Concentration of 10Be in an ice core from the Dome Fuji station, Eastern Antarctica: Preliminary results from 1500 to 1810 yr AD

We present preliminary data of our 10Be analysis of an ice core retrieved from Dome Fuji station, Eastern Antarctica for 1500-1810 yr AD. The concentration of 10Be from 1500-1810 yr AD ranged between 7.0 x 104 and 13.0 x 104 atoms g-1 and a prominent peak was observed in the period 1645-1715 yr AD (i.e., the Maunder Minimum period). An increase in the concentration was also observed in the periods before 1540 yr AD and near to 1800 yr AD. A comparison of our 10Be record with the South Pole 10Be record shows a clear similarity in their temporal fluctuations. On the other hand, our record shows ∼2.5 times higher concentration of 10Be than in the South Pole record attributable to the difference in local snow accumulation rates. These observations suggest a direct (uncomplicated) fallout of atmospheric 10Be onto inland Antarctica, which in turn, leads to a detailed 10Be stratigraphy throughout this region. We believe that the 10Be profiles of the ice cores from the Dome Fuji station are therefore likely to be a good proxy indicator of changes in solar activity