Ways of far-distance dust transport onto Caucasian glaciers and chemical composition of snow on the Western plateau of Elbrus

Кутузов, С. C.; Mikhalenko, Vladimir; Шахгеданова, M.; Жино, П.; Kozachek, Anna; Лаврентьев, И. И.; Kuderina, T. M.; Popov, Gregory

doi:10.15356/2076-6734-2014-3-5-15

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…In addition, the data obtained indicate a different level of heavy metal contamination of the two glaciers under study and two different types of soils, which is associated with different sources of allochthonous material and different degrees of their development. To the Elbrus region, dust is transferred by air masses originating from Mesopotamia and Northern Africa [24]. Chemical analysis which was conducted in this study shows the accumulation of nutrients, particularly nitrates, ammonium and sulfates in the dust due to agricultural activities in Mesopotamia.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 68%

Geochemical and microbiological features of cryoconite, sampled from glaciers of the Central Caucasus region (Kabardino-Balkarian republic, Russia)

et al. 2021

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Determination of geochemical and microbiological properties of the cryoconite, related types of sediments and periglacial soils is essential to investigate impact of glaciers on terrains development at the Central Caucasus region. The studied sediments were sampled at the Garabashi and Skhelda glaciers as well as in vertical sections of local soils at the Baksan gorge. Sampled materials were investigated in terms of physicochemical parameters and nutritional state. The trace elements concentrations (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cd) were also evaluated in samples selected. The data obtained shows much higher content of organic carbon in soils (up to 7.82%) in comparison with cryoconite (max. 1.63%) due to the effect of superficial vegetation cover, however, rates of microbial activity were similar between some samples of sediments and soils. The analysis of the particle size distribution shows a similarity of the studied materials: in almost all samples, there is a dominance of the sand fraction. Cryoconite sediments on both of the above-mentioned glaciers are found as enriched with phosphorus, essential values of potassium (298 mg/kg in K2O units) and ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4 - max. 247 mg*kg) are identified at Garabashi glacier which could be a result of long-distant transfer and anthropogenic activity. The highest content among trace elements was identified for Zn (62 mg*kg for cryoconite and 60.5 mg*kg for soils), the most contaminated materials were sediments from Garabashi glacier and Entisols, up to moderate level, which is mostly associated with anthropogenic activity. Thus, development of tourism in the Central Caucasus, which is mostly associated with construction and transport, affects the pollution status of supraglacial sediments and periglacial soils as well as their agrochemical and microbiological features.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 68%

Geochemical and microbiological features of cryoconite, sampled from glaciers of the Central Caucasus region (Kabardino-Balkarian republic, Russia)

et al. 2021

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“…To the Elbrus region, dust is transferred by air masses originating from Mesopotamia and Northern Africa (Kutuzov et al 2015). Chemical analysis which was conducted in this study shows the accumulation of nutrients, particularly nitrates, ammonium and sulfates in the dust due to agricultural activities in Mesopotamia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Geochemistry of cryoconite and soils in the Central Caucasus region and its environmental implications

et al. 2021

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“…Most of this work was carried out on samples obtained from snow pits and ice cores. Kutuzov et al [88] studied samples from snow pits on Elbrus in 2009, 2012 and 2013, in which it was found that contaminated horizons form on the glaciers of the Caucasus due to the transfer of mineral particles. Dust transfer sources were identified by using satellite images.…”

Section: The Impact Of Black Carbon On Mountain Systems Using the Example Of The Caucasusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Black carbon as a factor in deglaciation in polar and mountain ecosystems: A Review

Polyakov¹,

Abakumov²,

Tembotov³

2020

Tomsk State University Journal of Biology

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Black carbon is considered a product of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and materials that originated from volcanic eruptions or were emitted during wildfires. It is a strong light-absorbing component that has many atmospheric and surface effects in terrestrial and glacial ecosystems. Normally, black carbon is presented as a solid particle, consisting mainly of pure carbon, which absorbs solar radiation at all wavelengths. Some black carbon particles are amended by a mineral compound, though black carbon substances are normally dark or greyish dark. Black carbon is the most active part of suspended particles in the atmosphere and on glacial surfaces, absorbing solar radiation, the main component of ash, which consists of carbon particles with impurities in the form of mineral particles and also contains carbon of biogenic origin. In this paper, we have analyzed the literature on black carbon and its effect on deglaciation processes in the Earth’s polar and mountainous regions. The physical, chemical, and microbiological composition of black carbon accumulations were studied using the examples of the Arctic, the Antarctic, and the Central Caucasus. Potential sources and conditions of the transportation of black carbon into the polar zone and their effect on ice and snow have also been discussed.

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Ways of far-distance dust transport onto Caucasian glaciers and chemical composition of snow on the Western plateau of Elbrus

Cited by 14 publications

References 22 publications

Geochemical and microbiological features of cryoconite, sampled from glaciers of the Central Caucasus region (Kabardino-Balkarian republic, Russia)

Geochemical and microbiological features of cryoconite, sampled from glaciers of the Central Caucasus region (Kabardino-Balkarian republic, Russia)

Geochemistry of cryoconite and soils in the Central Caucasus region and its environmental implications

Black carbon as a factor in deglaciation in polar and mountain ecosystems: A Review

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