Silicon Isotopic Composition of Dry and Wet-Based Glaciers in Antarctica
Glaciers and ice sheets export significant amounts of silicon (Si) to downstream ecosystems, impacting local and potentially global biogeochemical cycles. Recent studies have shown Si in Arctic glacial meltwaters to have an isotopically distinct signature when compared to non-glacial rivers. This is...
Published in: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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2020
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00286 https://doaj.org/article/c9fc485a74664f6e89321bedb9eb854a |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:c9fc485a74664f6e89321bedb9eb854a 2023-05-15T13:33:52+02:00 Silicon Isotopic Composition of Dry and Wet-Based Glaciers in Antarctica Jade E. Hatton Katharine R. Hendry Catherine Hirst Sophie Opfergelt Susann Henkel Adrián Silva-Busso Susan A. Welch Jemma L. Wadham W. Berry Lyons Elizabeth Bagshaw Michael Staubwasser Diane M. McKnight 2020-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00286 https://doaj.org/article/c9fc485a74664f6e89321bedb9eb854a EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/feart.2020.00286/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-6463 2296-6463 doi:10.3389/feart.2020.00286 https://doaj.org/article/c9fc485a74664f6e89321bedb9eb854a Frontiers in Earth Science, Vol 8 (2020) silicon isotope geochemistry Antarctica stream weathering subglacial weathering silicon cycle Science Q article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00286 2022-12-31T14:19:20Z Glaciers and ice sheets export significant amounts of silicon (Si) to downstream ecosystems, impacting local and potentially global biogeochemical cycles. Recent studies have shown Si in Arctic glacial meltwaters to have an isotopically distinct signature when compared to non-glacial rivers. This is likely linked to subglacial weathering processes and mechanochemical reactions. However, there are currently no silicon isotope (δ30Si) data available from meltwater streams in Antarctica, limiting the current inferences on global glacial silicon isotopic composition and its drivers. To address this gap, we present dissolved silicon (DSi), δ30SiDSi, and major ion data from meltwater streams draining a polythermal glacier in the region of the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP; King George Island) and a cold-based glacier in East Antarctica [Commonwealth Stream, McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV)]. These data, alongside other global datasets, improve our understanding of how contrasting glacier thermal regime can impact upon Si cycling and therefore the δ30SiDSi composition. We find a similar δ30SiDSi composition between the two sites, with the streams on King George Island varying between -0.23 and +1.23‰ and the Commonwealth stream varying from -0.40 to +1.14‰. However, meltwater streams in King George Island have higher DSi concentrations, and the two glacial systems exhibit opposite DSi – δ30SiDSi trends. These contrasts likely result from differences in weathering processes, specifically the role of subglacial processes (King George Island) and, supraglacial processes followed by in-stream weathering in hyporheic zones (Commonwealth Stream). These findings are important when considering likely changes in nutrient fluxes from Antarctic glaciers under climatic warming scenarios and consequent shifts in glacial thermal regimes. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica Arctic Cold-based glacier East Antarctica King George Island McMurdo Dry Valleys Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Arctic Commonwealth Stream ENVELOPE(163.500,163.500,-77.583,-77.583) East Antarctica King George Island McMurdo Dry Valleys Frontiers in Earth Science 8 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
silicon isotope geochemistry Antarctica stream weathering subglacial weathering silicon cycle Science Q |
spellingShingle |
silicon isotope geochemistry Antarctica stream weathering subglacial weathering silicon cycle Science Q Jade E. Hatton Katharine R. Hendry Catherine Hirst Sophie Opfergelt Susann Henkel Adrián Silva-Busso Susan A. Welch Jemma L. Wadham W. Berry Lyons Elizabeth Bagshaw Michael Staubwasser Diane M. McKnight Silicon Isotopic Composition of Dry and Wet-Based Glaciers in Antarctica |
topic_facet |
silicon isotope geochemistry Antarctica stream weathering subglacial weathering silicon cycle Science Q |
description |
Glaciers and ice sheets export significant amounts of silicon (Si) to downstream ecosystems, impacting local and potentially global biogeochemical cycles. Recent studies have shown Si in Arctic glacial meltwaters to have an isotopically distinct signature when compared to non-glacial rivers. This is likely linked to subglacial weathering processes and mechanochemical reactions. However, there are currently no silicon isotope (δ30Si) data available from meltwater streams in Antarctica, limiting the current inferences on global glacial silicon isotopic composition and its drivers. To address this gap, we present dissolved silicon (DSi), δ30SiDSi, and major ion data from meltwater streams draining a polythermal glacier in the region of the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP; King George Island) and a cold-based glacier in East Antarctica [Commonwealth Stream, McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV)]. These data, alongside other global datasets, improve our understanding of how contrasting glacier thermal regime can impact upon Si cycling and therefore the δ30SiDSi composition. We find a similar δ30SiDSi composition between the two sites, with the streams on King George Island varying between -0.23 and +1.23‰ and the Commonwealth stream varying from -0.40 to +1.14‰. However, meltwater streams in King George Island have higher DSi concentrations, and the two glacial systems exhibit opposite DSi – δ30SiDSi trends. These contrasts likely result from differences in weathering processes, specifically the role of subglacial processes (King George Island) and, supraglacial processes followed by in-stream weathering in hyporheic zones (Commonwealth Stream). These findings are important when considering likely changes in nutrient fluxes from Antarctic glaciers under climatic warming scenarios and consequent shifts in glacial thermal regimes. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jade E. Hatton Katharine R. Hendry Catherine Hirst Sophie Opfergelt Susann Henkel Adrián Silva-Busso Susan A. Welch Jemma L. Wadham W. Berry Lyons Elizabeth Bagshaw Michael Staubwasser Diane M. McKnight |
author_facet |
Jade E. Hatton Katharine R. Hendry Catherine Hirst Sophie Opfergelt Susann Henkel Adrián Silva-Busso Susan A. Welch Jemma L. Wadham W. Berry Lyons Elizabeth Bagshaw Michael Staubwasser Diane M. McKnight |
author_sort |
Jade E. Hatton |
title |
Silicon Isotopic Composition of Dry and Wet-Based Glaciers in Antarctica |
title_short |
Silicon Isotopic Composition of Dry and Wet-Based Glaciers in Antarctica |
title_full |
Silicon Isotopic Composition of Dry and Wet-Based Glaciers in Antarctica |
title_fullStr |
Silicon Isotopic Composition of Dry and Wet-Based Glaciers in Antarctica |
title_full_unstemmed |
Silicon Isotopic Composition of Dry and Wet-Based Glaciers in Antarctica |
title_sort |
silicon isotopic composition of dry and wet-based glaciers in antarctica |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00286 https://doaj.org/article/c9fc485a74664f6e89321bedb9eb854a |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(163.500,163.500,-77.583,-77.583) |
geographic |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Arctic Commonwealth Stream East Antarctica King George Island McMurdo Dry Valleys |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Arctic Commonwealth Stream East Antarctica King George Island McMurdo Dry Valleys |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica Arctic Cold-based glacier East Antarctica King George Island McMurdo Dry Valleys |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica Arctic Cold-based glacier East Antarctica King George Island McMurdo Dry Valleys |
op_source |
Frontiers in Earth Science, Vol 8 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/feart.2020.00286/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-6463 2296-6463 doi:10.3389/feart.2020.00286 https://doaj.org/article/c9fc485a74664f6e89321bedb9eb854a |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00286 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Earth Science |
container_volume |
8 |
_version_ |
1766046575762604032 |