Arny E. Sveinbjornsdottir

The δ18O record along the Greenland Ice Core Project deep ice core and the problem of possible Eemian climatic instability

Over 70,000 samples from the 3029-m-long Greenland Ice Core Project (GRIP) ice core drilled on the top of the Greenland Ice Sheet (Summit) have been analyzed for δ8O. A highly detailed and continuous δ8O profile has thus been obtained and is discussed in terms of past temperatures in Greenland. We also discuss a three-core stacked annual δ8O profile for the past 917 years. The short-term (<50 years) variability of the annual δ8O signal is found to be 1‰ in the Holocene, and estimates for the coldest parts of the last glacial are 3‰ or higher. These data also provide insights into possible disturbances of the stratigraphic layering in the core which seems to be sound down to the onset of the Eemian. Spectral analysis of highly detailed sequences of the profile helps determine the smoothing of the δ8O signal, which for the Holocene ice is found to be considerably stronger than expected. We suggest this is due to a process involving diffusion of water molecules along crystal boundaries in the recrystallizing ice matrix. Deconvolution techniques were employed for restoring with great confidence the highly attenuated annual δ8O signal in the Holocene. We confirm earlier findings of dramatic temperature changes in Greenland during the last glacial cycle. Abrupt and strong climatic shifts are also found within the Eem/Sangamon Interglaciation, which is normally recorded as a period of warm and stable climate in lower latitudes. The stratigraphic continuity of the Eemian layers is consequently discussed in section 3 of this paper in terms of all pertinent data which we are not able to reconcile.

CHANGE OF DIET OF THE GREENLAND VIKINGS DETERMINED FROM STABLE CARBON ISOTOPE ANALYSIS AND 14 C DATING OF THEIR BONES

Bone samples from the Greenland Viking colony provide us with a unique opportunity to test and use (super 14) C dating of remains of humans who depended upon food of mixed marine and terrestrial origin. We investigated the skeletons of 27 Greenland Norse people excavated from churchyard burials from the late 10th to the middle 15th century. The stable carbon isotopic composition (delta (super 13) C) of the bone collagen reveals that the diet of the Greenland Norse changed dramatically from predominantly terrestrial food at the time of Eric the Red around AD 1000 to predominantly marine food toward the end of the settlement period around AD 1450. We find that it is possible to (super 14) C-date these bones of mixed marine and terrestrial origin precisely when proper correction for the marine reservoir effect (the (super 14) C age difference between terrestrial and marine organisms) is taken into account. From the dietary information obtained via the delta (super 13) C values of the bones we have calculated individual reservoir age corrections for the measured (super 14) C ages of each skeleton. The reservoir age corrections were calibrated by comparing the (super 14) C dates of 3 highly marine skeletons with the (super 14) C dates of their terrestrial grave clothes. The calibrated ages of all 27 skeletons from different parts of the Norse settlement obtained by this method are found to be consistent with available historical and archaeological chronology. The evidence for a change in subsistence from terrestrial to marine food is an important clue to the old puzzle of the disappearance of the Greenland Norse, obtained here for the first time by measurements on the remains of the people themselves instead of by more indirect methods like kitchen-midden analysis.

Major element chemistry of surface- and ground waters in basaltic terrain, N-Iceland.: I. primary mineral saturation

This contribution describes primary basalt mineral saturation in surface- and up to 90°C ground waters in a tholeiite flood basalt region in northern Iceland. It is based on data on 253 water samples and the mineralogical composition of the associated basalts. Surface waters are significantly under-saturated with plagioclase and olivine of the compositions occurring in the study area, saturation index (SI) values ranging from −1 to −10 and −5 to −20, respectively. With few exceptions these waters are also significantly under-saturated with pigeonite and augite of all compositions (SI = −1 to −7) and with ilmenite (SI = −0.5 to −6). The surface waters are generally over-saturated with respect to the titano-magnetite of the compositions occurring in the basalts of the study area, the range in SI being from −2 to +10. For crystalline OH-apatite, SI values in surface waters range from strong under-saturation (−10) to strong over-saturation (+5) but for crystalline F-apatite they lie in the range 0 to 15. Systematic under-saturation is, on the other hand, observed for “amorphous apatite,” i.e. an apatite of the kind Clark (1955) prepared by mixing Ca(OH)2 and H3PO4 solutions. Like surface waters, ground waters are under-saturated with plagioclase and olivine, its degree increasing with increasing Ca content of the plagioclase and increasing Fe content of the olivine, the SI values being −2 to −7 and 0 to −4 for the Ca-richest and Ca-poorest plagioclase, respectively, and about −3 to −18 and 0 to −15 for forsterite and fayalite, respectively. Ground waters are generally close to saturation with pigeonite and augite of all compositions. However, some non-thermal ground waters in highland areas are strongly under-saturated. Above 25°C the ground waters are ilmenite under-saturated but generally over-saturated at lower temperatures. These waters are titano-magnetite over-saturated at temperatures below 70°C, the SI values decreasing with increasing temperature from about 6 to 8 at 10°C to 0 at 70°C. The ground waters are highly over-saturated with both crystalline OH- and F-apatite, or by approximately 10 to 15 SI units but close to saturation with “amorphous apatite” containing about equal amounts of F and OH. The results presented here for the pyroxenes carry an unknown error because available thermodynamic data do not permit but a simple solid solution model for the calculation of their solubility. Published values on the dissociation constants for ferrous iron hydroxide complexes are very variable and those for ferric iron are limited. This casts an error of an unknown magnitude on the calculated SI values for all iron bearing minerals. This error may not be large for waters with a pH of less than 9 but it is apparently high for waters with a higher pH. Improved experimental data on the stability of ferrous and ferric hydrolysis constants are needed to improve the accuracy by which Fe-mineral saturation can be calculated in natural waters.

