High export of dissolved silica from the Greenland Ice Sheet
Abstract Silica is an essential element for marine life and plays a key role in the biogeochemistry of the ocean. Glacial activity stimulates rock weathering, generating dissolved silica that is exported to coastal areas along with meltwater. The magnitude of the dissolved silica export from large g...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2016-09-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL070191 |
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| author | L. Meire P. Meire E. Struyf D. W. Krawczyk K. E. Arendt J. C. Yde T. Juul Pedersen M. J. Hopwood S. Rysgaard F. J. R. Meysman |
| author_facet | L. Meire P. Meire E. Struyf D. W. Krawczyk K. E. Arendt J. C. Yde T. Juul Pedersen M. J. Hopwood S. Rysgaard F. J. R. Meysman |
| author_sort | L. Meire |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Silica is an essential element for marine life and plays a key role in the biogeochemistry of the ocean. Glacial activity stimulates rock weathering, generating dissolved silica that is exported to coastal areas along with meltwater. The magnitude of the dissolved silica export from large glacial areas such as the Greenland Ice Sheet is presently poorly quantified and not accounted for in global budgets. Here we present data from two fjord systems adjacent to the Greenland Ice Sheet which reveal a large export of dissolved silica by glacial meltwater relative to other macronutrients. Upscaled to the entire Greenland Ice Sheet, the export of dissolved silica equals 22 ± 10 Gmol Si yr−1. When the silicate‐rich meltwater mixes with upwelled deep water, either inside or outside Greenland's fjords, primary production takes place at increased silicate to nitrate ratios. This likely stimulates the growth of diatoms relative to other phytoplankton groups. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-22b87854d3db4222b3f2e70565517d23 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-22b87854d3db4222b3f2e70565517d232025-08-20T03:49:45ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072016-09-0143179173918210.1002/2016GL070191High export of dissolved silica from the Greenland Ice SheetL. Meire0P. Meire1E. Struyf2D. W. Krawczyk3K. E. Arendt4J. C. Yde5T. Juul Pedersen6M. J. Hopwood7S. Rysgaard8F. J. R. Meysman9Greenland Climate Research Centre Greenland Institute of Natural Resources Nuuk GreenlandEcosystem Management Research Group, Department of Biology University of Antwerp Antwerpen BelgiumEcosystem Management Research Group, Department of Biology University of Antwerp Antwerpen BelgiumGreenland Climate Research Centre Greenland Institute of Natural Resources Nuuk GreenlandGreenland Climate Research Centre Greenland Institute of Natural Resources Nuuk GreenlandFaculty of Engineering and Science Sogn og Fjordane University College Sogndal NorwayGreenland Climate Research Centre Greenland Institute of Natural Resources Nuuk GreenlandGEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel Kiel GermanyGreenland Climate Research Centre Greenland Institute of Natural Resources Nuuk GreenlandDepartment of Ecosystem Studies Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research Yerseke NetherlandsAbstract Silica is an essential element for marine life and plays a key role in the biogeochemistry of the ocean. Glacial activity stimulates rock weathering, generating dissolved silica that is exported to coastal areas along with meltwater. The magnitude of the dissolved silica export from large glacial areas such as the Greenland Ice Sheet is presently poorly quantified and not accounted for in global budgets. Here we present data from two fjord systems adjacent to the Greenland Ice Sheet which reveal a large export of dissolved silica by glacial meltwater relative to other macronutrients. Upscaled to the entire Greenland Ice Sheet, the export of dissolved silica equals 22 ± 10 Gmol Si yr−1. When the silicate‐rich meltwater mixes with upwelled deep water, either inside or outside Greenland's fjords, primary production takes place at increased silicate to nitrate ratios. This likely stimulates the growth of diatoms relative to other phytoplankton groups.https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL070191silica cycleGreenland Ice Sheetbiogeochemistryweathering |
| spellingShingle | L. Meire P. Meire E. Struyf D. W. Krawczyk K. E. Arendt J. C. Yde T. Juul Pedersen M. J. Hopwood S. Rysgaard F. J. R. Meysman High export of dissolved silica from the Greenland Ice Sheet Geophysical Research Letters silica cycle Greenland Ice Sheet biogeochemistry weathering |
| title | High export of dissolved silica from the Greenland Ice Sheet |
| title_full | High export of dissolved silica from the Greenland Ice Sheet |
| title_fullStr | High export of dissolved silica from the Greenland Ice Sheet |
| title_full_unstemmed | High export of dissolved silica from the Greenland Ice Sheet |
| title_short | High export of dissolved silica from the Greenland Ice Sheet |
| title_sort | high export of dissolved silica from the greenland ice sheet |
| topic | silica cycle Greenland Ice Sheet biogeochemistry weathering |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL070191 |
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