Trace metal distributions in the transition zone from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the surface water in Kangerlussuaq fjord (67° N)
<p>Glacial rock flour (GRF), an ultra-fine sediment formed beneath glaciers, contains high concentrations of silicate and trace metals, including iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn). In Greenland, meltwater discharge transports approximately 1.28 Gt of suspended sediments annually into the oceans, si...
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Copernicus Publications
2025-08-01
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| Series: | The Cryosphere |
| Online Access: | https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/3107/2025/tc-19-3107-2025.pdf |
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| author | C. R. Vives J. Bendtsen R. D. Dahms N. Daugbjerg K. V. Larsen M. T. Rosing |
| author_facet | C. R. Vives J. Bendtsen R. D. Dahms N. Daugbjerg K. V. Larsen M. T. Rosing |
| author_sort | C. R. Vives |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Glacial rock flour (GRF), an ultra-fine sediment formed beneath glaciers, contains high concentrations of silicate and trace metals, including iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn). In Greenland, meltwater discharge transports approximately 1.28 Gt of suspended sediments annually into the oceans, significantly influencing trace metal concentrations and marine biogeochemical cycles. This study investigates the spatial distribution of trace metals, nutrients, and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) from the Russell Glacier at the Greenland Ice Sheet, through the Akuliarusiarsuup Kuua meltwater and into the Kangerlussuaq fjord in western Greenland. Dissolved trace metals were relatively high in the river with low-salinity surface waters in the fjord, showing that the fjord acts as an important source of trace metals for the marine environment. However, trace metal concentrations, particularly Fe and zinc (Zn), exhibited significant non-linear decreases beyond salinity levels of 14, underscoring the complex processes affecting trace metal supply from rivers to fjords and coastal waters. In contrast, silicate concentrations increased in river water due to weathering of GRF and decreased gradually in the inner fjord due to mixing with surface water. Uranium (U) and molybdenum (Mo) were undetectable along the river but increased in the fjord, indicating that these elements primarily originate from the ocean. These findings highlight the complex interplay of physical, chemical, and biological processes regulating trace metal and nutrient dynamics in glacier-influenced fjord systems, with implications for primary productivity and carbon cycling in polar oceans.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3926945b10c24f30891ba43d469c1d6f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1994-0416 1994-0424 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Cryosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-3926945b10c24f30891ba43d469c1d6f2025-08-20T03:43:57ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe Cryosphere1994-04161994-04242025-08-01193107312110.5194/tc-19-3107-2025Trace metal distributions in the transition zone from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the surface water in Kangerlussuaq fjord (67° N)C. R. Vives0J. Bendtsen1R. D. Dahms2N. Daugbjerg3K. V. Larsen4M. T. Rosing5Centre for Glacial Rock Flour Research, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen K, DenmarkCentre for Glacial Rock Flour Research, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen K, DenmarkCentre for Glacial Rock Flour Research, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen K, DenmarkMarine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø, DenmarkCentre for Glacial Rock Flour Research, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen K, DenmarkCentre for Glacial Rock Flour Research, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen K, Denmark<p>Glacial rock flour (GRF), an ultra-fine sediment formed beneath glaciers, contains high concentrations of silicate and trace metals, including iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn). In Greenland, meltwater discharge transports approximately 1.28 Gt of suspended sediments annually into the oceans, significantly influencing trace metal concentrations and marine biogeochemical cycles. This study investigates the spatial distribution of trace metals, nutrients, and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) from the Russell Glacier at the Greenland Ice Sheet, through the Akuliarusiarsuup Kuua meltwater and into the Kangerlussuaq fjord in western Greenland. Dissolved trace metals were relatively high in the river with low-salinity surface waters in the fjord, showing that the fjord acts as an important source of trace metals for the marine environment. However, trace metal concentrations, particularly Fe and zinc (Zn), exhibited significant non-linear decreases beyond salinity levels of 14, underscoring the complex processes affecting trace metal supply from rivers to fjords and coastal waters. In contrast, silicate concentrations increased in river water due to weathering of GRF and decreased gradually in the inner fjord due to mixing with surface water. Uranium (U) and molybdenum (Mo) were undetectable along the river but increased in the fjord, indicating that these elements primarily originate from the ocean. These findings highlight the complex interplay of physical, chemical, and biological processes regulating trace metal and nutrient dynamics in glacier-influenced fjord systems, with implications for primary productivity and carbon cycling in polar oceans.</p>https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/3107/2025/tc-19-3107-2025.pdf |
| spellingShingle | C. R. Vives J. Bendtsen R. D. Dahms N. Daugbjerg K. V. Larsen M. T. Rosing Trace metal distributions in the transition zone from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the surface water in Kangerlussuaq fjord (67° N) The Cryosphere |
| title | Trace metal distributions in the transition zone from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the surface water in Kangerlussuaq fjord (67° N) |
| title_full | Trace metal distributions in the transition zone from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the surface water in Kangerlussuaq fjord (67° N) |
| title_fullStr | Trace metal distributions in the transition zone from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the surface water in Kangerlussuaq fjord (67° N) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trace metal distributions in the transition zone from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the surface water in Kangerlussuaq fjord (67° N) |
| title_short | Trace metal distributions in the transition zone from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the surface water in Kangerlussuaq fjord (67° N) |
| title_sort | trace metal distributions in the transition zone from the greenland ice sheet to the surface water in kangerlussuaq fjord 67° thinsp n |
| url | https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/3107/2025/tc-19-3107-2025.pdf |
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