Natural radioactive isotopes in glacier meltwater studies
Natural radioactive isotopes in glacier meltwater studies
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冰川融水研究中的天然放射性同位素
DOI：
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发表时间：
2011
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
J. Jania
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
A. Kies;A. Nawrot;Z. Tosheva;J. Jania
由于全球变暖，冰川正在消融。斯瓦尔巴群岛是欧洲高地北极的一个非常敏感的地区，对冰川变化和演变的研究在北极具有代表性。目前的工作目标是斯皮茨卑尔根的冰川；我们研究了冰川化盆地提供的融水，引入了结合经典参数的放射性同位素测量。在天然放射性元素中，最有希望的是惰性气体氡，更准确地说是同位素222Rn，半衰期很短，只有3.8天，有可能实现自动连续测量。对冰川融化水中氡的测量显示出惊人的高浓度，因此能够利用氡作为有价值的示踪剂进行调查。只有与岩石或沉积物接触的融水才有可能带入氡。不同的氡浓度可能与来自不同来源的融化水混合的变化有关，这些来源大致是冰川表面(冰上)、冰川内(冰川内)和冰下(冰下)。我们能够收集有关冰川排水系统及其随时间演变的信息，从而有助于研究冰川动力学。给出了覆盖不同冰川季节的Werenskioldbreen冰川的三个采样周期的结果，并对其进行了讨论。进一步连续测量的潜在结果将提供关于排水小路以及冰川排水方式和系统的补充信息。我们的研究还旨在更好地了解冰川对环境参数的响应，并从长远来看，为气候变化研究做出贡献。
Glaciers are decaying due to global warming. Svalbard is a very sensitive area within the European High Arctic and studies on glacier changes and evolutions are representative for the Arctic. The present work aims glaciers at Spitsbergen; we investigated meltwater supplied by glacierized basins in introducing radioactive isotope measurements in combination with classical parameters. Among the natural radioactive elements, the most promising is the noble gas radon, more precisely the isotope 222Rn, with a short half life of 3.8 days and the possibility of automated continuous measurements. Measurements of radon in glacier meltwater showed surprisingly high concentrations thus enabling investigations with radon as valuable tracer. Only meltwater in contact with rock or sediments has the possibility to be charged with radon. Varying radon concentrations can be linked to changes in mixing meltwater from different origins, roughly the surface of glaciers (supraglacial), within (englacial) and under ice (subglacial). We are able to collect information on the glacier drainage system and its evolution over time and thus contribute to the study of glacier dynamics. Results from three sampling periods on Werenskioldbreen glacier, covering different glaciological seasons, are presented and discussed in this study. The potential results of further continuous measurements will give supplementary information on drainage footpaths and the style and system of the draining of glaciers. Our study intends also a better understanding of the response of glaciers to environmental parameters and, on a longer term, to make a contribution to climate change studies.