New chemical signatures from Weißseespitze ice cores (Eastern Alps): pre-industrial pollution traces from Roman Empire to early modern period
Journal: Frontiers in Earth Science
Year: 2026

Introduction High-altitude glaciers in the Western European Alps have yielded crucial records of anthropogenic air pollution, revealing a sharp rise in pollutant levels over the past two centuries due to industrialisation. In contrast, studies in the Eastern Alps have been scarce, as their lower-elevation glaciers were often considered less suitable for preserving undisturbed records. Nevertheless, recent findings indicate that, under specific conditions, cold ice frozen to bedrock can persist b