Production In Ice Research Articles

The potential of in situ cosmogenic 14CO in ice cores as a proxy for galactic cosmic ray flux variations

Abstract. Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) interact with matter in the atmosphere and at the surface of the Earth to produce a range of cosmogenic nuclides. Measurements of cosmogenic nuclides produced in surface rocks have been used to study past land ice extent as well as to estimate erosion rates. Because the GCR flux reaching the Earth is modulated by magnetic fields (solar and Earth's), records of cosmogenic nuclides produced in the atmosphere have also been used for studies of past solar activity. Studies utilizing cosmogenic nuclides assume that the GCR flux is constant in time, but this assumption may be uncertain by 30 % or more. Here we propose that measurements of 14C of carbon monoxide (14CO) in ice cores at low-accumulation sites can be used as a proxy for variations in GCR flux on timescales of several thousand years. At low-accumulation ice core sites, 14CO in ice below the firn zone originates almost entirely from in situ cosmogenic production by deep-penetrating secondary cosmic ray muons. The flux of such muons is almost insensitive to solar and geomagnetic variations and depends only on the primary GCR flux intensity. We use an empirically constrained model of in situ cosmogenic 14CO production in ice in combination with a statistical analysis to explore the sensitivity of ice core 14CO measurements at Dome C, Antarctica, to variations in the GCR flux over the past ≈ 7000 years. We find that Dome C 14CO measurements would be able to detect a linear change of 6 % over 7 ka, a step increase of 6 % at 3.5 ka or a transient 100-year spike of 190 % at 3.5 ka at the 3σ significance level. The ice core 14CO proxy therefore appears promising for the purpose of providing a high-precision test of the assumption of GCR flux constancy over the Holocene.

Characterization of in situ cosmogenic 14CO production, retention and loss in firn and shallow ice at Summit, Greenland

Abstract. Measurements of carbon-14-containing carbon monoxide (14CO) in glacial ice are useful for studies of the past oxidative capacity of the atmosphere as well as for reconstructing the past cosmic ray flux. The 14CO abundance in glacial ice represents the combination of trapped atmospheric 14CO and in situ cosmogenic 14CO. The systematics of in situ cosmogenic 14CO production and retention in ice are not fully quantified, posing an obstacle to interpretation of ice core 14CO measurements. Here we provide the first comprehensive characterization of 14CO at an ice accumulation site (Summit, Greenland), including measurements in the ice grains of the firn matrix, firn air and bubbly ice below the firn zone. The results are interpreted with the aid of a firn gas transport model into which we implemented in situ cosmogenic 14C. We find that almost all (≈ 99.5 %) of in situ 14CO that is produced in the ice grains in firn is very rapidly (in <1 year) lost to the open porosity and from there mostly vented to the atmosphere. The timescale of this rapid loss is consistent with what is expected from gas diffusion through ice. The small fraction of in situ 14CO that initially stays in the ice grains continues to slowly leak out to the open porosity at a rate of ≈ 0.6 % yr−1. Below the firn zone we observe an increase in 14CO content with depth that is due to in situ 14CO production by deep-penetrating muons, confirming recent estimates of 14CO production rates in ice via the muon mechanisms and allowing for narrowing constraints on these production rates.

Sources and melt flux of methylmercury in sea ice on the Chukchi Plateau, Arctic Ocean

To identify the major source and melt flux of Hg in sea ice, we measured total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations from sea ice cores collected from the Chukchi Plateau, Arctic Ocean. The THg maxima were found in the surface section (0–40 cm) of the cold cores (−2.3 ± 0.19 °C) and middle section (30–75 cm) of the warm cores (−1.9 ± 0.38 °C), whereas MeHg concentrations were nearly constant by core depth in the cold and warm cores. Using the enrichment factor mixing model, we estimated seawater to be the dominant source of THg over atmospheric deposition, both in the cold (89.1–99.6 %) and warm cores (98.4–99.7 %). The preliminary input estimation for MeHg showed that in situ methylation, instead of seawater input, was the potential source of MeHg in sea ice. The sea ice melt flux of MeHg in the Arctic Ocean was estimated to be 231 ± 77 kg yr−1 in the period of 2010–2020, which is insignificant compared with other external sources, such as atmospheric deposition, river discharge, and coastal erosion. Based on the results of the present study, the ongoing decline of sea ice extent related to polar amplification is likely to enhance MeHg production in sea ice in late spring and summer as a result of the improved light availability and consequent promotion of algal and microbial activities.

