A 139 m long ice core was recovered in July 2001 from Belukha glacier (Eichler et al.) in the Siberian Altai 
(4062 m a.s.l., 49°48'26"N, 86°34'43"E). The drilling site is located on the saddle between the two summits 
of Belukha. Analyses of the major ions, water stable isotopes, trace elements, 210Pb, and tritium were performed 
at the Laboratory of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry (LCH) of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) 
and the University of Bern, Switzerland. Plutonium was analyzed at the Australian National University, Canberra. 
Pollen and Charcoal measurements were performed at the Institute of Plant Sciences of the University of Bern, 
Switzerland. Ice core dating was performed using the 210Pb record, a three-parameter annual layer-counting methodology, 
and a nonlinear regression through reference horizons related to the maximum of nuclear weapons testing 
and different volcanic eruptions. The ice core covers the period AD 1250-2001. Dating uncertainties 
are <3 years (AD 1815-2001), <5 years (AD 1400-1815), and <10 years (AD 1250-1400). The mean annual 
accumulation rate is 0.56 m water equivalent. 


The West Belukha Plateau Ice and Firn cores (Aizen et al.) were collected at 4152 m a.s.l., 49.8067°N, 86.5675°E, 
and analysed for water isotopes and major ions.

References:
Eichler, A., L. Tobler, S. Eyrikh, G. Gramlich, N. Malygina, T. Papina, and M. Schwikowski. 2012. 
Three centuries of Eastern European and Altai lead emissions recorded in a Belukha ice core. 
Environ. Sci. Technol., 46(8), 4323-4330 DOI: 10.1021/es2039954

Eichler, A., W. Tinner, S. Brütsch, S. Olivier, T. Papina, and M. Schwikowski. 2011. 
An ice-core based history of Siberian forest fires since AD 1250. 
Quat. Sci. Rev., 30, 1027-1034. DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.02.007

Eichler, A., S. Olivier, K. Henderson, A. Laube, J. Beer, T. Papina, H. W. Gäggeler, and M. Schwikowski. 2009. 
Temperature response in the Altai region lags solar forcing. 
Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L01808, doi:10.1029/2008GL035930.

Eichler, A., S. Brütsch, S. Olivier, T. Papina, and M. Schwikowski. 2009. 
A 750 year ice core record of past biogenic emissions from Siberian boreal forests. 
Geophys. Res. Lett. 36, L18813, doi:10.1029/2009GL038807.

Olivier, S., C. Blaser, S. Brütsch, N. Frolova, H.W. Gäggeler, K.A. Henderson, A.S. Palmer, T. Papina, and M. Schwikowski. 2006. 
Temporal variations of mineral dust, biogenic tracers, and anthropogenic species during the past two centuries from Belukha ice core, 
Siberian Altai. 
J. Geophys. Res. 111, D05309, doi:10.1029/2005JD005830.

Henderson, K., A. Laube, H.W. Gäggeler, S. Olivier, T. Papina, and M. Schwikowski. 2006. 
Temporal variations of accumulation and temperature during the past two centuries from Belukha ice core, Siberian Altai. 
J. Geophys. Res. 111, D03104, doi:10.1029/2005JD0058192006.

Olivier, S., S. Bajo, L.K. Fifield, H.W. Gäggeler, T. Papina, P.H. Santschi, U. Schotterer, M. Schwikowski, and L. Wacker. 2004. 
Plutonium from global fallout recorded in an ice core from the Belukha Glacier, Siberian Altai. 
Environ. Sci. Technol. 38(24), 6507-6512, doi:10.1021/es0492900.

Olivier, S., M. Schwikowski, S. Brütsch, S. Eyrikh, H.W. Gäggeler, M. Luthi, T. Papina, M. Saurer, U. Schotterer, L. Tobler, and E. Vogel. 2003.
Glaciochemical investigation of an ice core from Belukha glacier, Siberian Altai. 
Geophys. Res. Lett. 30, 2019, doi:10.1029/2003GL018290.

Aizen, V.B.; Aizen, E.; Fujita, K.; Nikitin, S.A.; Kreutz, K.J.; Takeuchi, L.N.. 2005. 
Stable-isotope time series and precipitation origin from firn-core and snow samples, Altai glaciers, Siberia. 
Journal of Glaciology, Vol. 51, No. 175, pp. 637 - 654. DOI: 10.3189/172756505781829034

Aizen, E.M., V.B. Aizen, N. Takeuchi, D.R. Joswiak, K. Fujita, S.A. Nikitin, B. Grigholm, A. Zapf, 
P.A. Mayewski, M. Schwikowski, and M.Nakawo. submitted 2012. 
Abrupt and moderate climate changes at mid-latitudes of Asia during the Holocene. 
Journal of Glaciology, submitted 2012.