Silicon isotopes in Arctic and sub-Arctic glacial meltwaters: the role of subglacial weathering in the silicon cycle.

ABSTRACT: Glacial environments play an important role in high-latitude marine nutrient cycling, potentially contributing significant fluxes of silicon (Si) to the polar oceans, either as dissolved silicon (DSi) or as dissolvable amorphous silica (ASi). Silicon is a key nutrient in promoting marine primary productivity, contributing to atmospheric CO₂ removal. We present the current understanding of Si cycling in glacial systems, focusing on the Si isotope (δ³⁰Si) composition of glacial meltwaters. We combine existing glacial δ³⁰Si data with new measurements from 20 sub-Arctic glaciers, showing that glacial meltwaters consistently export isotopically light DSi compared with non-glacial rivers (+0.16‰ versus +1.38‰). Glacial δ³⁰Si_ASi composition r

SUBMITTER: Hatton JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6735475 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature