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ISotopic and physical-chemical MOnitoring of GLACial drainages and sea water in the Ny-Ålesund area (Svalbard) (ISMOGLAC)
Call year: 2015
Status: active
IADC_id: 19
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Introduction and goalsrnThe monitoring of glacial meltwater, which are transferred to the ocean, can represent a valid tool to understand the climate conditions and their change and effects.rnSome studies were carried out on meltwater in Arctic regions by using hydrological observations and tracer tests (e.g.: Bingham et al., 2005; Bartholomew et al., 2011; Chandler et al., 2013). Main results suggest that the hydrological system of the glacial bodies can evolve significantly as the melt season advances. This may increase the velocity of ice masses, allowing them to respond much more rapidly to climatic warming. The penetration of supraglacial meltwater within the glaciers seems to play a key role in the evolution of subglacial drainage systems, nevertheless in the outflow volumes other components such as water from basal melting and water stored during the winter in “subglacial reservoirs” are involved (Bingham et al., 2005; Bartholomew et al., 2011). rnStudying the mass balance, the Norsk-Polar Institutt outlines that the glaciers near Ny-Ålesund mainly have lost mass over the last 40 years by extra runoff (http://mosj.npolar.no/en/climate/land/). The surficial drainage system of these glaciers consists of numerous meltwater channels, short-lived lakes and few open moulins and crevasses, all leading the water into the englacial and/or subglacial system (Hagen et al., 2003). The freshwater that generates throughout such drainage systems is then transferred to the fjord by surface runoff (glaciers ending on land) or directly (calving glaciers). A fraction of meltwater that penetrates to the bed of the glaciers can moreover feed groundwater systems below the permafrost, and later discharge at the springs or directly into the fjord; these amounts are generally negligible, nevertheless in the west Svalbard it might be significant, also thanks to the geological structures that may enable the development of groundwater flow, as testified from consistent water discharging by springs (Haldorsen et al., 2011), including the thermal waters (20-30°C) that flow out in northwest Svalbard (Salvigsen and H?gvard, 1998).rnIn the Arctic region the isotopic parameters have been successfully tested as a powerful tool to trace the glacial meltwater dynamics and to distinguish water sources in mixing processes (e.g. Ostlund & Hut, 1984; Azetsu-Scott & Tan, 1997; Bauch et al., 2005). At the Svalbard Islands, water isotopes data have been mainly produced from ice core studies (Divine et al., 2011a and references therein) and in relation to the precipitation (GNIP; Kuells C. J. & Ritter M., 2010; Divine et al., 2011b and references therein). Conversely, few data were published on meltwater and their relationship with ocean water. A first salinity-?18O mixing line within Kongsfjorden was proposed by MacLachlan et al. (2007).rnAlso the chemical parameters of meltwater can contribute to the understanding of the dynamic processes of the glaciers hydrology (Virkkunen et al., 2004), especially coupling them with isotope data. Moreover, involving the study of dissolved gases would allow adding significant elements for evaluating the environmental effect induced by the global climate change. Recent studies on the interaction between atmospheric CO2 and carbonate chemistry of sea water, sea ice melt and glacial meltwater (i.e. Sejr et al., 2011; Bates et al, 2014) concluded that the formation/melting of ice plays a pivotal role in CO2 distribution from waters to atmosphere. Also, new research (Søgaard et al., 2014) “shows that sea ice in the Arctic draws large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere into the ocean.”rnrnIn this framework, and taking into account the research activities that are being carried out in Svalbard Islands, we propose an isotopic and physical-chemical monitoring of inland glacial drainages and ocean water into Kongsfjorden. This research is aimed at defining the dynamic processes of the glacial