Effect of dissolved organic matter on sulfachloropyridazine photolysis in liquid water and ice

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an ubiquitous component of environmental snow and ice, which can absorb light and produce reactive species (RS) and thus is of importance in ice photochemistry. The photodegradation of sulfachloropyridazine (SCP) without and with DOM present in liquid water and ice were investigated in this study. The photodegradation rate constants for SCP without DOM present was enhanced by 52.5 % in ice relative to liquid water, likely due to the enhanced role of SCP self-sensitized RS in ice. DOM significantly promoted SCP photolysis in both liquid water and ice, which was mainly attributed to roles of singlet oxygen (1O2) and triplet excited-state DOM (3DOM*) generated from DOM. 1O2 production from DOM was significantly enhanced in ice relative to liquid water. Hydroxyl radical (•OH) production from DOM in ice was similar to those in liquid water. Enhancement in 3DOM* production in ice was observed at low DOM concentrations. Suwannee River Fulvic Acid (SRFA) and Elliott Soil Humic Acid (ESHA) exhibited differences in RS production in liquid water and ice, as well as in enhancement of 1O2 and 3DOM* produced in ice relative to liquid water. DOM induced reaction pathways of SCP different from those without DOM present, and therefore affected toxicity of SCP photoproducts. There were differences in photodegradation pathways of SCP as well as in toxicity of SCP photoproducts between liquid water and ice.

Increases in Arctic sea ice algal habitat, 1985–2018

In the Arctic Ocean, sea ice algae are responsible for a small but seasonally important pulse of primary production. Their persistence is threatened by the rapid loss of sea ice from the Arctic Ocean due to climate change, but this threat will be at least partially offset by the replacement of multiyear ice (MYI) with first-year ice (FYI). FYI is thinner and usually features a thinner snow cover than MYI, thus transmitting more light to support ice algal growth. We combined remote sensing, reanalysis data, and modeling products with a radiative transfer model to assess how the changing physical conditions in the Arctic altered the extent and duration of the bottom ice algal habitat over a 34-year period. Habitat was defined as areas where enough light penetrates to the bottom ice to support net positive photosynthesis. The Arctic shifted from 37% FYI in 1985 to 63% in 2018, as the 2.0 × 106 km2 increase in FYI extent outpaced the 0.6 × 106 km2 decrease in overall sea ice extent above the Arctic Circle. The proliferation of younger ice corresponded with a 0.08 m decade–1 decrease in average sea ice thickness and a 0.003 m decade–1 decrease in average snow depth. The end of the ice algal season, marked by the onset of warm summer air temperatures, moved slightly earlier, by 1.4 days decade–1. Our analysis indicates that ice algal habitat extent increased by 0.4 × 106 km2 decade–1, or from 48% to 66% of total sea ice extent. The average ice algal growing season also lengthened by 2.4 days and shifted earlier in the year. Together, these trends suggest that net primary production in Arctic sea ice increased during 1985–2018. The most dramatic changes were localized in the Central Basin and the Chukchi Sea and were driven primarily by the declining snow cover and the shift from MYI to FYI. Although the Arctic recently became more favorable to ice algae, we expect that this trend will not continue indefinitely, as a limited amount of MYI remains.

Sources and sinks of methane in sea ice

We report on methane (CH4) stable isotope (δ13C and δ2H) measurements from landfast sea ice collected near Barrow (Utqiagvik, Alaska) and Cape Evans (Antarctica) over the winter-to-spring transition. These measurements provide novel insights into pathways of CH4 production and consumption in sea ice. We found substantial differences between the two sites. Sea ice overlying the shallow shelf of Barrow was supersaturated in CH4 with a clear microbial origin, most likely from methanogenesis in the sediments. We estimated that in situ CH4 oxidation consumed a substantial fraction of the CH4 being supplied to the sea ice, partly explaining the large range of isotopic values observed (δ13C between –68.5 and –48.5 ‰ and δ2H between –246 and –104 ‰). Sea ice at Cape Evans was also supersaturated in CH4 but with surprisingly high δ13C values (between –46.9 and –13.0 ‰), whereas δ2H values (between –313 and –113 ‰) were in the range of those observed at Barrow. These are the first measurements of CH4 isotopic composition in Antarctic sea ice. Our data set suggests a potential combination of a hydrothermal source, in the vicinity of the Mount Erebus, with aerobic CH4 formation in sea ice, although the metabolic pathway for the latter still needs to be elucidated. Our observations show that sea ice needs to be considered as an active biogeochemical interface, contributing to CH4 production and consumption, which disputes the standing paradigm that sea ice is an inert barrier passively accumulating CH4 at the ocean-atmosphere boundary.

