Methanesulphonate in Antarctic ice

Methanesulphonate was investigated as a potential contributor to the sulphur budget and to the acidity of Antarctic ice from Law Dome (66°30’S, 113°00’E). The anion was found to be present at a mean concentration of 0.08 μeq/l and ranged between 0.006 and 0.28 μeq/l. Although methanesulphonate was only a minor anion in comparison with chloride and sea salt sulphate. it was comparable with nitrate and excess sulphate. The concentration of methanesulphonate in the ice did not correlate significantly with excess sulphate nor was there a simple seasonal dependence such as is found for non-sea salt sulphate.