Comparison of analytical results for chloride, sulfate and nitrate obtained from adjacent ice core samples by two ion chromatographic methods.

The anions chloride, sulfate and nitrate in nearly 500 pairs of ice core samples from the same depth were determined in a 121 m long ice core from Svalbard. The analyses were performed separately using an ion chromatograph with Dionex AS9 and AS15 columns with Na(2)CO(3) and NaOH eluents. Results showed a small (5-6 microg l(-1)) but statistically significant difference in mean concentrations for chloride and sulfate but not for nitrate. 2% of the data indicate real differences in concentrations across the ice core. Despite these differences ion information in ice core layers are comparable for ice core paleoclimate and environmental studies even though analyses are made using two different procedures.