Southern Tibetan Plateau ice core glaciochemical and depositional records (1950-2021)

This dataset contains high-resolution glaciochemical records spanning 1950 to 2021 from two ice cores, Bugyai Kangri (BK) and Noijin Kangsang (NK), retrieved from the southern Tibetan Plateau.

1) Data content: The dataset consists of three core components: annual chronology established through stable oxygen isotopes (δ¹⁸O) and chemical tracers (Ca²⁺, NH₄⁺); time series of annual depositional fluxes for major ions including nitrate (NO₃⁻), ammonium (NH₄⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), sodium (Na⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), potassium (K⁺), chloride (Cl⁻), and sulfate (SO₄²⁻); and source contribution shares derived from the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model. These elements are vital for characterizing the transboundary transport of South Asian anthropogenic emissions.

2) Data sources and processing: Ice core samples were collected during the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition in 2021. Samples were sectioned at resolutions of 2.5 to 5 cm in a cold laboratory. Ion concentrations were measured using ion chromatography (Dionex-AQ and ICS-6000). Depositional fluxes were calculated as the product of concentration and annual water equivalent accumulation rate.

3) Data quality description: Strict quality control was maintained during experimental analysis. Inter-laboratory cross-checks showed deviations below 5%. The dating accuracy exceeding 95%.

4) Application and prospects: The data have been used to evaluate the intensifying anthropogenic influence on southern Tibetan glaciers. It offers high potential for studies on cryospheric environmental evolution, regional air pollution modeling, and water resource management for the "Asian Water Tower."