Eolian deposition of trace elements onto Taylor Valley Antarctic glaciers

The major ion and trace element chemistry in four 60–110 cm deep snow pits was examined from three Antarctic Taylor Valley glaciers (Commonwealth, Canada and Howard), all located within 20 km of the Ross Sea. Taylor Valley (TV) (77°30′S, 163°15′E) is part of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), the largest ice-free area in Antarctica. Snow chemistry of these glaciers is strongly influenced by cross-valley (SW–NE and NE–SW) winds that deposit eolian materials, including mineral dust and soluble salts. Arsenic, Cd, Cu, Mo, Pb, Sb and Sn in recent TV glacier snow are almost exclusively derived from eolian dust. The relative magnitude of element variations with depth relate to the exposure of snow sites to prevalent winds. Eolian deposition is a primary source of these elements to Canada Glacier snow and supra and proglacial streams. Eolian processes are likely very important to the delivery and availability of nutrients and, potentially toxic elements to dry valley Antarctic ecosystems.

► We examined trace element concentrations in glacier snowpits located within the same valley. ► Variation between the chemistries of Taylor Valley, Antarctica snowpits related to eolian deposition. ► Crustal sources contributed most of the trace elements to Taylor Valley Antarctic snow. ► Eolian deposition is important to the availability of nutrients and potentially toxic elements in Taylor Valley, Antarctica.