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 Be-10 analysis of an ice core retrieved from Dome Fuji station, Eastern Antarctica for 1500-1810 yr AD. The concentration of Be-10 from 1500-18 10 yr AD ranged between 7.0 x 10(4) and 13.0 x 10(4) atoms g-' 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 We record shows a clear similarity in their temporal fluctuations. On the other hand, our record shows similar to 2.5 times higher concentration of Be-10 than in the South Pole record attributable to the difference in local snow accumulation rates. These observations suggest a direct (uncomplicated) fallout of atmospheric Be-10 onto inland Antarctica, which in turn, leads to a detailed Be-10 stratigraphy throughout this region. We believe that the Be-10 profiles of the ice cores from the Dome Fuji station are therefore likely to be a good proxy indicator of changes in solar activity. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.