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Chemistry of streams of Signy Island, maritime Antarctic: sources of major ions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2004

A.P. Caulkett
Affiliation:
British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
J.C. Ellis-Evans
Affiliation:
British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK

Abstract

A general study of the streams of Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, was undertaken to identify the effects of catchment, distance from source, and time on concentrations of dissolved ions. In the majority of cases catchment did not affect the chemistry of streams, although marine-derived ions were affected by distance from the sea. Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl and NH4+were derived from the thawing of the winter snowpack. NO3 was derived from areas of permanent ice. SiO44−, Ca2+, Mg2+ and CO2−3 were derived from crustal weathering. Although PO43− was also derived from crustal weathering, it was released as a pulse related to the thawing of the soil.

Type
Papers—Life Sciences and Oceanography
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 1997

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