Dissolved Iron Supply from Asian Glaciers: Local Controls and a Regional Perspective. Issue 10 (14th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Xiangying; Ding, Yongjian; Hood, Eran; Raiswell, Robert; Han, Tianding; He, Xiaobo; Kang, Shichang; Wu, Qingbai; Yu, Zhongbo; Mika, Sillanpää; Liu, Sha; Li, Qijiang
• Is Part Of: Global biogeochemical cycles. Volume 33:Issue 10(2019:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1223
• Page End: 1237
• Publication Date: 2019-10-14
• Subjects: Biogeochemical cycles -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 577.1405
• DOI: 10.1029/2018GB006113
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0886-6236

Abstract

Abstract: Ice sheets have been shown to deliver large amounts of labile iron (Fe) to aquatic ecosystems; however, the role of glaciers distinct from ice sheets in supplying labile Fe to downstream ecosystems is less well understood despite their rapid volume loss globally. Direct and continuous measurements of Fe from glaciers throughout an entire melt season are very limited to date. Here we present extensive seasonal data on 0.45‐μm‐filtered Fe (dFe) from three glaciers in Asia. Concentrations of dFe are negatively correlated with glacier discharge, and dFe yields are closely related to specific discharge. Based on our study and previously published dFe data, we estimate the release of dFe from Asian glaciers to be 23.8±14.1 Gg/a. We further compile a global data set of dFe from more than 12 glaciers, which, when combined with data on glacier discharge, suggest that the release of dFe from glaciers globally is on the order of 185±172 Gg/a. This finding suggests that glaciers may provide a substantial, but largely unrecognized source of potentially labile Fe, and may become increasingly important for the Fe biogeochemical cycle in a warming climate. Key Points: This study presents data of dFe from three glaciers in Asia over a full melt season and compiles a global dataset of dFe from over 12 glaciers Release of dFe from Asian glaciers is 23.8 Gg/a, and from global glaciers is 185 Gg/a, which is 4–10 times higher than from ice sheets Glaciers may provide a substantial but largely unrecognized source of potentially labile Fe and become increasingly important for global Fe cycle