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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Simulating Impacts of Ice Storms on Forest Ecosystems

Simulating Impacts of Ice Storms on Forest Ecosystems

Published on: June 30, 2020

The silicon cycle impacted by past ice sheets.

Jon R Hawkings¹, Jade E Hatton², Katharine R Hendry³

¹Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK. jon.hawkings@bristol.ac.uk.

Nature Communications

|August 12, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Glacier meltwater runoff significantly lowers river silicon isotope (δ³⁰Si) values. This finding helps explain ocean silicon changes and suggests a link between ice sheets, ocean silicon, and atmospheric CO₂.

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Area of Science:

Geochemistry
Paleoclimatology
Oceanography

Background:

Global riverine silicon (Si) concentrations and isotope composition (δ³⁰Si) are influenced by glacial-interglacial cycles.
Understanding these changes is crucial for reconstructing past climate and ocean conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of ice sheet dynamics on riverine silicon isotope composition.
To quantify the contribution of glacial meltwater to ocean δ³⁰Si changes.
To explore potential feedbacks between ice sheets, ocean Si, and atmospheric CO₂.

Main Methods:

Analysis of δ³⁰Si composition in meltwater runoff from a Greenland Ice Sheet catchment.
Comparison of glacial runoff δ³⁰Si with non-glacial rivers.
Examination of marine sediment cores near Iceland for evidence of meltwater pulses.

Main Results:

Glacial meltwater runoff exhibits the lightest δ³⁰Si values (-0.25 ± 0.12‰) recorded in running waters.
The decline in glacial runoff since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) may account for 0.06–0.17‰ of the observed ocean δ³⁰Si rise (0.5–1.0‰).
Marine sediment cores indicate transient, low-δ³⁰Si meltwater pulses during glacial termination.

Conclusions:

Ice sheet dynamics significantly influence riverine silicon isotope signatures.
Reduced glacial runoff during interglacial periods contributes to rising ocean δ³⁰Si.
A potential feedback loop exists between ice sheet expansion, ocean Si export, and atmospheric CO₂ via diatom activity.