The geochemical response of sedimentary archives to rapid recent glacier retreat at the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP): from source to sink

The Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) region is one of the most sensitive and dynamic areas of the earth, where ecological and cryospheric systems respond rapidly to climatic changes. During the past 60 years a rapid regional warming and a concomitant glacier retreat were observed, affecting the coastal ecosystem by turbid meltwaters and contributing to global sea level rise. Furthermore, the occurrence of new ice-free areas may promote chemical weathering and soil formation on previously ice-covered bedrocks.

The overarching goal of our study is to assess whether the documented temperature increase and associated glacier retreat at WAP is reflected in the sedimentary record and weather such episodes have occurred within the Holocene before. Therefore, we intend to characterize the particulate (SPM) and dissolved load of glacial meltwaters draining into Potter Cove, King George Island (Fig. 1), by inorganic geochemical methods (major and minor elements, nutrients). The extent of meltwater drainage and SPM input will be investigated by analyzing surface sediments from Potter Cove on a 500 m grid. Based on provenance analyses we will document whether the material introduced into this bay is evenly distributed and uniform in composition and if specific source areas can be distinguished by their chemical signature. Additionally, it will be studied whether the reported increase in SPM may be quantified by determining sediment accumulation rates with 210Pb. Longer sediment cores from Potter Cove and Maxwell Bay may moreover serve as archives for the climatic and paleoenvironmental development of this area during the Late Holocene - the last century in particular - and will be analyzed at high temporal resolution. In cooperation with the British Antarctic Survey sediments from lakes located at the Fildes and Potter Peninsula will further be used as reference sites.

The results of this research may contribute to the better understanding of the impact of global climate change on regional terrestrial and marine ecosystems at the WAP in the past and future.

This study forms part of the project „Rapid Climate Change at the Western Antarctic Peninsula: Chemical Flux Change and Environmental Consequences“ and will be conducted in close cooperation with the project „Fe and Mn in Antarctic bivalves: Indicators of change in near-shore biogeochemistry?“ by Dr. Doris Abele from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven.

Scientists

Hans-Jürgen Brumsack
ICBM
Universität Oldenburg

Patrick Monien
ICBM
Universität Oldenburg

Research areas

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Publications

Monien P, 2008. A geochemical comparison of Holocene sediments from Maxwell Bay and Potter Cove off King George Island (Antarctic Peninsula). Diploma thesis, Carl-von-Ossietzky University, Oldenburg.

Hass HC, Kuhn G, Monien P, Brumsack HJ, Forwick M, 2010. Climate fluctuations during the past two millennia as recorded in sediments from Maxwell Bay, South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica. In: Howe J, Austin WEN, Paetzel M, Forwick M (eds): Fjordic Depositional Systems and Archives, Geological Society of London Spec. Publ. 344.

Loftfield J, 2010. Geochemical characterization of a sediment core from Ardley Lake, western Antarctic Peninsula (in German). Diploma thesis, Carl-von-Ossietzky University, Oldenburg.

Monien P, Brumsack HJ, Schnetger B, Hass HC, Kuhn G, 2011. A geochemical record of Late Holocene paleoenvironmental changes at King George Island (maritime Antarctica), Antarctic Science, 23(3), 255-267.

Asendorf S, 2011. Geochemical investigation of pore waters and coastal sediments from Potter Cove, King George Island, western Antarctic Peninsula. Master thesis, Carl-von-Ossietzky University, Oldenburg.

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Research funding organisation

German Research Foundation

Project number: BR 775/25-1
Funding period: 2009 -