Eolian deposition of trace elements onto Taylor Valley Antarctic glaciers

Abstract

Abstract The major ion and trace element chemistry in four 60–110 cm deep snow pits was examined from three Antarctic Taylor Valley glaciers (Commonwealth, Canada and Howard), all located within 20 km of the Ross Sea. Taylor Valley (TV) (77°30′S, 163°15′E) is part of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), the largest ice-free area in Antarctica. Snow chemistry of these glaciers is strongly influenced by cross-valley (SW–NE and NE–SW) winds that deposit eolian materials, including mineral dust and soluble salts. Arsenic, Cd, Cu, Mo, Pb, Sb and Sn in recent TV glacier snow are almost exclusively derived from eolian dust. The relative magnitude of element variations with depth relate to the exposure of snow sites to prevalent winds. Eolian deposition is a primary source of these elements to Canada Glacier snow and supra and proglacial streams. Eolian processes are likely very important to the delivery and availability of nutrients and, potentially toxic elements to dry valley Antarctic ecosystems.