melting and evaluating the consequent transfers of fresh water towards the Arctic Ocean.rnThese scientific activities can well relate to the actions that are being carried out at the Svalbard Islands (e.g. “Marine activities within Kongsfjorden”) and with activities that other groups are proposing (e.g. “Clara Turetta group”-IDPA).rnrnField workrnField activities will consist of sampling and measurements on water, which will be performed both inland and into Kongsfjorden. A preliminary distribution of the work sites has been planned. Nevertheless, the real locations of sampling and measurement points will be decided onsite, after checking local conditions and logistical issues. Further details can be determined later, by knowing the activities of other project to which this research can be related.rnThe inland field-work will be carried out on the glaciers Brøggerbreen and Lovénbreen, where sampling and measurements could regard meltwater channels, lakes and open moulins and crevasses. Water points will be also examined on the proglacial rivers up to the sea. For the inland work, a total of about 15-20 sampling points can be hypothesized. Sea water sampling will require some points (about 6-7) located at 50 m from the Ny-Ålesund coast line. The choice of furthest sites can be done directly on the field, after checking for logistical and safety-security issues; some points should insist in the inner part of the fjord, covering the area among the Ny-Ålesund coast line and the Blomstrandhalvøya and Storholmen Islands. rnrnThe sampling activity will regard the collection of various aliquots of waters, taken both inland and into the fjord, in order to analyse the following parameters: 1) water isotopes signature (?18O, ?2H and 3H); 2) TDIC isotopes (?13C e ?18O of the Total Dissolved Inorganic Carbon); 3) concentration of the main, minor and trace chemical components (with particular attention towards those inserted within the priority list of the European Community)rnrnIn particular, samples will be collected by:rn• N°1 polyethilene bottle (PE, 125 mL) of no- treated water for anions analyses;rn• N°1 PE bottle (50mL) of no-treated water for water stable isotopes analyses;rn• N°1 PE bottle (50mL) of filtered (0.45 µm) and acidified (HNO3 1:1) water for major cations and metals analyses;rn• N°1 PE bottle (500 mL) of no-treated water for tritium analysis;rn• N°1 PE bottle (500 mL) of filtered water (0.45 µm) for stable isotopes carbon in TDIC.rnrnBefore collecting samples in the inland area, measurements of temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, flow rate, together with geographical coordinates and altitude will be performed in each sampling site, by using suitable and portable instruments. Also, total alkalinity will be determined by means of acidimetric titration, using HCl (0.01N) as a titrant and methyl-orange as pH indicator.rnrnAt the sampling points in the fjord, a multiparametric probe will be used in order to perform vertical profiles (up to ?100 m.b.s.l.) of temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, redox potential and dissolved oxygen. In 5 or 6 vertical profiles, a dissolved gas sampling will be performed, following the methodology described in Cioni et al. (2003). This system allows us to collect water samples in a pre-evacuated glass bottles with 3-way valve, inducing a minimum perturbation of the water samples (created by excessive depressurization, e.g. because of using an electric pump). The bottles will rinse until a small enough head space (20-30 ml) is obtained. Dissolved gases re-equilibrate in the head space of the glass bottles and can thus be analyzed in the laboratory by gas-chormatography. After collection, the major advantage of this technique consist in the absence of perturbation of the samples, until gas analysis is performed. In the laboratory CO2, Ar, O2, N2, CH4 concentrations will be determined.rnrnTimingrnDuring 2015, the activity will be performed throughout two periods of field work, which will represent the early and the later melt season. In particular, about 15 days will be spent over both the periods May-June and August-September. Over each period the sampling and measurements will be performed inland and