Investigation of a deep ice core from the Elbrus western plateau, the Caucasus, Russia

A groundbreaking ice core from the western plateau of Mt. Elbrus, Caucasus, reveals undisturbed paleoclimate records spanning over 140 years, with annual layering enabling precise intraseasonal climate proxy analysis. The 182-meter core, drilled in 2009, shows high snow accumulation rates and borehole temperatures ranging from -17°C to -2.4°C, with glacier thickness varying from 45 m near the margins to 255 m at the center. Chemical analysis of stable isotopes (δ18O, δD), major ions, succinic acid, and tritium confirmed distinct annual oscillations, aiding in core dating and aligning with known markers like the 1963 bomb horizon and the 1912 Katmai eruption sulfate peak. Mathematical modeling suggests basal ice ages of ~350–400 years BP at the drilling site, offering valuable insights into the atmospheric history of Europe.

Mikhalenko, V., Sokratov, S., Kutuzov, S., Ginot, P., Legrand, M., Preunkert, S., Lavrentiev, I., Kozachek, A., Ekaykin, A., Faïn, X., Lim, S., Schotterer, U., Lipenkov, V., & Toropov, P. (2015). Investigation of a deep ice core from the Elbrus western plateau, the Caucasus, Russia. The Cryosphere, 9(6), 2253–2270. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-2253-2015