The characterization and role of aeolian deposition on water quality, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Deuerling, Kelly; Lyons, W. Berry; Welch, Susan A.; Welch, Kathleen A.

doi:10.1016/j.aeolia.2014.01.002

Cited by 22 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Nearly all samples, regardless of location, have Na + concentrations above the NaCl dissolution line (Figure ), suggesting a relative enrichment of Na + relative to Cl − . This relationship was also observed for aeolian samples collected at 30 cm above the surface by Deuerling et al (). Mirabilite is a ubiquitous salt phase within MDV soils (Bisson et al, ), so the additional Na + is thought to be in part from this source (Figure ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

“…Water-soluble N and P data from this study and sediment flux data from Lancaster (2002) and Šabacká et al (2012) were used to estimate N and P fluxes at 30 and 100 cm above the ground surface (Table 3). The 100-cm N fluxes were about 10 times lower than values from Deuerling et al (2014) at 30 cm, while P fluxes were similar. Overall, soluble N and P aeolian fluxes are between 100 and 1,000 times lower than the fluxes of nutrients from soils to aquatic ecosystems, as calculated by Barrett et al (2007).…”

Section: Nutrient Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…Deuerling et al () analyzed aeolian material from lake and glacier ice (11 sites), elevated sediment traps at 30 cm (three sites), and aeolian landforms (four sites). They found the highest concentrations of total dissolved solids in the aeolian material collected in sediment traps compared to the ice surfaces.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They interpreted this to mean that the aeolian trap material had not been in previous contact with the hydrological system (i.e., liquid water), while the material from the ice surfaces had been in contact with water and had lost some of its original soluble component. Their sediment trap water leaches were enriched in Na + plus K + , while aeolian material collected from landforms and ice had relatively higher Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ concentrations (Deuerling et al, ). The analysis of aeolian material presented here similarly demonstrates high concentrations of water‐leachable Na + plus K + , suggesting that these cations are associated with the most soluble salts and are the first to solubilize with wetting (Figure ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aeolian Material Transport and Its Role in Landscape Connectivity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

et al. 2018

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Arid regions, particularly polar and alpine desert environments, have diminished landscape connectivity compared to temperate regions due to limited and/or seasonal hydrological processes. For these environments, aeolian processes play a particularly important role in landscape evolution and biotic community vitality through nutrient and solute additions. The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) are the largest ice‐free area in Antarctica and are potentially a major source of aeolian material for the continent. From this region, samples were collected at five heights (~5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 cm) above the surface seasonally for 2013 through 2015 from Alatna Valley, Victoria Valley, Miers Valley, and Taylor Valley (Taylor Glacier, East Lake Bonney, F6 (Lake Fryxell), and Explorer's Cove). Despite significant geological separation and varying glacial histories, low‐elevation and coastal sites had similar major ion chemistries, as did high‐elevation and inland locations. This locational clustering of compositions was also evident in scanning electron microscopy images and principal component analyses, particularly for samples collected at ~100 cm above the surface. Compared to published soil literature, aeolian material in Taylor Valley demonstrates a primarily down‐valley transport of material toward the coast. Soluble N:P ratios in the aeolian material reflect relative nutrient enrichments seen in MDV soils and lakes, where younger, coastal soils are relatively N depleted, while older, up‐valley soils are relatively P depleted. The aeolian transport of materials, including water‐soluble nutrients, is an important vector of connectivity within the MDV and provides a mechanism to help “homogenize” the geochemistry of both soil and aquatic ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Section: Nutrient Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 60%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aeolian Material Transport and Its Role in Landscape Connectivity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

et al. 2018

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“…Eolian processes in the MDV are critical to distributing nutrients, organic matter, and sediment onto glacier surfaces and into the hyporheic zones of the ephemeral stream channels, where these particulates may become entrained in meltwater runoff and into stream flow (Fortner et al, 2011;Sabacka et al, 2012;Deuerling et al, 2014).…”

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confidence: 99%

Chemical weathering trends in fine-grained ephemeral stream sediments of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

et al. 2017

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We investigated chemical weathering trends within the fine-grained (<63 µm; silt and clay) fraction of sediments collected from meltwater streams emanating from glaciers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV; Wright and Taylor Valleys) by integrating grain size, BET surface area, and whole-rock geochemistry. While both valleys currently host cold-based glaciers, the sediment underlying the ephemeral glacial streams was deposited under differing glacial conditions. In Wright Valley (Clark Glacier stream), Brownworth and Trilogy drifts were deposited via cold-based glaciation, whereas the Ross Sea drift that underlies Delta Stream in Taylor Valley likely reflects contributions from wet-based ice. Wright Valley stream sediments are typically coarser grained and have a higher silt content as compared to Taylor Valley sediments. These sediments consist primarily of pyroxenes, quartz, and feldspars, with the 1

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Ca isotopic geochemistry of an Antarctic aquatic system

Lyons

Bullen

Welch

2017

Geophysical Research Letters

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The McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, are a polar desert ecosystem. The hydrologic system of the dry valleys is linked to climate with ephemeral streams that flow from glacial melt during the austral summer. Past climate variations have strongly influenced the closed‐basin, chemically stratified lakes on the valley floor. Results of previous work point to important roles for both in‐stream processes (e.g., mineral weathering, precipitation and dissolution of salts) and in‐lake processes (e.g., mixing with paleo‐seawater and calcite precipitation) in determining the geochemistry of these lakes. These processes have a significant influence on calcium (Ca) biogeochemistry in this aquatic ecosystem, and thus variations in Ca stable isotope compositions of the waters can aid in validating the importance of these processes. We have analyzed the Ca stable isotope compositions of streams and lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. The results validate the important roles of weathering of aluminosilicate minerals and/or CaCO3 in the hyporheic zone of the streams, and mixing of lake surface water with paleo‐seawater and precipitation of Ca‐salts during cryo‐concentration events to form the deep lake waters. The lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys evolved following different geochemical pathways, evidenced by their unique, nonsystematic Ca isotope signatures.

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The characterization and role of aeolian deposition on water quality, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Cited by 22 publications

References 54 publications

Aeolian Material Transport and Its Role in Landscape Connectivity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Aeolian Material Transport and Its Role in Landscape Connectivity in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Chemical weathering trends in fine-grained ephemeral stream sediments of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Ca isotopic geochemistry of an Antarctic aquatic system

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