Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-tnzcf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-12T08:51:07.113Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Observations on sea-ice and surface-water geochemistry–implications for importance of sea ice in geochemical cycles in the northern Baltic Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 September 2017

M. A. Granskog
Affiliation:
Graduate School for Snow and Ice Research, Department of Geophysics, P.O. Box 4 ( Fabianinkatu 24 A), University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
J. Virkanen
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Physical Geography, P.O. Box 9 (Siltavuorenpenger 20A), University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Sea-ice and surface-water samples collected in January-April 1999 in coastal areas in the northern Baltic Sea were analyzed for particle, nutrient and trace-element concentrations and salinity. Stratigraphic analyses of ice cores were also carried out. Bulk nutrient and trace-element concentrations in sea ice fluctuated widely. Nutrient concentrations in sea ice normalized to sea-water salinities showed that sea ice had, almost without exception, an excess of nutrients compared to underlying waters. For phosphorus and phosphate this can be explained by particle incorporation and snow-ice formation, whereas for nitrogen and the sum of nitrite and nitrate snow-ice formation and other mechanisms are important. The levels of Al, Cu, Fe and Ni in the ice were similar to those observed in underlying waters. Pb was observed in detectable concentrations in the ice only. This indicates that sea ice contributes lead to underlying waters during melting, and in some degree also affects the other elements. Furthermore, the observations indicate that incorporation of lead into the ice cover is governed by different processes than for the other elements studied.

Information

Type
Sea-Ice Ecology and Bio/Geochemistry
Copyright
Copyright © the Author(s) [year] 2001
Figure 0

Fig. 1.Map of the northern baltic sea and location of sampling sites. sites with both ice and water samples are denoted with ▲, whereas Δ indicates sites where only ice samples were collected.

Figure 1

Table 1.Summary of data on sea-ice core and surface-water properties and nutrients

Figure 2

Fig. 2.Ptot−p vs tpm (a) and po4−p vs tpm (b) in the ice samples. best-fit linear regression line included (solid line). regression equations were calculated without inclusion of the samples with tpm of 33.6 mg l-1, and 90 mg l-1 (higher value also omitted from the figure).

Figure 3

Table 2.Summary of data on total trace metals (>? l-1) in sea ice and surface waters