Importance of Mountain Glaciers as a Source of Dissolved Organic Carbon

Li, XiangYing; Ding, Yongjian; Xu, Jianzhong; He, Xiaobo; Han, Tao; Kang, Shichang; Wu, Qingbai; Sillanpää, Mika; Yu, Zhongbo; Li, Qijiang

doi:10.1029/2017jf004333

Cited by 42 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…On average, seasonal mean dFe concentrations increase by 21% from S1 to S2 and by 61% from S1 to S3 over the whole glacier melt season. This downstream change is consistent with changes in dissolved organic carbon (DOC; Li et al, 2018) and is most likely related to snow melt and/or rain water leaching of Fe from sediment and/or soil minerals on surrounding mountain slopes (Li et al, 2016) or the release of dFe from melting permafrost Li et al, 2016). In contrast to our findings, dFe concentrations in the Bayelva River decreased 84% by~4 km downstream from Austre Broggerbreen glacier (ABG) in Svalbard, which was attributed to removal processes associated with the aggregation and adsorption of nanoparticulate and colloidal Fe to particles (Zhang et al, 2015).…”

Section: Weathering and Transport Influences On Dfe Concentrationsupporting

confidence: 68%

“…The quantitative importance of dFe is consistent with DOC release from glaciers, which is far greater than the combined DOC export from ice sheets (Hood et al, 2015;Li et al, 2018). Although dFe release is considerable, its behavior in downstream ecosystems is difficult to constrain.…”

Section: Dfe Export and Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…In contrast to our findings, dFe concentrations in the Bayelva River decreased 84% by ~4 km downstream from Austre Broggerbreen glacier (ABG) in Svalbard, which was attributed to removal processes associated with the aggregation and adsorption of nanoparticulate and colloidal Fe to particles (Zhang et al, ). This difference between DG and ABG may be related to well‐developed soils and plants in proglacial area at DG (Li et al, ), in comparison to bare bedrocks and glacial deposits at ABG (Zhang et al, ). Noticeably, the hydrological process may affect downstream changes of Fe concentrations from glaciers (e.g., warm‐ and cold‐based), and further studies should be conducted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The global ecosystem-level significance of glacially derived dFe depends on both the mass of dFe and also on the behavior of dFe following its release to downstream ecosystems, which is outside the scope of this study. However, given that the glacial drainage systems, glacial erosion processes, access to comminuted sediment and subglacial sediment transfer are broadly similar at many glacial basins within Asia (e.g., Han et al, 2015;Li, 2009;Li et al, 2013Li et al, , 2016Li et al, , 2018Li et al, , 2019Wang et al, 2010), we use our data in combination with preexisting data to estimate a regional dFe flux from ASG as well as five other glacial regions across the globe (Table 3). draining Dongkemadi Glacier (DG; at S1; a, d, and g), Urumqi Glacier No.1 (UG1; b, e, and h), and Laohugou Glacier (LHG; c, f, and i) over an entire melt season.…”

Section: Dfe Export and Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dissolved Iron Supply from Asian Glaciers: Local Controls and a Regional Perspective

Ding

Hood

et al. 2019

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

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Ice sheets have been shown to deliver large amounts of labile iron (Fe) to aquatic ecosystems; however, the role of glaciers distinct from ice sheets in supplying labile Fe to downstream ecosystems is less well understood despite their rapid volume loss globally. Direct and continuous measurements of Fe from glaciers throughout an entire melt season are very limited to date. Here we present extensive seasonal data on 0.45‐μm‐filtered Fe (dFe) from three glaciers in Asia. Concentrations of dFe are negatively correlated with glacier discharge, and dFe yields are closely related to specific discharge. Based on our study and previously published dFe data, we estimate the release of dFe from Asian glaciers to be 23.8±14.1 Gg/a. We further compile a global data set of dFe from more than 12 glaciers, which, when combined with data on glacier discharge, suggest that the release of dFe from glaciers globally is on the order of 185±172 Gg/a. This finding suggests that glaciers may provide a substantial, but largely unrecognized source of potentially labile Fe, and may become increasingly important for the Fe biogeochemical cycle in a warming climate.

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Section: Weathering and Transport Influences On Dfe Concentrationsupporting

confidence: 68%

Section: Dfe Export and Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Dfe Export and Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dissolved Iron Supply from Asian Glaciers: Local Controls and a Regional Perspective

Ding

Hood

et al. 2019

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

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“…Glaciers play an important role in the cycles of water, sediments, and elements in a warming climate (e.g., Haritashya, Singh, Kumar, & Gupta, ; Hood et al, ; Jansson, Hock, & Schneider, ; Li et al, ). Their function becomes especially important in arid and/or semiarid regions that seasonally lack sufficient water supply (e.g., Immerzeel, van Beek, & Bierkens, ; Viviroli, Dürr, Messerli, & Meybeck, ; Ye et al, ) and in aquatic environments where water quality and aquatic ecosystems are associated with trace elements (e.g., Fe, Si, P, Cd, Pb, and Hg; e.g., Hood, Battin, Fellman, O'Neel, & Spencer, ; Bhatia et al, ; Hawkings et al, , ; Li et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal controls of meltwater runoff chemistry and chemical weathering at Urumqi Glacier No.1 in central Asia

Ding

Han

et al. 2019

Hydrological Processes

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Temporal variation of runoff chemistry and its seasonal controls relating to chemical weathering processes and drainage system evolution were examined at Urumqi Glacier No.1 in Xinjiang, China, over a full melt season. The dominant ions in meltwater runoff are HCO 3 − , Ca 2+ , and SO 4 2− ; and Fe, Sr, and Al are dominant elements. Concentrations of major ions and some elements show periodic variations with seasons and negatively correlate with discharge, whereas other elements (e.g., Al, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) show a random change, providing insights into the hydrological and physicochemical controls. HCO 3 − and Ca 2+ are primarily derived from calcite, SO 4 2− and Fe mainly come from pyrite, and Sr and Al principally originate from silicate.Hydrochemical fluxes of solutes exhibit strong seasonality but are positively related to discharge, suggesting an increasing release of solutes during higher flow conditions. Solute yields, cation denudation rate, and chemical weathering intensity observed at Urumqi Glacier No.1 are higher than those at most basins worldwide.This suggests that chemical weathering in central Asia may be stronger than at other glacial basins with similar specific discharge. Concentrations of some elements (e.g., Fe, Al, As, Pb, and Zn) are close to or exceed the guidelines for drinking water standards in meltwater-fed rivers. These rivers may face future challenges of water quality degradation, and relationships between changing flow and water quality conditions should be established soon, given that development of channelized flow is expected to be earlier over a melt season in a warming climate.

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