Direct chemical analysis of frozen ice cores by UV-laser ablation ICPMS

Cryo-cell UV-LA-ICPMS is a new technique for direct chemical analysis of frozen ice cores at high spatial resolution (<300 mu m). It was tested in a pilot study on NGRIP ice and reveals sea ice/dust records and annual layer signatures at unprecedented spatial/time resolution. Uniquely, the location of cation impurities relative to grain boundaries in recrystallized ice can be assessed.