O2/N2/Ar ratios, and the isotopic composition of O2 and N2, in ice from Mullins Valley, Dry Valleys, Antarctica

A total of 16 samples have been analyzed. There are 2 important conclusions.

First, the Ar/N2 ratio is within a few percent of the atmospheric ratio, showing that the trapped gases are air samples rather than dissolved gases from refrozen meltwater. Second, O2/N2 is low and CO2 (measured qualitatively) is high in old samples, indicating the addition of metabolic CO2.