Hydrogeochemical and Biogeochemical Processes in Kaffiøyra River Catchments (Spitsbergen, Norway)

Abstract

The paper presents the results of hydrogeochemical and biogeochemical studies in the area of Kaffiøyra river catchments in the ablation season 2004. Vegetation, hydrological regime, mineralization and ionic composition of circulating waters, rate of annual chemical denudation and biogenic CO 2 content in soil air in relation to the concentration of dissolved and transported HCO 3 -ions were documented. The waters represented the type HCO 3 --SO 4 2--Ca. Most of ions showed a good correlation with electrical conductivity. A good correlation between dissolved and transported mass and the discharge was shown. The value of the chemical denudation in non-glacierized catchments of the Kaffiøyra plain was 0.07 and 0.13 t km -2 d -1 , in glacierized catchment -0,21 t km -2 d -1. The biogenic CO 2 concentrations in tundra soil air ranged from 0.03-0.08%, while the average was 0.046%. The mean rate of CO 2 ionic transport was 3 kg d -1 , while of HCO 3 --0.63 t d -1. A low correlation between the concentration of biogenic CO 2 in soil air and HCO 3 -was found, which indicates the involvement of other, unexamined bio-and physico-chemical processes.

Permafrost-related hiatuses in stalagmites: Evaluating the potential for reconstruction of carbon cycle dynamics

“…Another potential mechanism that could lead to increased concentrations of trace elements and organic matter in karst seepage water is through partial freezing of groundwater during transport in the subsurface. This cryochemical process leading to increased element and dissolved organic matter content of the water is well described in polar rivers and lakes where seasonal freeze-thawing cycles occur (Borysiak et al, 2015;Healy et al, 2006;Mazurek et al, 2012;Schmidt et al, 1991;Xue et al, 2015). However, such a process would likely lead to increases in all trace elemental concentrations, which is not what we observe in the transition layers ( Figs.…”

The relationships between soil chemical properties and vegetation succession in the aspect of changes of distance from the glacier forehead and time elapsed after glacier retreat in the Irenebreen foreland (NW Svalbard)

“…Many studies (e.g. Borysiak et al 2015;Laffly and Mercier 2002;Mercier and Laffly Fig. 7 The seriation diagram using unconstrained algorithm of species presence/absence in the examined plots combined for three transects 2005; Moreau et al 2008;Östrem 1959;Prach and Rachlewicz 2012;) indicate that the above-mentioned processes are the main and most influential in the formation of lowlands and mounds in glacier forelands, and thus appear to exert an important impact on vegetation development.…”