Effects of volcanic eruptions on the CO2 content of the atmosphere and the oceans: the 1996 eruption and flood within the Vatnajökull Glacier, Iceland

Abstract The October 1996 eruption within the Vatnajokull Glacier, Iceland, provides a unique opportunity to study the net effect of volcanic eruptions on atmospheric and oceanic CO 2 . Volatile elements dissolved in the meltwater that enclosed the eruption site were eventually discharged into the ocean in a dramatic flood 35 days after the beginning of the eruption, enabling measurement of 50 dissolved element fluxes. The minimum concentration of exsolved CO 2 in the 1×10 12 kg of erupted magma was 516 mg/kg, S was 98 mg/kg, Cl was 14 mg/kg, and F was 2 mg/kg. The pH of the meltwater at the eruption site ranged from about 3 to 8. Volatile and dissolved element release to the meltwater in less than 35 days amounted to more than one million tonnes, equal to 0.1% of the mass of erupted magma. The total dissolved solid concentration in the floodwater was close to 500 mg/kg, pH ranged from 6.88 to 7.95, and suspended solid concentration ranged from 1% to 10%. According to H, O, C and S isotopes, most of the water was meteoric whereas the C and S were of magmatic origin. Both C and S went through isotopic fractionation due to precipitation at the eruption site, creating “short cuts” in their global cycles. The dissolved fluxes of C, Ca, Na, Si, S and Mg were greatest ranging from 1.4×10 10 to 1.4×10 9 mol. The dissolved C flux equaled 0.6 million tonnes of CO 2 . The heavy metals Ni, Mn, Cu, Pb and Zn were relatively mobile during condensation and water–rock interactions at the eruption site. About half of the measured total carbon flood flux from the 1996 Vatnajokull eruption will be added to the long-term CO 2 budget of the oceans and the atmosphere. The other half will eventually precipitate with the Ca and Mg released. Thus, for eruptions on the ocean floor, one can expect a net long-term C release to the ocean of less than half that of the exsolved gas. This is a considerably higher net C release than suggested for the oceanic crust by Staudigel et al. [Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 53 (1989) 3091]. In fact, they suggested a net loss of C. Therefore, magma degassed at the ocean floor contributes more C to the oceans and the atmosphere than magma degassed deep in the oceanic crust. The results of this study show that subglacial eruptions affecting the surface layer of the ocean where either Mn, Fe, Si or Cu are rate-determining for the growth of oceanic biomass have a potential for a transient net CO 2 removal from the ocean and the atmosphere. For eruptions at high latitudes, timing is crucial for the effect of oceanic biota. Eruptions occurring in the wintertime when light is rate-determining for the growth of biota have much less potential for bringing about a transient net negative CO 2 flux from the ocean atmosphere reservoir.

Origin and history of hydrothermal fluids of the Reykjanes and Krafla geothermal fields, Iceland

The Reykjanes and Krafla geothermal fields are both examples of active high temperature systems and show similar assemblages of alteration minerals, but the fluid at Reykjanes is dominantly sea water whereas that at Krafla is meteoric. Oxygen isotope analyses of surface rock and of drill chip samples from different depths are presented, together with results for the Krafla fluid, which is close to local precipitation (δ18O = −11.9‰, δD= −86.8‰).Calcite in both systems is apparently in equilibrium with the present deep fluid at the present field temperature, except for the upper 250 m at Reykjanes where the fluid may be more meteoric than at depth. Feldspar gives similar results. Quartz separates at Reykjanes are anomalously lighter than coexisting feldspar and give exceptionally high quartz-fluid temperatures. It is suggested that quartz originally grew when the fluid was more nearly meteoric (? glacial period) and has not re-equilibrated. Bulk-rock 18O depletion supports this interpretation of the history of the Reykjanes system.Quartz in the Krafla system is mostly in equilibrium at the present field conditions but anomalies occur near the boundary between the upper and lower parts of the system, suggesting that this is not entirely stable. A high fluid:rock ratio (10–100 minimum) is indicated for the Krafla field.

