Chemical weathering under the Greenland Ice Sheet

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences (Physical Sciences)

Research Article| June 01, 2014 Chemical weathering under the Greenland Ice Sheet Joseph A. Graly; Joseph A. Graly 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Department 3006, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Neil F. Humphrey; Neil F. Humphrey 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Department 3006, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Claire M. Landowski; Claire M. Landowski 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Department 3006, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA2U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS 951, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Joel T. Harper Joel T. Harper 3Department of Geosciences, #1296, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Joseph A. Graly 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Department 3006, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA Neil F. Humphrey 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Department 3006, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA Claire M. Landowski 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Department 3006, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA2U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS 951, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA Joel T. Harper 3Department of Geosciences, #1296, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 10 Dec 2013 Revision Received: 25 Mar 2014 Accepted: 01 Apr 2014 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2014 Geological Society of America Geology (2014) 42 (6): 551–554. https://doi.org/10.1130/G35370.1 Article history Received: 10 Dec 2013 Revision Received: 25 Mar 2014 Accepted: 01 Apr 2014 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Joseph A. Graly, Neil F. Humphrey, Claire M. Landowski, Joel T. Harper; Chemical weathering under the Greenland Ice Sheet. Geology 2014;; 42 (6): 551–554. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G35370.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract To contrast continental and alpine subglacial weathering regimes and thereby assess the role of large ice masses in chemical weathering, borehole and outlet water samples were collected from multiple locations on a major, land-terminating outlet of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Boreholes, reaching ice depths to 824 m, were drilled to the bed with hot-water methods in four areas of the ice sheet ablation zone along a 45 km transect extending inland from the outlet terminus. The bulk chemical composition of these samples shows substantially less influence of sulfides and carbonates than found in alpine glaciers, suggesting that the sediment under this region of the ice sheet has become depleted of accessory minerals. The waters show wide variability in chemical composition over both large and small temporal-spatial scales, suggesting large ranges in length of subglacial water storage and in rates of abrasion and comminution of subglacial earth materials. The dissolved solids concentrations found in the Greenland Ice Sheet are comparable to and in some cases exceed those of alpine glaciers, suggesting that large ice masses are capable of generating substantial dissolved loads through silicate weathering mechanisms. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.