This project will construct detailed phosphorus budgets for polar catchments occupied by glaciers and freshwater systems undergoing rapid response to climate warming. These are Midre Lovenbreen, Svalbard; Jebsen Creek, Signy Island (maritime Antarctic) and Storglaciaren, northern Sweden. The relationship between meltwater production, pathway and phosphorus liberation from glacial sediments will be examined closely. Emphasis will be given to phosphorus sorption dynamics in turbid glacial streams and their receiving waters (fjords and lakes).
Meteorological and hydrological data are collected hourly for the duration of the summer runoff period. Daily samples for major ion, pH, silica and nitrogen/phosphorus species are also collected. Stable isotopic measurements of C, S, N and O in various species are collected for snow, snowmelt and runoff, rock material and algal biomass.
New protocols for nano-molar P concentrations have been devised and will be reported elsewhere.
This work is supported by the Royal Society and by the Natural Environment Research Council (UK).