engleski

Glaciochemical investigations on the subterranean ice deposit of Vukušić Ice Cave, Velebit Mountain, Croatia

The 3H activity, 18O/16O and D/1H ratio and concentration of 33 metals and metalloids have been analysed on ice core samples from the perennial subterranean cave ice deposit of Vukušić Ice Cave, Velebit Mt. The tritium data suggested that the ice deposition at 2-2.4 m depth is build from precipitation fallen ~45 years before sampling and the uppermost ice layer could be estimated between early 1970s and early 1980s or between ~1954 and 1960. Both the fluctuation range of stable water isotopes and the derived isotopic waterline of the ice agree reasonably well with the corresponding data of the local precipitation. This fact predicts that the potential of Vukušić Ice Cave’s ice deposit is superior for paleoclimatological studies to the nearby Ledena Pit. Principal component analysis helped to select three groups of elements. The Ca-Mg governed group (PC1) encompasses the bedrock related components, hence the fluctuation of these elements might reflect to the past intensities of the dissolution process of the adjacent epikarst. The Zn governed group (PC2) preserves probably an atmospheric deposition signal and related to the emission regional non-ferrous metallurgy. PC3 is governed by Al and Fe. This probably carries the distal, non-karstic crustal components hence might be related to the past circulation (i.e. wind direction and speed).

Ice cave; stable isotopes; tritium; trace elements; Velebit

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