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) cell quotas variations arising from sea ice shifts of salinity and temperature in the Prymnesiophyceae Phaeocystis antarctica

Environmental contextDimethylsulfoniopropionate and dimethylsulfoxide could have a climatic influence especially in the polar areas. We investigate the effect of sea ice salinity and temperature on the production of these two sulfur metabolites by a polar microalga, and suggest their potential roles of osmoregulator and cryoprotectant. These results bring new information about the sulfur cycle in sea ice that is useful for climate models. AbstractThe Southern Ocean, which includes the seasonal ice zone (SIZ), is a source of large sea-air fluxes of dimethylsulfide (DMS), a climate active gas involved in Earth cooling processes. In this area, the prymnesiophyte Phaeocystis antarctica (P. antarctica) is one of the main producers of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), two metabolites that are precursors of DMS. These algae are also present in sea ice and contribute substantially to the high DMSP and DMSO concentrations observed in this habitat. DMSP and DMSO production in sea ice by P. antarctica is proposed to be promoted by its ability to live in extreme environmental conditions. We designed cell culture experiments to test that hypothesis, focusing on the impact of shifts of temperature and salinity on the DMSP and DMSO cell quotas. Our experiments show an increase in DMSP and DMSO cell quotas following shifts in salinity (34 to 75, at 4°C), which suggests a potential osmoregulator function for both DMSP and DMSO. Stronger salinity shifts (up to 100) directly impact cell growth and induce a crash of the cultures. Combining the salinity (34 to 75) and temperature (4°C to –2.3°C) shifts induces higher increases of DMSP and DMSO cell quotas that also suggests an implication of both metabolites in a cryoprotectant system. Experimental cell quotas (including diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus quotas from a previous study) are then used to reconstruct DMSP and DMSO profiles in sea ice based on the biomass and taxonomy. Finally, the complexity of the transposition of rates obtained in the experimental domain to the real world is discussed.

Temporal evolution of IP25 and other highly branched isoprenoid lipids in sea ice and the underlying water column during an Arctic melting season

In recent years, certain mono- and di-unsaturated highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) alkene biomarkers (i.e., IP25 and HBI IIa) have emerged as useful proxies for sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic, respectively. Despite the relatively large number of sea ice reconstructions based on IP25 and HBI IIa, considerably fewer studies have addressed HBI variability in sea ice or in the underlying water column during a spring bloom and ice melt season. In this study, we quantified IP25 and various other HBIs at high temporal and vertical resolution in sea ice and the underlying water column (suspended and sinking particulate organic matter) during a spring bloom/ice melt event in Baffin Bay (Canadian Arctic) as part of the Green Edge project. The IP25 data are largely consistent with those reported from some previous studies, but also highlight: (i) the short-term variability in its production in sea ice; (ii) the release of ice algae with high sinking rates following a switch in sea ice conditions from hyper- to hyposaline within the study period; and (iii) the occurrence of an under-ice phytoplankton bloom. Outcomes from change-point analysis conducted on chlorophyll a and IP25, together with estimates of the percentage of ice algal organic carbon in the water column, also support some previous investigations. The co-occurrence of other di- and tri-unsaturated HBIs (including the pelagic biomarker HBI III) in sea ice are likely to have originated from the diatom Berkeleya rutilans and/or the Pleurosigma and Rhizosolenia genera, residing either within the sea ice matrix or on its underside. Although a possible sea ice source for HBIs such as HBI III may also impact the use of such HBIs as pelagic counterparts to IP25 in the phytoplankton marker-IP25 index, we suggest that the impact is likely to be small based on HBI distribution data.

