropical regions of the globe can be used to document regional climate and environmental change in the latitudes which are home to the vast majority of the Earth's human population. In addition, these records can be directly compared with ice core records available from the polar regions and can therefore expand our understanding of inter-hemispheric dynamics of past climate changes.
The main objectives of our paleoclimate research in the Tien Shan mountains of middle Asia combine the development of detailed paleoenvironmental records via the physical and chemical analysis of ice cores with the analysis of modern meteorological and hydrological data. The first step in this research, work that was funded jointly by DOE (this grant) and the National Science Foundation - Paleoclimate Program, was the collection of ice cores from the accumulation zone of the Inylchek Glacier and the collection of meteorological data from a variety of stations throughout the Tien Shan. The research effort described in this report was part of a collaborative effort with the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Global Environmental Research Program which began studying radionuclide deposition in mid-latitude glaciers in 1995.
During July and August of 2000, an international team of scientists traveled to the Inylchek Glacier in the central Tien Shan (Figure 1) to recover two ice cores and perform a variety of other experiments to assist with the eventual interpretation of the ice core record. Meteorological and hydrological data for the region was also gathered with the assistance of colleagues from Kyrgyzstan.
This collaborative research effort involved scientists from the University of California at Santa Barbara Vladimir Aizen and Elena Aizen, University of New Hampshire Cameron Wake, University of Maine Karl Kreutz, the US Geological Survey DeWayne Cecil and Jaromy Green, Paul Sherrer Technological Institute Hans-Arno Synal, Tomsk State University Stanislav Nikitin, and Kyrgyz-Slavic State University Artem Atamanov .
Research Funded by National Science Foundation - (ATM-0000561) and Department of Energy - Idaho Falls (FG07-00ID13906)
Central Asia Map
Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan, Summer 2000 Photos
Tien Shan Publications
Aizen, V. B., E.M. Aizen, K.J. Kreutz, J. A. Melack, L.D. Cecil. (in review) Association between atmospheric circulation patterns and shallow firn core records from the South Inilchek Glacier, Tien Shan Mountains, central Asia. Journal of Geophysical Research.
Gerasimoff, M. and C.P. Wake (2001) A Reason for Resin. J.Glaciology , 47, 153.article
Kreutz, K. J., A. B. Aizen, L. D. Cecil, and C. P. Wake. (in press). Oxygen isotopic and soluble ionic composition of a shallow firn core, Inilchek Glacier (Central Tien Shan). J. Glaciology. abstract
Aizen, E.M., V.B Aizen, J.M. Melack, T. Nakamura, and T. Ohta. (2001) Precipitation and Atmospheric Circulation Patterns at Mid-Latitudes of Asia. International Journal of Climatology 21, 535-556.
Kreutz, K.J., and E.R. Sholkovitz (2000) Major element, rare earth element, and sulfur isotopic composition of a high-elevation firn core: Sources and transport of mineral dust in Central Asia, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems (G3), 1, paper 2000GC000082.
ABSTRACTS
Aizen V. B. et al., An approach for interpretation of ice-core paleo-climatic records from the central Tien Shan based on complex of isotopes/major ions composition and long-term meteorological/synoptic data. Symposium on Ice Cores and Climate, International Glaciological Society, Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, August 19-23, 2001.
Cecil, D. et al., Cl-36 and I-129 in Ice Cores Collected from Inilchek, Nangpai Gosum, and Upper Fremont Glaciers. Symposium on Ice Cores and Climate, International Glaciological Society, Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, August 19-23, 2001.
Cecil, L.D., The United States Geological Survey's Global, Mid-Latitude Ice-Core Research Program. Symposium on Ice Cores and Climate, International Glaciological Society, Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, August 19-23, 2001.
Kreutz, K.J. et al, Spatial and altitudinal variability of precipitation isotopes in the central Tien Shan mountains, Symposium on Ice Cores and Climate, International Glaciological Society, Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, August 19-23, 2001.
Aizen, V. B., et al., Association between atmospheric circulation patterns and ice core records from snow-firn field of Inilchek Glacier, Central Tien Shan. 1999 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, H12D-08, pp. 335, 1999
Kreutz, K.J., Sholkovitz, E.R., Aizen, V.B., Aizen, E., Cecil, L.D., and Wake, C.P. The rare earth element composition of Central Asian dust: A new ice-core proxy for atmospheric aerosol loading, source, and transport pathways. Proceedings AGU Fall Meeting, San Fransisco, 1999.
