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Published on: February 15, 2021
Water-soluble elements in snow and ice on Mt. Yulong
Hewen Niu1, Shichang Kang2, Xiaofei Shi3
1State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, 219 Ningliu Road, Nanjing 210044, China.
Light-absorbing aerosols like organic carbon accelerate glacier melt by reducing surface albedo. This study analyzed snow and ice from Mt. Yulong, revealing trends in carbon and nitrogen impacting glacial processes.
Area of Science:
- Glaciology and Climate Science
- Environmental Chemistry
- Geochemistry
Background:
- High-elevation glaciers are sensitive to light-absorbing aerosols (LAAs), such as organic carbon and mineral dust, which reduce surface albedo and accelerate melting.
- Deposited organic carbon in glaciers plays a crucial role in global carbon cycles, snow photochemistry, and air-snow exchange processes.
- Understanding the chemical composition of glaciers is vital for assessing their response to climate change and the impact of impurities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of water-soluble organic carbon (DOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in snow and ice samples from Mt. Yulong.
- To elucidate the chemical species and compositions of glaciers in the Mt. Yulong region, focusing on DOC, TN, and water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIs).
- To understand the relationship between LAPs deposition, snowmelt, and potential glacial retreat.
Main Methods:
- Collection of diverse snow and ice samples from high-elevation sites (4300-4850 masl) on Mt. Yulong, Tibetan Plateau, in 2015.
- Chemical analysis of samples for water-soluble organic carbon (DOC), total nitrogen (TN), and water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIs).
- Analysis of spatial and temporal trends, including depletion ratios of DOC and TN during melt and winter seasons.
Main Results:
- Glacial meltwater exhibited the lowest DOC concentration (0.39 mg L⁻¹), while fresh snow had the highest (2.03 mg L⁻¹).
- DOC and TN concentrations showed a decreasing trend from fresh snow to surface snow, attributed to photolysis and snowmelt effects.
- Depletion ratios of DOC and TN were lower in the melt season compared to the winter season, indicating reduction due to melt and sublimation.
Conclusions:
- The deposition of light-absorbing impurities (LAIs), including organic carbon and nitrogen, significantly influences the chemical composition and melt dynamics of Mt. Yulong glaciers.
- Snow's quick melt and sublimation are key processes reducing DOC and TN content in glaciers.
- Accelerated snowmelt and potential glacial retreat may result from the deposition of these LAIs on glacier surfaces.
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