Microalgal community structure and primary production in Arctic and Antarctic sea ice: A synthesis

Sea ice is one the largest biomes on earth, yet it is poorly described by biogeochemical and climate models. In this paper, published and unpublished data on sympagic (ice-associated) algal biodiversity and productivity have been compiled from more than 300 sea-ice cores and organized into a systematic framework. Significant patterns in microalgal community structure emerged from this framework. Autotrophic flagellates characterize surface communities, interior communities consist of mixed microalgal populations and pennate diatoms dominate bottom communities. There is overlap between landfast and pack-ice communities, which supports the hypothesis that sympagic microalgae originate from the pelagic environment. Distribution in the Arctic is sometimes quite different compared to the Antarctic. This difference may be related to the time of sampling or lack of dedicated studies. Seasonality has a significant impact on species distribution, with a potentially greater role for flagellates and centric diatoms in early spring. The role of sea-ice algae in seeding pelagic blooms remains uncertain. Photosynthesis in sea ice is mainly controlled by environmental factors on a small scale and therefore cannot be linked to specific ice types. Overall, sea-ice communities show a high capacity for photoacclimation but low maximum productivity compared to pelagic phytoplankton. Low carbon assimilation rates probably result from adaptation to extreme conditions of reduced light and temperature in winter. We hypothesize that in the near future, bottom communities will develop earlier in the season and develop more biomass over a shorter period of time as light penetration increases due to the thinning of sea ice. The Arctic is already witnessing changes. The shift forward in time of the algal bloom can result in a mismatch in trophic relations, but the biogeochemical consequences are still hard to predict. With this paper we provide a number of parameters required to improve the reliability of sea-ice biogeochemical models.

Macro-nutrient concentrations in Antarctic pack ice: Overall patterns and overlooked processes

Antarctic pack ice is inhabited by a diverse and active microbial community reliant on nutrients for growth. Seeking patterns and overlooked processes, we performed a large-scale compilation of macro-nutrient data (hereafter termed nutrients) in Antarctic pack ice (306 ice-cores collected from 19 research cruises). Dissolved inorganic nitrogen and silicic acid concentrations change with time, as expected from a seasonally productive ecosystem. In winter, salinity-normalized nitrate and silicic acid concentrations (C*) in sea ice are close to seawater concentrations (Cw), indicating little or no biological activity. In spring, nitrate and silicic acid concentrations become partially depleted with respect to seawater (C* < Cw), commensurate with the seasonal build-up of ice microalgae promoted by increased insolation. Stronger and earlier nitrate than silicic acid consumption suggests that a significant fraction of the primary productivity in sea ice is sustained by flagellates. By both consuming and producing ammonium and nitrite, the microbial community maintains these nutrients at relatively low concentrations in spring. With the decrease in insolation beginning in late summer, dissolved inorganic nitrogen and silicic acid concentrations increase, indicating imbalance between their production (increasing or unchanged) and consumption (decreasing) in sea ice. Unlike the depleted concentrations of both nitrate and silicic acid from spring to summer, phosphate accumulates in sea ice (C* > Cw). The phosphate excess could be explained by a greater allocation to phosphorus-rich biomolecules during ice algal blooms coupled with convective loss of excess dissolved nitrogen, preferential remineralization of phosphorus, and/or phosphate adsorption onto metal-organic complexes. Ammonium also appears to be efficiently adsorbed onto organic matter, with likely consequences to nitrogen mobility and availability. This dataset supports the view that the sea ice microbial community is highly efficient at processing nutrients but with a dynamic quite different from that in oceanic surface waters calling for focused future investigations.

Nitrogen uptake dynamics in landfast sea ice of the Chukchi Sea

The coastal Chukchi Sea has a particularly productive landfast ice ecosystem but is currently lacking direct measurements of nitrogen (N) cycling within the ice. Using stable isotopic tracers, we measured uptake and regeneration of ammonium and nitrate, along with primary and secondary production at three depths within landfast sea ice in the Chukchi Sea near Barrow, Alaska, during April 2011 and January 2012. These are the first data of N uptake and regeneration rates in landfast Arctic sea ice during spring and winter. Both inorganic and organic nutrient concentrations in the ice were generally higher than the water column, with the exception of phosphate, which may have limited production in certain sections of ice. Primary production at all ice depths was higher than the water column during April, but below the detection limit in January. Bacterial production in the bottom ice (0–10 cm from the ice–water interface) was consistently higher than the water column across seasons. Absolute uptake of ammonium was highest in the bottom ice and higher than absolute uptake of nitrate at all depth horizons except in the upper ice (30–40 cm from ice–water interface) during January. While N uptake rates in the ice were higher than the water column, nitrification rates were lower. Regeneration of ammonium and nitrate far exceeded uptake within the ice. The magnitude of N uptake and regeneration rates in landfast ice highlights the importance of the biological sea ice community to the region.

