Surface glaciochemistry of Taylor Valley, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica and its relationship to stream chemistry

Lyons, W. Berry; Welch, Kathleen A.; Fountain, Andrew G.; Dana, Gayle L.; Vaughn, Bruce H.; McKnight, Diane M.

doi:10.1002/hyp.1205

Cited by 69 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 59 publications

(44 reference statements)

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“…The positive relationships between Cl À , Mg 2+ , and SO 4 À suggest that these constituents are related to an input of marine aerosols onto the glacier. This is consistent with previous work (Lyons et al, 2003(Lyons et al, , 2007. In general, the rBC concentrations do not follow trends in the other constituents, including TOC deposition, except Ca 2+ in the upper 50 cm of the profile.…”

Section: Snow Pit Chemistrysupporting

confidence: 91%

“…These foehn wind events are more prevalent in winter months, with average wind speeds >6 m/s. Eolian transport of marine aerosols and valley floor sediments has been shown to influence snow chemistry in the accumulation area of the MDV glaciers (Lyons et al, 2007;Witherow et al, 2006) and thus contributes solutes and potentially other species to glacial meltwater entering the streams and lakes (Lyons et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Near‐Surface Refractory Black Carbon Observations in the Atmosphere and Snow in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, and Potential Impacts of Foehn Winds

et al. 2018

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Measurements of light‐absorbing particles in the boundary layer of the high southern latitudes are scarce, particularly in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), Antarctica. During the 2013–2014 austral summer near‐surface boundary layer refractory black carbon (rBC) aerosols were measured in air by a single‐particle soot photometer (SP2) at multiple locations in the MDV. Near‐continuous rBC atmospheric measurements were collected at Lake Hoare Camp (LH) over 2 months and for several hours at more remote locations away from established field camps. We investigated periods dominated by both upvalley and downvalley winds to explore the causes of differences in rBC concentrations and size distributions. Snow samples were also collected in a 1 m pit on a glacier near the camp. The range of concentrations rBC in snow was 0.3–1.2 ± 0.3 μg‐rBC/L‐H2O, and total organic carbon was 0.3–1.4 ± 0.3 mg/L. The rBC concentrations measured in this snow pit are not sufficient to reduce surface albedo; however, there is potential for accumulation of rBC on snow and ice surfaces at low elevation throughout the MDV, which were not measured as part of this study. At LH, the average background rBC mass aerosol concentrations were 1.3 ng/m3. rBC aerosol mass concentrations were slightly lower, 0.09–1.3 ng/m3, at the most remote sites in the MDV. Concentration spikes as high as 200 ng/m3 were observed at LH, associated with local activities. During a foehn wind event, the average rBC mass concentration increased to 30–50 ng/m3. Here we show that the rBC increase could be due to resuspension of locally produced BC from generators, rocket toilets, and helicopters, which may remain on the soil surface until redistributed during high wind events. Quantification of local production and long‐range atmospheric transport of rBC to the MDV is necessary for understanding the impacts of this species on regional climate.

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Section: Snow Pit Chemistrysupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Near‐Surface Refractory Black Carbon Observations in the Atmosphere and Snow in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, and Potential Impacts of Foehn Winds

et al. 2018

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“…However, fi eld observations suggest that water track 3 is not currently discharging into Lake Hoare due to damming by an icecored ridge-solute transport into Lake Hoare would require cryptic fl ow through fractures (e.g., Dickinson and Rosen, 2003). For comparison, the Cl -concentration of Andersen Creek (one of the two major streams in the Lake Hoare drainage) is highly variable, but it averages ~110 μM (Lyons et al, 2003). Andersen Creek has an average discharge of ~30 L/s (based on 2000-2010 gauge data), yielding an average Cl -fl ux of 285 mol/d.…”

Section: Water Track Role In Taylor Valley Salt Budgetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water tracks and permafrost in Taylor Valley, Antarctica: Extensive and shallow groundwater connectivity in a cold desert ecosystem

Levy

Fountain

Gooseff

et al. 2011

Geological Society of America Bulletin

116

148

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Water tracks are zones of high soil moisture that route water downslope over the ice table in polar environments. We present physical, hydrological, and geochemical evidence collected in Taylor Valley, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, which suggests that previously unexplored water tracks are a signifi cant component of this cold desert land system and constitute the major fl ow path in a cryptic hydrological system. Geological, geochemical, and hydrological analyses show that the water tracks are generated by a combination of infi ltration from melting snowpacks, melting of pore ice at the ice table beneath the water tracks, and melting of buried segregation ice formed during winter freezing. The water tracks are enriched in solutes derived from chemical weathering of sediments as well as from dissolution of soil salts. The water tracks empty into icecovered lakes, such as Lake Hoare, resulting in the interfi ngering of shallow groundwater solutions and glacier-derived stream water, adding complexity to the geochemical profi le. Approximately four orders of magnitude less water is delivered to Lake Hoare by any given water track than is delivered by surface runoff from stream fl ow; however, the solute delivery to Lake Hoare by water tracks equals or may exceed the mass of solutes delivered from stream fl ow, making water tracks signifi cant geochemical pathways. Additionally, solute transport is two orders of magnitude faster in water tracks than in adjacent dry or damp soil, making water tracks "salt superhighways" in the Antarctic cold desert. Accordingly, water tracks represent a new geological pathway that distributes water, energy, and nutrients in Antarctic Dry Valley, cold desert, soil ecosystems, providing hydrological and geochemical connectivity at the hillslope scale.

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“…Species such as non-polar organic molecules are also found in meltwater, but are less easily mobilized by percolating water due to their weak water solubility [33]. Particulate material can also be removed during percolation, but usually remains in the snow until the final stages of melting [33,34,35]. Rain events during the snowmelt period may lead to increases in solute and contaminant load [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Dynamic Arctic Snow Pack: An Unexplored Environment for Microbial Diversity and Activity

Larose

Dommergue

Vogel

2013

Biology

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The Arctic environment is undergoing changes due to climate shifts, receiving contaminants from distant sources and experiencing increased human activity. Climate change may alter microbial functioning by increasing growth rates and substrate use due to increased temperature. This may lead to changes of process rates and shifts in the structure of microbial communities. Biodiversity may increase as the Arctic warms and population shifts occur as psychrophilic/psychrotolerant species disappear in favor of more mesophylic ones. In order to predict how ecological processes will evolve as a function of global change, it is essential to identify which populations participate in each process, how they vary physiologically, and how the relative abundance, activity and community structure will change under altered environmental conditions. This review covers aspects of the importance and implication of snowpack in microbial ecology emphasizing the diversity and activity of these critical members of cold zone ecosystems.

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Surface glaciochemistry of Taylor Valley, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica and its relationship to stream chemistry

Cited by 69 publications

References 59 publications

Near‐Surface Refractory Black Carbon Observations in the Atmosphere and Snow in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, and Potential Impacts of Foehn Winds

Near‐Surface Refractory Black Carbon Observations in the Atmosphere and Snow in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, and Potential Impacts of Foehn Winds

Water tracks and permafrost in Taylor Valley, Antarctica: Extensive and shallow groundwater connectivity in a cold desert ecosystem

The Dynamic Arctic Snow Pack: An Unexplored Environment for Microbial Diversity and Activity

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