Alpine Ice‐Core Evidence of a Large Increase in Vanadium and Molybdenum Pollution in Western Europe During the 20th Century

Pollutants emitted by industrial processes are deposited across the landscape. Ice core records from mid-latitude glaciers located close to emission sources document history of local-to-regional pollution since preindustrial times. Such underpin attribution pollutants specific critical developing abatement policies. Previous ice studies Alps overall magnitude and timing related nitrogen sulfur-derived species, as well a few metals including lead. Here, we used subannually resolved measurements vanadium (V) molybdenum (Mo) in two cores Col du Dome (French Alps), atmospheric transport deposition modeling, investigate free European troposphere. The noncrustal V Mo (ncV, ncMo) components were calculated subtracting crustal component total concentration. These results showed 32-fold increase ncV 69-fold ncMo era (pre-1860) concentration peaks. Anthropogenic emissions Europe estimated using factors oil coal consumption modeling. When comparing data anthropogenic Europe, was found be sourced primarily combustion emissions. Conversely, did not agree with measured concentrations, suggesting that other dominated coal-burning emissions, particularly after 1950s. Noncoal-burning may include metallurgy although poorly known.