within the fjord. On the inland network points the collection of data and samples will be done at least 2-3 times for each period, whereas in the fjord the work will be performed only once during each period.rnrnGiven the aims of the project, these activities should be repeated over a period of several years (at least 4-5 years), thus providing to achieve information both on the seasonal and medium periods evolution of glacial melting.rnrnNeed of logistical-technical support rnrnTravel and lodging for 2 people, 30 days each; rnrnSmall space in the laboratory and warehouse;rnSmall boat;rnSnowmobile with towing kit.rnrnReferencesrnAzetsu-Scott K. & Tan F.C. 1997. Oxygen isotope studies from Iceland to an East Greenland Fjord: Behaviour of glacial meltwater plume. Marine Chemistry, Vol.56 : 239–251 rnBartholomew, I., Nienow, P., Sole, A., Mair, D., Cowton, T., Palmer, S., Wadham, J. (2011). Supraglacial forcing of subglacial drainage in the ablation zone of the Grenland ice sheet. Geophysical Res. Lett., Vol.38, L08502.rnrnBates, N. R., Garley, R., Frey, K.E., Shake, K. L., Mathis J. T. (2014). Sea-ice melt CO2–carbonate chemistry in the western Arctic Ocean: meltwater contributions to air–sea CO2 gas exchange, mixed-layer properties and rates of net community production under sea ice. Biogeoscience, 11, 6769– 6789.rnBauch D., Erlenkeuser H. & Andersen N. 2005: Water mass processes on Arctic shelves as revealed from delta O-18 of H2O. Global and Planetary Change, Vol.48 : 165–174.rnBingham, R.G., Nienow, P.W., Sharp, M.J., Boon, S. (2005). Subglacial drainage processes at a High Arctic polythermal valley glacier. J. of Glaciology, Vol.51: 15-24.rnChandler, D.M., Wadham, J.L., Lis, G.P., Cowtow, T., Sole, A., Bartholomew, I., Telling, J., Nienow, P., Bagshaw, E.B., Mair, D., Vinen, S., Hubbard, A. (2013). Evolution of the subglacial drainage system beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet revealed by tracers. Nature Geoscience, Vol.6 : 195-198rnCioni, R., Guidi, M., Raco, B., Marini, L., Gambardella, B. (2003). Water chemistry of lake Albano (Italy). J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 120, 179-195.rnDivine, D. V., Isaksson, E., Martma, T., Meijer, H. A. J., Moore, J., Pohjola, V., Van de Wal, R. S. W., Godtliebsen, F. (2011a). Thousand years of winter surface air temperature variations in Svalbard and northern Norway reconstructed from ice-core data. Polar Research, 30, 7379rnDivine, D. V., Sjolte, J., Isaksson, E., Meijer, H. A. J., Van de Wal, R. S. W.,Martma, T., Pohjola, V., Sturm, C., Godtliebsen, F. (2011b). Modelling the regional climate and isotopic composition of Svalbard precipitation using REMOiso : a comparison with available GNIP and ice core data. Hydrol. Process., 25 : 3748-3759. Hagen, J.O., Kohler, J., Melvold, K., Winther, J-G. (2003) Glaciers in Svalbard : mass balance, runoff and freshwater flux. Polar Research, 22(2) : 145-159. rnHaldorsen, S., Heim, M., Van der Ploeg, M. (2011). Impact of climate change on groundwater in permafrost areas: case study from Svalbard, Norway. In :Climate Change Effects on Groundwater Resources: A Global Synthesis of Findings and Recommendations, Edited by Treidel H., Martin-Bordes J.L., Gurdak J.J., Serie: IAH - International Contributions to Hydrogeology, n. 27, Chapter 18, 323-338.rnKuells C. J. & Ritter M. (2010). Deuterium excess anomaly of precipitation in Svalbard. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2010, abstract #A51E-0179.rnMacLachlan, S. E., Cottier, F. R., Austin, W. E. N., Howe, J. A. (2007). The salinity:?18O water relationship in Kongsfjorden, western Spitsbergen. Polar Research, 26: 160-167. rnOstlund, H.G. & Hut, G. (1984). Arctic Ocean water mass balance from isotope data. J. Geophys. Res., 89: 6373-6381.rnSejr, M.K., Krause-Jensen, D., Rysgaard, S., Sørensen, L.L., Christensen, P.B. , Glud, R.N. (2011). Air–sea flux of CO2 in arctic coastal waters influenced by glacial melt water and sea ice. Tellus, 63B, 815-822.rnSøgaard et al., (2014). http://www.climatenewsnetwork.net/ice-melt-dilutes-arctic-seas-co2-clean-up-role/.rn
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“Clara Turetta group”-IDPA/CNR
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