Concentrations and loads of DOC, phenols and aldehydes in a proglacial arctic river in relation to hydro-meteorological conditions. A case study from the southern margin of the Bellsund Fjord – SW Spitsbergen - Publication - Bridge of Knowledge

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Concentrations and loads of DOC, phenols and aldehydes in a proglacial arctic river in relation to hydro-meteorological conditions. A case study from the southern margin of the Bellsund Fjord – SW Spitsbergen

Abstract

Climate warming accelerates the melting and thawing of cryosphere components. Therefore, it favours the release of contaminants stored in High-Arctic glaciers for many years. The rate of land-based glacier retreat is of particular importance for the hydrological regime of glacial rivers, but also for the chemical composition of their waters. In this study, we examined 84 surface water samples collected during a period of 42 days (melt season 2012) from the Scott River of glacial-hydrological regime (NW Wedel-Jarlsberg Land). The studies of Scott River hydro-meteorological conditions provided indication on the relation between mean air temperatures (T) and mean daily discharge (Q) (r = 0.67). Moreover, they confirmed the role of short-term meteorological events (increasing of air temperature and heavy precipitation) on the acceleration of glacier melt. In this context, the study also demonstrated incidents of the release of a more concentrated pulse of chemical compounds delivered by the Scottbreen valley glacier. The analysis covered fluctuations of physicochemical parameters, and presence of selected organic pollutants (∑phenols, formaldehyde (HCHO)). Based on the correlation matrix analysis, it was found that fluctuations of physicochemical indices (pH, specific electrolytic conductivity (SEC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC)) were related to changes in T and Q. Principal components analysis (PCA)permitted us to distinguish two principal components (hydro-meteorological and biogeochemical conditions) responsible for 71.1% of the total hydrochemical variation. In terms of the first principal component, it was found that there was a relationship with the intensified ablation of glacier ice and with the second one, the influence of geological and biological conditions of the environment on the chemistry of the river. The combination of these factors directly shaped the hydrochemistry of the proglacial river during the melt season of 2012. The results of organic compound loads, which are presented in this paper provide unique information about the transport of contaminants such as: (DOC) (9.41–579 mgC s−1), ∑phenols (19.7–534 mg s−1), HCHO (34.0–82.3 mg s−1)) in the Scott River. It is worth noting that the differentiation of concentration and mean daily loads of DOC, between the gorge (96.0 mgC s−1) and mouth (99.6 mgC s−1) sections of the river, were related with the activity of a herring gull (Larus argentatus) colony at the river mouth.

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Category:
Articles
Type:
artykuł w czasopiśmie wyróżnionym w JCR
Published in:
CATENA no. 174, pages 117 - 129,
ISSN: 0341-8162
Language:
English
Publication year:
2019
Bibliographic description:
Lehmann-Konera S., Kociuba w., Chmiel S., Franczak ł., Polkowska Ż.: Concentrations and loads of DOC, phenols and aldehydes in a proglacial arctic river in relation to hydro-meteorological conditions. A case study from the southern margin of the Bellsund Fjord – SW Spitsbergen// CATENA. -Vol. 174, (2019), s.117-129
DOI:
Digital Object Identifier (open in new tab) 10.1016/j.catena.2018.10.049
Sources of funding:
Verified by:
Gdańsk University of Technology

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  • S. Lehmann-konera,
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  • + 2 authors
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