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Sources And Deposition Processes Linking Atmospheric Chemistry And Firn Records From Four Glacier Accumulation Zones In The Mcmurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, Bruce R. Williamson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Samples of snow and firn from accumulation zones on the Victoria Upper Glacier, the Clark Glacier, the Commonwealth Glacier and the Blue Glacier in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (~77 to 78º S and 161 to 164º E), Antarctica, are evaluated chemically and isotopically to determine the relative importance of local (site-specific) factors versus regional-scale climatic influences in defining regional glaciochemistry. Two approaches for distinguishing these controls are examined: comparing chemical concentrations using multivariate statistical analysis, and examining the effect of physical filtration (capturing particulate material largely originating in close proximity to each site) on sample values. These techniques provide constraints …