Kreutz, K.J., et al. Isotopic and Soluble Ionic Characteristics of a Shallow Firn Core From the Inilchek Glacier, Central Tien Shan. Proceedings AGU Spring Meeting, Boston, 1999.
Aizen, V. B., K.J. Kreutz, C.P. Wake, D.L. Cecil, and E.M. Aizen. Meteorological Monitoring and Ice Core Reconnaissance in the Central Tien Shan. Proceedings, 1998 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, A32A-03, pp. 224, 1998.
Photo Gallery - 1998 Khumbu Himal Ice Core Drilling Program
Himalayan Ice Core Publications
Wake, C.P., P. A. Mayewski, Qin Dahe, Yang Qinzhao, Kang Sichang, S. Whitlow, and L. D. Meeker. (2001) Changes in Atmospheric Circulation over the South-Eastern Tibetan Plateau over the last Two Centuries from a Himalayan Ice Core. PAGES News. Vol 9, No. 3, p. 14-16. PAGES Newsletter Vol 9
Qin, D., P.A. Mayewski, C.P. Wake, S. Kang, J. Ren, S. Hou, T. Yao, Q. Yang, Z. Jin and D. Mi (2000) Evidence for recent climate change from ice cores in the central Himalaya. Annals of Glaciology 31, 153-158.
Shrestha, A.B., C.P. Wake, J.E. Dibb, P.A. Mayewski, S.I. Whitlow, G.R. Carmichael and M. Ferm (2000) Seasonal variations in aerosol concentrations and compositions in the Nepal Himalaya. Atmos. Environ. 24, 3349-3363.
Kang, S., C.P. Wake, D. Qin, P. Mayewski and T. Yao (2000) Monsoon and dust signals recorded in the Dasuopo Glacier, Tibetan Plateau. J. Glaciol. 46, 222-226.
Shrestha, A., C.P. Wake, J. Dibb and P. Mayewski and (2000) Precipitation fluctuations in the Nepal Himalaya and its vicinity and relationship with some large scale climatological parameters. International J. Climatol. 21, 317-327.
Shrestha, A., C.P. Wake, P. Mayewski and J. Dibb (1999) Maximum temperature trends in the Himalaya and vicinity: An analysis based on temperature records from Nepal for the period 1971-94. J. Climate 12, 2775-2786.
Hou, S., D. Qin, C.P. Wake and P.A Mayewski (1999) Abrubt decrease in recent snow accumulation at Mount Qomolangma (Everest), Himalaya. J. Glaciol. 585-586.
Wake, C. and M. Stievenard (1996) The amount effect and oxygen isotope ratios recorded in Himalayan snow. Proceedings of the IGBP-PAGES/PEPII Nagoya Symposium, Nov. 28-Dec. 1, 1995, Nagoya, 236-241.
Wake C. P., Mayewski P. A., Li Z., Han J., and Qin D. (1994) Modern eolian dust deposition in central Asia. Tellus 46B, 220-233.
Wake C. P., Dibb J. E., Mayewski P. A., Xie Z., Li Z., Ping W., and Qin D. (1994) The chemical composition of aerosols over the eastern Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau during low dust periods. Atmos. Environ. 28, 695-704.
Wake C. P., Mayewski P. A., Xie Z., Wang P., and Li Z. (1993) Regional variation of monsoon and desert dust signals recorded in Asian glaciers. Geophys. Res. Lett. 20, 1411.
Wake C. P. and Mayewski P. A. (1993). The spatial variation of Asian dust and marine aerosol contributions to glaciochemical signals in central Asia. In G. Young (Ed.) International Symposium on Snow and Glacier Hydrology, Kathmandu, Nov 1992, 385-402.
Wake, C., Mayewski, P.A., Wang, P. and Yang, Q. (1992) Anthropogenic sulfate signals in fresh snow from Tien Shan, north west China. Annals of Glaciology 16, 45-52
Wake, C., Mayewski, P.A. and Spencer, M.J. (1990) A review of Central Asian glaciochemical data. Annals of Glaciology 14, 301-306.