Sediments from cryoconite holes and dirt cones on the surface of Svalbard glaciers:main chemical and physicochemical properties

The paper discussed the influence of the forms of sediment accumulation on the surface of glaciers on their chemical and physicochemical properties.The materials sampled from the surface of five glaciers of the Svalbard Archipelago was analyzed.We studied such forms of sediment accumulation as dirt cones-the ice core covered with sediments and cryoconite holes-hollows on the glacier surface containing cryoconite material.Parameters such as total organic carbon content,microbiological activity,pH,the content of mobile forms of potassium and phosphorus,and concentrations of heavy and trace metals were studied.Also,mesomorphological studies were carried out and the polydisperse composition of the sediments was determined.According to the results of this work,it was found that the content of organic carbon in the material selected from dirt cones and cryoconite holes can be up to 2.5%,but the content of clay particles in it is mainly at the 10–15%level.Potassium concentrations are up to 250 mg/kg,and phosphorus is up to 800 mg/kg.The content of metals is typical or lower than in the previously published data.The main influence on the chemical composition of materials has a geographical factor of the sampling site,rather than the form of material accumulation.

Migration of organic carbon and trace elements in the system glacier-soil in the Central Caucasus alpine environment

Rapid deglaciation is one of the most important challenges in the Earth science today.One reason of this is specific supraglacial sediments–cryoconites,which represent carbon-containing dust with organomineral matter and living organisms.Investigation of physical and chemical characteristics of cryoconites in the Central Caucasus is necessary in order to understand their influence on alpine territories biogeochemical cycles,pollution and development in conditions of intensive glacial melting and active anthropogenic influence.For this research cryoconites as well as moraines,soil-like bodies and soils have been sampled from the alpine Bezengi Glacier and adjacent Khulamo-Bezengi Gorge.Key physicochemical features(pH values,total organic carbon content,microbial respiration,particle-size distribution)as well as content of trace elements have been defined in sampled materials and several pollution indices(Geoaccumulation index,Contamination factor and Degree of pollution)have been calculated.Results obtained show low values of total organic carbon in cryoconites(max.0.23%)but high values(max.7.54%)in top horizon of soils located in floodplain,indicating its active fluvioglacial transfer which may further accelerate the development of soils.Microbiological activity in the studied soils was mostly influenced by additional input of labile organic carbon from cryoconites with water flows.Particle-size distribution was similar among the studied cryoconites,indicating dominance of sand fraction(up to 85.28%)while studied soils showed higher variability due to influence of weathering.Among the trace elements,cryoconites were mostly polluted by Zn(max.85.70 mg·kg^(-1))which corresponds to high pollution according to pollution indices;Pb(max.24.90 mg·kg^(-1))and Cu(max.17.40 mg·kg^(-1)),up to moderate pollution level.Redistribution of polluted cryoconite material as well as local anthropogenic activities increased pollution of periglacial soils by Zn(max.89.20 mg·kg^(-1)),Pb(max.15.00 mg·kg^(-1))and Cu(max.12.80 mg·kg^(-1)),which was also proven by the pollution indices with up to high level of pollution.

Geochemistry of cryoconite and soils in the Central Caucasus region and its environmental implications

Climate change and deglaciation are active processes in current changing environments.In the Central Caucasus region rapid degradation of glaciers is caused often by the formation of superficial blackcolored sediments-cryoconite.Cryoconite plays a crucial role in changing ecosystems and may contribute to the formation of primary soils after glacier retreat.Over the past 20 years,the frequency of mudflows and other dangerous mountain events have increased in the Central Caucasus,which is associated with the glacial retreats.Intensification of tourism results in increasing of traffic,recreational activity and environment contamination.Determination of the cryoconites geochemical properties in comparison with other types of sediments and local soils is crucial for investigation of geochemistry and contamination state of superficial glacial sediments.This environmental aspect is important in terms of the Central Caucasus settlements safety under conditions of deglaciation and anthropogenic influence.The sediments studied(cryoconite,mudflow,moraine)were sampled at Garabashi and Skhelda glaciers as well as some local soils at the Baksan gorge.Sampled materials were investigated in terms of physicochemical and agrochemical parameters.The concentrations of trace elements(Cu,Pb,Zn,Ni,Cd)were also determined and contamination indices(geoaccumulation index-Igeo,contamination factor-CF and degree of contamination-Cdegree)were used to evaluate the pollution status of studied material.Data obtained shows much higher content of organic carbon in soils(up to 7.82%)in comparison with cryoconite(max.1.63%)due to presence of vegetation,however,the basal respiration values in some cases were similar betweenсryoconite and soils,indicating high rates of microbial activity in a cryoconite holes.It was found that almost all materials studied have sandy structure.Cryoconite sediments on both of the glaciers are enriched with phosphorus,high values of K_(2)O(max.298 mg·kg^(-1))and N-NH4(max.247 mg·kg^(-1))are identified at Garabashi glacier which could be influenced by long-distant transfer but mostly a result of local anthropogenic activity.In case of trace elements,the highest content is identified for Zn(62 mg·kg^(-1) for cryoconite and 60.5 mg·kg^(-1) for soils)and the most contaminated materials are cryoconite from Garabashi glacier and Entisols,up to moderate level,which is mostly associated with local anthropogenic activity.

利用光谱学方法测定腐植酸的稳定性和分子组成

利用光谱学分析方法,研究了火灾对泰加林南部和俄罗斯中部森林草原环境土壤腐植酸含量和质量的影响。火灾后土壤中腐植酸类物质的整体元素组成基本没有改变,但受火灾影响的表层土壤有机质结构组成和生化活性水平发生了变化。根据13C固体核磁共振图谱显示,两地环境土壤中腐植酸芳香族化合物大量增加。