Glacier meltwater chemistry at two sub-polar glaciers in West Greenland

Abstract

As part of a glacier hydrological study electrical conductivity of meltwaters from two subpolar glaciers was investigated. The dissolved load of a melt stream reflects the mixing, in varying proportions through time, of waters with different chemical characteristics from different environments (Collins, 1977). Conductivity, a surrogate measure of the concentration af total dissolved solids, was used as an indicator af the nature af subglacial and englacial hydrochemical environments and of different meltwater routings through the glaciers. The investigation was carried out at Qamanârssup sermia, an outlet glacier from the Inland Ice, in 1981 and at Kitdlerssuaq, on an outlet glacier from a local ice cap, in 1982 and 1983 (fig. 45). All conductivity values are reported at the measuring temperature, i.e. 0-2°C for glacier meltwater.