Abstract

The anion compositions (SO 2- 4 , HCO - 3 and Cl - ) of runoff from the Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland and Austre Broggerbreen, Svalbard are compared to assess whether or not variations in water chemistry with discharge are consistent with current understanding of the subglacial drainage structure of warm- and polythermal-based glaciers. These glacial catchments have very different bedrocks and the subglacial drainage structures are also believed to be different, yet the range of anion concentrations show considerable overlap for SO 2- 4 and HCO - 3 . Concentrations of Cl - are higher at Austre Broggerbreen because of the maritime location of the glacier. Correcting SO 2- 4 for the snowpack component reveals that the variation in non-snowpack SO 2- 4 with discharge and with HCO - 3 is similar to that observed at the Haut Glacier d'Arolla. Hence, if we assume that the provenance of the non-snowpack SO 2- 4 is the same in both glacial drainage systems, a distributed drainage system also contributes to runoff at Austre Broggerbreen. We have no independent means of testing the assumption at present. The lower concentrations of non-snowpack SO 2- 4 at Austre Broggerbreen may suggest that a smaller proportion of runoff originates from a distributed drainage system than at the Haut Glacier d'Arolla.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call