Formaldehyde record from Lys Glacier firn core, Monte Rosa massif (Italy).

Formaldehyde content within the first 16 in of Lys Glacier firn core (Monte Rosa massif, Italy) was determined by a sensitive spectrofluorimetric method in flow injection analysis. The formaldehyde concentration range of all analysed samples was 3.8-24.8 mug l(-1), with 11.1 mug l(-1) mean concentration and 10.7 mug l(-1) median concentration. These values were found to be in agreement with other measurements carried out in high- and mid-latitude glaciers. Due to the exceptionally high annual snow accumulation rate at Lys Glacier sampling site (3.79m w.e.), most formaldehyde is preserved, at least for the earlier metres of deposition. The general agreement between the formaldehyde profile and other parameters typically used as seasonal markers suggested a similar seasonal behaviour for formaldehyde in high snow accumulation alpine sites.