Effect of increased glacier melt on diagenetic Fe cycling in marine sediments at King George Island (Antarctica)
Effect of increased glacier melt on diagenetic Fe cycling in marine sediments at King George Island (Antarctica)
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冰川融化增加对乔治王岛(南极洲)海洋沉积物中成岩铁循环的影响
DOI:
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发表时间:
2013
期刊:
影响因子:
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通讯作者:
M. Staubwasser
中科院分区:
文献类型:
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作者:
S. Henkel;S. Kasten;H. Sala;A. S. Busso;M. Staubwasser
The glacier melt of the Western Antarctic Peninsula and
its surrounding islands influences biogeochemical processes in
the water column and the marine sediment by changing the
flux of mineral particles and nutrients (e.g. Fe) into the ocean.
Sediment and pore water samples were collected at King
George Island (South Shetland Islands) to unravel how the
vicinity of ice-covered and -uncovered terrestrial environment
affects redox zonation and diagenetic processes in the coastal
sediments. The post-depositional dissolution of Fe-minerals
and the stable Fe isotope signatures of pore water and specific
Fe minerals were of special interest since changing Fe supplies
- as reactive particles via melting icebergs or meltwater
streams or dissolved via diffusion from the sediment into the
bottom water - might not only impact local biogeochemical
cycles but most likely also impact productivity in the Southern
Ocean.
Sediment cores of up to 45 cm length were retrieved in
Potter Cove, Marian Cove, and Maxwell Bay. In vicinity to
the glaciers the sediments showed an extended redox zonation.
The post-oxic zone with Fe2+ concentrations of up to 300 μM
ranged from 1 to 25 cm depth. Most probably, microbial
activity in sediments close to the glaciers is sluggish due to
low input of organic matter (OM). More condensed redox
zones prevailed in troughs where OM from terrestrial or
marine sources accumulates and in vicinity to research
stations. The upward directed diffusive Fe2+ fluxes as inferred
from pore water profiles range between 0 and ~1050 μM m-2
d-1. However, the correlation to the intensity of diagenesis is
not straightforward. Fe isotopes of specific minerals were used
to assess the intensity of Fe cycling. With ongoing Fe-oxide
dissolution, the residual Fe pool becomes enriched in 56Fe,
whereas dissolved Fe and secondary Fe-oxides become
enriched in 54Fe. Thus, easily reducible Fe oxides show lowest
!56Fe values at the top of the sediment column. We suggest
that the retreat of the glaciers indirectly results in higher OM
fluxes to shelf areas fueling diagenetic processes/nutrient
recycling.