Glacimarine sediment flows in small bays on the Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract

Global atmospheric warming and rising ocean temperatures can contribute to the acceleration of glacier melting and influence the generation and physical characteristics of sediment flows in bays and fjords of the Antarctic Peninsula. During the First Scientific Expedition of Colombia to the Antarctic, carried out between January and February 2015, hydrographic variables (temperature, salinity, pressure and turbidity) were measured in the water column, from very close to the main glacier front towards the offshore, on 5 bays of the Danco Coast, Western Antarctic Peninsula. Glacimarine sediment plumes from the tidewater glacier were identified in all bays, however, with varying spatial extensions as well as the concentration of sediments, being those of the central area of the Danco Coast, the most extensive and concentrated. By comparison with previous years, in this work higher average particle concentrations were recorded. The greater flow of glaciomarine sediments could be associated with greater glacial melting, among other possible factors

Primeras mediciones de isótopos estables de agua y su comportamiento en fiordos de los Campos de Hielo Patagónico Sur, Chile

“…A pesar de que en los valores isotópicos de los niveles más profundos no se observó una dependencia isotópica clara con los factores presentados (distancia al frente glaciar, temperatura y salinidad), se encontraron algunas variaciones y tendencias hacia el empobrecimiento isotópico que, para ser explicadas, sería necesario disponer de más datos en los mismos sitios y en otros como referencia. Sin embargo, se sugiere que estas variaciones en aguas profundas podrían estar asociadas a intensificaciones locales de procesos glaciomarinos, así como la prolongación de plumas de sedimentos desde el frente glaciar o bien por mayor flujo subglacial asociados al retroceso glacial y variaciones climáticas en el tiempo (Rodrigo et al 2016(Rodrigo et al , 2021.…”