Topographic shading influences cryoconite morphodynamics and carbon exchange.

Cryoconite holes are the most active and diverse microbial habitats on glacier and ice-sheet surfaces. In this article the authors demonstrate that the shape of cryoconite holes varies depending on ice-surface topography and that this has implications for the carbon cycling regime within. Net ecosys...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
Main Authors: Cook, J. M., Sweet, Michael J., Cavalli, Ottavia, Taggart, Angus, Edwards, Arwyn
Other Authors: University of Derby, Aberystwyth University, University of Sheffield
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Taylor and Francis 2018
Subjects:
Biogeochemistry
Carbon cycling
Biocryomorphology
Cellular biophysics
Arctic
Croft
Watkins
Antarctic and Alpine Research
Ice Sheet
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10545/622353
https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2017.1414463
Description
Summary:Cryoconite holes are the most active and diverse microbial habitats on glacier and ice-sheet surfaces. In this article the authors demonstrate that the shape of cryoconite holes varies depending on ice-surface topography and that this has implications for the carbon cycling regime within. Net ecosystem production is shown to be controlled primarily by sediment thickness within holes. The authors show that irregular hole shapes are indicative of hole migration away from topographic shade, which promotes carbon fixation at the mesoscale on ice surfaces. A cellular automaton is used in conjunction with sediment-delivery experiments to show that migration is the result of simple sediment transfer processes, implying a relationship between ice-surface evolution and cryoconite biogeochemistry that has not previously been examined. The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the British Society for Geomorphology, Mount Everest Foundation, Gino Watkins Memorial Fund, Andrew Croft Memorial Fund, Scottish Arctic Club, Gilchrist Educational Fund, and Rolex Awards for Enterprise and Gradconsult. JC also acknowledges UK-funded Natural Environment Research Council Consortium Grant “Black and Bloom” (NE/ M021025/1).

Similar Items