The silicon cycle impacted by past ice sheets

Jon R. Hawkings; Jade E. Hatton; Katharine R. Hendry; Gregory F. de Souza; Jemma L. Wadham; Ruza F Ivanovic; Tyler J. Kohler; Marek Stibal; Alexander Beaton; Guillaume Lamarche-Gagnon; Andrew Tedstone; Mathis P. Hain; Elizabeth Bagshaw; Jennifer Pike; Martyn Tranter

doi:10.1038/s41467-018-05689-1

The silicon cycle impacted by past ice sheets

Jon R. Hawkings^*, Jade E. Hatton, Katharine R. Hendry, Gregory F. de Souza, Jemma L. Wadham, Ruza F Ivanovic, Tyler J. Kohler, Marek Stibal, Alexander Beaton, Guillaume Lamarche-Gagnon, Andrew Tedstone, Mathis P. Hain, Elizabeth Bagshaw, Jennifer Pike, Martyn Tranter

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

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Abstract

Globally averaged riverine silicon (Si) concentrations and isotope composition (δ³⁰Si) may be affected by the expansion and retreat of large ice sheets during glacial−interglacial cycles. Here we provide evidence of this based on the δ³⁰Si composition of meltwater runoff from a Greenland Ice Sheet catchment. Glacier runoff has the lightest δ³⁰Si measured in running waters (−0.25 ± 0.12‰), significantly lower than nonglacial rivers (1.25 ± 0.68‰), such that the overall decline in glacial runoff since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) may explain 0.06–0.17‰ of the observed ocean δ³⁰Si rise (0.5–1.0‰). A marine sediment core proximal to Iceland provides further evidence for transient, low-δ³⁰Si meltwater pulses during glacial termination. Diatom Si uptake during the LGM was likely similar to present day due to an expanded Si inventory, which raises the possibility of a feedback between ice sheet expansion, enhanced Si export to the ocean and reduced CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere, because of the importance of diatoms in the biological carbon pump.

Original language	English
Article number	3210
Number of pages	10
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05689-1
Publication status	Published - 10 Aug 2018

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title = "The silicon cycle impacted by past ice sheets",

abstract = "Globally averaged riverine silicon (Si) concentrations and isotope composition (δ30Si) may be affected by the expansion and retreat of large ice sheets during glacial−interglacial cycles. Here we provide evidence of this based on the δ30Si composition of meltwater runoff from a Greenland Ice Sheet catchment. Glacier runoff has the lightest δ30Si measured in running waters (−0.25 ± 0.12‰), significantly lower than nonglacial rivers (1.25 ± 0.68‰), such that the overall decline in glacial runoff since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) may explain 0.06–0.17‰ of the observed ocean δ30Si rise (0.5–1.0‰). A marine sediment core proximal to Iceland provides further evidence for transient, low-δ30Si meltwater pulses during glacial termination. Diatom Si uptake during the LGM was likely similar to present day due to an expanded Si inventory, which raises the possibility of a feedback between ice sheet expansion, enhanced Si export to the ocean and reduced CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, because of the importance of diatoms in the biological carbon pump.",

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AU - Ivanovic, Ruza F

AU - Kohler, Tyler J.

AU - Stibal, Marek

AU - Beaton, Alexander

AU - Lamarche-Gagnon, Guillaume

AU - Tedstone, Andrew

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AU - Bagshaw, Elizabeth

AU - Pike, Jennifer

AU - Tranter, Martyn

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The silicon cycle impacted by past ice sheets

Abstract

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Investigation of subglacial weathering under the Greenland Ice Sheet using silicon isotopes

DELVE: Development and validation of first generation chemical sensors for icy ecosystems

Silicon Cycling in Subglacial Environments: An Investigation into Glacial Silicon Isotope Systematics

Professor Jemma L Wadham

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The silicon cycle impacted by past ice sheets

Abstract

UN SDGs

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Research output

Investigation of subglacial weathering under the Greenland Ice Sheet using silicon isotopes

Projects

DELVE: Development and validation of first generation chemical sensors for icy ecosystems

Student theses

Silicon Cycling in Subglacial Environments: An Investigation into Glacial Silicon Isotope Systematics

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Professor Jemma L Wadham

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