Insights into oxygen transport and net community production in sea ice from oxygen, nitrogen and argon concentrations

Abstract. We present and compare the dynamics (i.e., changes in standing stocks, saturation levels and concentrations) of O2, Ar and N2 in landfast sea ice, collected in Barrow (Alaska), from February through June 2009. The comparison suggests that the dynamic of O2 in sea ice strongly depends on physical processes (gas incorporation and subsequent transport). Since Ar and N2 are only sensitive to the physical processes in the present study, we then discuss the use of O2 / Ar and O2 / N2 to correct for the physical contribution to O2 supersaturations, and to determine the net community production (NCP). We conclude that O2 / Ar suits better than O2 / N2, due to the relative abundance of O2, N2 and Ar, and the lower biases when gas bubble formation and gas diffusion are maximized. We further estimate NCP in the impermeable layers during ice growth, which ranged from −6.6 to 3.6 μmol O2 L−1 d−1, and the concentrations of O2 due to biological activity in the permeable layers during ice decay (3.8 to 122 μmol O2 L−1). We finally highlight the key issues to solve for more accurate NCP estimates in the future.

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in first-year sea ice in the western Canadian Arctic

We monitored the spatiotemporal progression of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in first-year sea ice in the western Canadian Arctic between mid-March and early July 2008. CDOM abundance in bottom ice, as quantified by absorption coefficient at 325nm, aCDOM(325), showed a positive, linear relationship with the concentration of chlorophyll a, being low at the start of ice algal accumulation, highly enriched during the peak bloom and early post-bloom, and depleted again during sea ice melting. Vertical profiles of CDOM in early and late spring were typically characterized by slight to moderate elevations at both the surface and bottom and rather constancy within the interior ice. In the ice algae-thriving mid-spring, L-type profiles prevailed due to extremely high CDOM in the lowermost 10-cm layer. Bottom-layer CDOM in landfast ice (aCDOM(325): 15.8m−1) more than doubled that in drift ice (aCDOM(325): 6.6m−1). CDOM in the ice cover, except the bottom layer, was generally lower than or similar to that in the under-ice surface water. Salinity accounted for 58% of the CDOM variability in drift ice having minimal terrestrial and ice algal signatures. CDOM absorption spectra of algae-rich bottom ice samples exhibited ultraviolet (UV) absorption shoulders attributable to mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). These compounds were readily photodegradable by solar UV radiation. Our results suggest that 1) inclusion of organic solutes and in situ biological production are the dominant processes controlling the distribution of CDOM in sea ice in the study area, 2) biological production in bottom ice is a minor source of CDOM to the underlying surface water; 3) CDOM plays a critical role in shielding sympagic organisms in bottom ice against UV radiation; 4) the MAAs are effective photoprotectants only under low-UV conditions.

Annual primary production in Antarctic sea ice during 2005–2006 from a sea ice state estimate

AbstractUsing the data‐bounded Sea Ice Ecosystem State (SIESTA) model, we estimate total Antarctic sea ice algal primary production to be 23.7 Tg C a−1 for the period July 2005–June 2006, of which 80% occurred in the bottom 0.2 m of ice. Simulated sea ice primary production would constitute 12% of total annual primary production in the Antarctic sea ice zone, and ∼1% of annual Southern Ocean primary production. Model sea ice algal growth was net nutrient limited, rather than light limited, for the vast majority of the sunlit season. The seasonal distribution of integrated ice algal biomass matches available observations. The vertical algal distribution was weighted toward the ice bottom compared to observations, indicating that interior ice algal communities may be under‐predicted in the model, and that nutrient delivery via gravity‐induced convection is not sufficient to sustain summertime algal biomass. Bottom ice algae were most productive in ice of 0.36 m thickness, whereas interior algal communities were most productive in ice of 1.10 m thickness. Sensitivity analyses that tested different atmospheric forcing inputs, sea ice parameterizations, and nutrient availability caused mean and regional shifts in sea ice state and ice algal production even when sea extent and motion was specified. The spatial heterogeneity of both ice state and algal production highlight the sensitivity of the sea ice ecosystem to physical perturbation, and demonstrate the importance of quality input data and appropriate parameterizations to models of sea ice and associated biology.

