Title:
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Hydrochemistry of the
Greenland Ice Sheet
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The subglacial environment of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) is poorly understood,
in terms of hydrology, water storage and biogeochemical processes. High temporal
resolution biogeochemical sampling of bulk meltwaters at a typical, land-terminating
outlet glacier of the GrIS was employed in order to infer processes at the ice sheet bed
over three contrasting melt seasons. No high temporal resolution geochemical datasets
previously existed for ice sheet environments, mainly due to inaccessibility. Bulk
meltwaters comprised differing propOltions of waters originating from a widespread,
distributed subglacial drainage system (these delayed flow waters being solute
enriched due to prolonged residence times and high rock:water ratios in the
contributing environments), and an efficient channelized system (dilute surface waters
rapidly transmitted to the margin). Two-component chemical mixing models, in
combination with MODIS satellite imagery, revealed that delayed flow was released
continuously. However, higher volumes were released at times of subglacial outburst
events when draining surface lakes interacted with the bed and expelled stored waters.
Dissolution experiments and geochemical data indicated that these waters may have
been stored at the bed over winter, or longer, and comprised one-third of delayed flow
release in any given year (~O.02 km\ The geochemical data, in combination with
01 80 -H20 isotope data from bulk meltwaters and surface ice, were able to identify
subglacial drainage system evolution and increasingly distant water sources
contributing to bulk meltwaters. Enhanced silicate dissolution was observed
compared to smaller valley glaciers, which may lead to enhanced CO2 sequestration
compared to carbonate weathering' environments. Chemical weathering rates were
lower than would be expected for a poly thermal ice mass, likely due to low reactivity
bedrock. Ionic fluxes were higher in high melt years, which is a further indication of
stored water release due to extensive basal flushing. Finally, isotopes of sulphate
demonstrated that there are both oxic and anoxic conditions at the bed of the GrIS,
with potential for highly anoxic sulphate reducing conditions in the interior.
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