Chemical composition of fresh snow from Glaciar Marinelli, Tierra del Fuego, Chile

Grigholm, B; Mayewski, PA; Kurbatov, AV; Casassa, G.; Staeding, AC; Handley, M; Sneed, SB; Introne, DS

Abstract

A fresh-snow sampling campaign was conducted during the late austral summer of 2006 in the accumulation zone of Glaciar Marinelli, located in the Cordillera Darwin, Tierra del Fuego, Chile. Snow samples were analyzed for stable isotopes (d 18O), major soluble ions (Na +, K +, Ca 2+, Mg 2+, Cl -, NO 3 -, SO 4 2-, MS -) and major and trace elements (Na, Mg, AI, Fe, Ca, Sr, Cd, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Dy, Ho, Er, Bi, U, As, Ti, V, Cr, Mn). The dominance of marine chemistry resembles that in studies from Patagonian glaciers. Snow chemistry was dominantly loaded by marine species (Cl -, Na + and ssSO 4 2-), while contributions of crustal species (e.g. Al and Fe) were very low. Empirical orthogonal function analysis suggests two possible dust sources, one represented by Al and Fe and the other by La, Ce and Pr. Enrichment-factor calculations suggest the majority of elements are within average upper-crustal ratios, but major enrichments of Bi and Cd (hundreds of times) suggest possible anthropogenic sources. Linear correlation of d 18O and barometric pressure (r = 0.60, ?< 0.007) suggests a potential amount effect relationship between depleted d 18 ratios and stronger storm conditions (e.g. greater precipitation). The snow-chemistry records from Glaciar Marinelli are the first measured in Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost glaciated region outside Antarctica.

Más información

Título según WOS: Chemical composition of fresh snow from Glaciar Marinelli, Tierra del Fuego, Chile
Título según SCOPUS: Chemical composition of fresh snow from Glaciar Marinelli, Tierra del Fuego, Chile
Título de la Revista: JOURNAL OF GLACIOLOGY
Volumen: 55
Número: 193
Editorial: CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
Fecha de publicación: 2009
Página de inicio: 769
Página final: 776
Idioma: English
Notas: ISI, SCOPUS