Insights into Circum-Arctic sea ice variability from molecular geochemistry

Geological records of past sea ice, such as those contained in Arctic marine sediments, offer an opportunity to strengthen our understanding of long-term sea ice variability, provided unambiguous paleo-sea ice proxies can be developed. One such recently proposed proxy is IP25, a highly branched isoprenoid alkene biosynthesized exclusively by sea-ice dwelling diatoms (Haslea spp.), which is well preserved in marine sediments and could be used to reconstruct past changes in spring sea-ice extent. However, little is known about regional-scale controls on IP25 production in sea ice, limiting its wider applicability as a paleo-sea-ice proxy. To address this issue we examined the distributions of IP25 and the marine productivity biomarkers dinosterol and brassicasterol in a suite of surface sediment samples distributed across the Arctic. We find a statistically significant, logarithmic relationship between IP25 and spring sea ice cover in sediment samples from arctic and subarctic sites in the Pacific (n = 96, R2 = 0.67, P < 0.0001) and the Atlantic n = 25, R2 = 0.50, P < 0.0001), though the absolute concentrations of IP25 are generally higher in the Atlantic (1.6–166.4 μg/g OC) than in the Pacific (0–38.5 μg/g OC) for equivalent sea-ice cover, and there are regional and basin-specific differences in the slope of the IP25 – sea ice relationship. Using the PDIP25 index, which also includes a biomarker for marine productivity (e.g., dinosterol) the relationship with sea ice cover is improved in all of the study areas (R2 = 0.86 and R2 = 0.75 for Atlantic and Pacific, respectively) and most basin specific differences in the proxy–sea ice relationships are significantly reduced. However, there remain differences in the absolute magnitudes of the PDIP25 index for equivalent amounts of sea ice cover between the Atlantic and the Pacific, and with previously published data from Fram Strait. Nevertheless, this work demonstrates that the PDIP25 index can provide a valuable tool for sea ice reconstructions at local and regional scales.

In situ cosmogenic radiocarbon production and 2‐D ice flow line modeling for an Antarctic blue ice area

Radiocarbon measurements at ice margin sites and blue ice areas can potentially be used for ice dating, ablation rate estimates and paleoclimatic reconstructions. Part of the measured signal comes from in situ cosmogenic 14C production in ice, and this component must be well understood before useful information can be extracted from 14C data. We combine cosmic ray scaling and production estimates with a two‐dimensional ice flow line model to study cosmogenic 14C production at Taylor Glacier, Antarctica. We find (1) that 14C production through thermal neutron capture by nitrogen in air bubbles is negligible; (2) that including ice flow patterns caused by basal topography can lead to a surface 14C activity that differs by up to 25% from the activity calculated using an ablation‐only approximation, which is used in all prior work; and (3) that at high ablation margin sites, solar modulation of the cosmic ray flux may change the strength of the dominant spallogenic production by up to 10%. As part of this effort we model two‐dimensional ice flow along the central flow line of Taylor Glacier. We present two methods for parameterizing vertical strain rates, and assess which method is more reliable for Taylor Glacier. Finally, we present a sensitivity study from which we conclude that uncertainties in published cosmogenic production rates are the largest source of potential error. The results presented here can inform ongoing and future 14C and ice flow studies at ice margin sites, including important paleoclimatic applications such as the reconstruction of paleoatmospheric 14C content of methane.