Mortar Dating Using AMS 14C and Sequential Dissolution: Examples from Medieval, Non-Hydraulic Lime Mortars from the land Islands, SW Finland

Non-hydraulic mortars contain datable binder carbonate with a direct relation to the time when it was used in a building, but they also contain contaminants that disturb radiocarbon dating attempts. The most relevant contaminants either have a geological provenance and age or they can be related to delayed carbonate formation or devitrification and recrystallization of the mortar. We studied the mortars using cathodoluminescence (CL), mass spectrometry (MS), and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) in order to identify, characterize, and date different generations of carbonates. The parametersdissolution rate, 13C/12C and 18O/16O ratios, and 14C agewere measured or calculated from experiments where the mortars were dissolved in phosphoric acid and each successive CO2 increment was collected, analyzed, and dated. Consequently, mortar dating comprises a CL characterization of the sample and a CO2 evolution pressure curve, a 14C age, and stable isotope profiles from at least 5 successive dissolution increments representing nearly total dissolution. The data is used for modeling the interfering effects of the different carbonates on the binder carbonate age. The models help us to interpret the 14C age profiles and identify CO2 increments that are as uncontaminated as possible. The dating method was implemented on medieval and younger mortars from churches in the land Archipelago between Finland and Sweden. The results are used to develop the method for a more general and international use.

Helium isotope evidence for off-axis degassing of the Icelandic hotspot

Abstract We report a helium and carbon survey of 16 hydrothermal localities from Vestfirdir—the northwest peninsula of Iceland. The region is situated ∼250 km away from the Icelandic rift-axis, and is characterized by low-temperature ( 3 He / 4 He ratios ( R / R A ) values between those typical of MORB (8±1) and 30—the highest value matches the most extreme magmatic ratios reported worldwide to date. Four other localities have R / R A ∼MORB ratios with the remaining three showing heavy dilution with crustal radiogenic helium ( R / R A δ 13 C ( CO 2 ) (−6 to −16‰ PDB), and CO 2 / 3 He ratios vary over 4 orders of magnitude (4×10 6 to 2.9×10 10 ). There appears no systematic relationship between the volatile systematics and geographic distribution or age of reservoir rocks. Stable isotope ( δ 18 O and δ D) variations are consistent with a localized meteoric origin for the hydrothermal waters—the carrier phase of the volatiles. We conclude that release of magmatic volatiles in Vestfirdir occurs predominantly via incipient mantle melting with a negligible input of re-distributed volatiles from the rift zones. It is also highly unlikely that leaching of old reservoir rocks contribute to the mantle volatile flux: however, release of radiogenic helium from the uppermost crust does occur and this is accompanied by addition of isotopically light carbon most likely of organic origin. The light carbon input is most discernible when the mantle-derived carbon signal is reduced—most probably by reaction to form calcite. Although Vestfirdir makes a discernible (off-axis) input to the degassing history of the Icelandic hotspot, its contribution is extremely minor (∼0.04%) when compared to the degassing flux associated with rifting and volcanism along the Icelandic spreading zones.

Stable isotopes in the basal silty ice preserved in the Greenland Ice Sheet at summit; environmental implications

Modelling ice sheet behaviour in the context of climatic changes depends on initial and boundary conditions which can be better defined by studying the composition of basal ice. This study deals with basal ice reached by deep drilling at Summit in Central Greenland (GRIP core). The isotopic composition of this ice indicates that ice formed at the ground surface in the absence of the ice sheet largely contributed to its formation. The basal silty ice is a remnant of a growing stage of the ice sheet, possibly the original build up.

Opaque minerals in geothermal well no. 7, Krafla, Northern Iceland

Abstract Study of the opaque minerals from well No. 7, Krafla, indicates two mineral assemblages: (1) hydrothermally altered igneous minerals and (2) secondary minerals that have precipitated from the geothermal fluid at depths down to 2140 m, and at temperatures up to more than 340°C. Chief amongst the chemically precipitated minerals are pyrite, pyrrhotite and goethite, which is described here for the first time in an Icelandic geothermal drill hole. The geothermal system at Krafla has been periodically disturbed by the influx of volcanic emanations; this article attempts to interpret, by use of thermochemical calculations, the processes affecting the precipitated mineral assemblage.

Study of the effect of fossil organic carbon on 14C in groundwater from Hvinningdal, Denmark

The carbonate hydrochemistry of groundwater from the Hvinningdal aquifer (Denmark) was studied by radiocarbon (accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)) and delta (super 13) C measurements as a preliminary step towards (super 14) C groundwater dating. The (super 14) C concentrations varied between 30 and 100 percent modern carbon (pMC) in apparent contradiction with tritium ( (super 3) H) data, which in most cases indicate a post-bomb date. The dilution of (super 14) C can be explained as being due to the combined effect of dissolution of old soil carbonate and oxidation of old organic carbon. The last effect proved to be essential. To calculate this correction the dissolved oxygen concentration was used together with the delta (super 13) C values. The combined corrections bring the (super 14) C concentrations up to post-bomb levels in better agreement with the (super 3) H data.