High concentrations and turnover rates of DMS, DMSP and DMSO in Antarctic sea ice

[1] The vast Antarctic sea-ice zone (SIZ) is a potentially significant source of the climate-active gas dimethylsulfide (DMS), yet few data are available on the concentrations and turnover rates of DMS and the related compounds dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) in sea ice environments. Here we present new measurements characterizing the spatial variability of DMS, DMSP, and DMSO concentrations across the Antarctic SIZ, and results from tracer experiments quantifying the production rates of DMS from various sources. We observed extremely high concentrations (>200 nM) and turnover rates (>100 nM d−1) of DMS in sea-ice brines, indicating intense cycling of DMS/P/O. Our results demonstrate a previously unrecognized role for DMSO reduction as a major pathway of DMS production in Antarctic sea ice.

Respiration and bacterial carbon dynamics in Arctic sea ice

Bacterial carbon demand, an important component of ecosystem dynamics in polar waters and sea ice, is a function of both bacterial production (BP) and respiration (BR). BP has been found to be generally higher in sea ice than underlying waters, but rates of BR and bacterial growth efficiency (BGE) are poorly characterized in sea ice. Using melted ice core incubations, community respiration (CR), BP, and bacterial abundance (BA) were studied in sea ice and at the ice–water interface (IWI) in the Western Canadian Arctic during the spring and summer 2008. CR was converted to BR empirically. BP increased over the season and was on average 22 times higher in sea ice as compared with the IWI. Rates in ice samples were highly variable ranging from 0.2 to 18.3 μg C l−1 d−1. BR was also higher in ice and on average ~10 times higher than BP but was less variable ranging from 2.39 to 22.5 μg C l−1 d−1. Given the high variability in BP and the relatively more stable rates of BR, BP was the main driver of estimated BGE (r 2 = 0.97, P < 0.0001). We conclude that microbial respiration can consume a significant proportion of primary production in sea ice and may play an important role in biogenic CO2 fluxes between the sea ice and atmosphere.

Sea ice contribution to the air–sea CO2 exchange in the Arctic and Southern Oceans

Although salt rejection from sea ice is a key process in deep-water formation in ice-covered seas, the concurrent rejection of CO2 and the subsequent effect on air–sea CO2 exchange have received little attention. We review the mechanisms by which sea ice directly and indirectly controls the air–sea CO2 exchange and use recent measurements of inorganic carbon compounds in bulk sea ice to estimate that oceanic CO2 uptake during the seasonal cycle of sea-ice growth and decay in ice-covered oceanic regions equals almost half of the net atmospheric CO2 uptake in ice-free polar seas. This sea-ice driven CO2 uptake has not been considered so far in estimates of global oceanic CO2 uptake. Net CO2 uptake in sea-ice–covered oceans can be driven by; (1) rejection during sea–ice formation and sinking of CO2-rich brine into intermediate and abyssal oceanic water masses, (2) blocking of air–sea CO2 exchange during winter, and (3) release of CO2-depleted melt water with excess total alkalinity during sea-ice decay and (4) biological CO2 drawdown during primary production in sea ice and surface oceanic waters.

Iron fractionation in pack and fast ice in East Antarctica: Temporal decoupling between the release of dissolved and particulate iron during spring melt

Iron is a fundamental nutrient limiting phytoplankton growth in vast regions of the Southern Ocean. Sea ice, which covers ∼80% of the Southern Ocean (south of 60°S) during maximum extent, can concentrate iron up to two orders of magnitude higher than in the underlying sea water. The fractionation of iron between the particulate and dissolved fractions depends on the location and type of sea-ice formation and can impact on the bioavailability of this important trace element. This study is the first to document iron fractionation and concentration in both pack and fast ice during a single research study. Sampling was from within the 110–130°E sector of Antarctica. We observed markedly higher concentrations of particulate iron at our fast-ice site (0.96–214 nM) relative to several pack-ice sites (0.87–77.7 nM). A high particulate-to-dissolved iron ratio was observed at the fast-ice site (285:1) relative to the highest observed in pack ice (23:1). This suggests a decoupling between the sources and/or sinks of the dissolved and particulate fractions. Preferential release of dissolved iron (and not particulate iron) into brines at all sites sampled with the sack hole method (and therefore indicative of brine drainage) indicates the diffuse nature of the dissolved fraction. Furthermore, this indicates that there may be a temporal decoupling between the release of the dissolved and the particulate fractions into the water column as sea ice becomes more permeable during the seasonal melt. Implications for phytoplankton production in Antarctic sea ice are discussed.