Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4532611 | Continental Shelf Research | 2011 | 7 Pages |
The combined concentration of total dimethylsulfoniopropionate and dimethylsulfide (DMSP+DMS) were measured in Antarctic fast ice on the coast of Lützow-Holm Bay, eastern Antarctica. High bulk-ice DMSP+DMS and chlorophyll a concentrations were found at the bottom of the sea ice, and these concentrations were higher than those in the under-ice water. The bulk-ice DMSP+DMS and chlorophyll a concentrations were highly correlated (r2=0.68, P<0.001), suggesting that the high bulk-ice DMSP+DMS concentrations were caused mainly by the presence of algae assemblages in the ice. The calculated brine DMSP+DMS concentrations were as high as 1100 nM in the bottom ice layer, and the vertical profile patterns of brine DMSP+DMS concentrations were almost the same as for the bulk ice, mainly because of the small amount of variability in the vertical brine volume fraction. DMSP+DMS and chlorophyll a concentrations in the under-ice water increased, whereas the salinity of the under-ice water decreased, during the sampling period. These results reflect the supply of freshwater containing high levels of DMSP+DMS to the water just under the ice as the ice melted. These results suggest that sea-ice melting could be important to sulfur cycling in coastal ice-covered regions of the polar oceans.
► Concentration of DMSP+DMS in Antarctic fast ice. ► High bulk-ice DMSP+DMS and chlorophyll a concentrations were found at the bottom of the sea ice. ► High bulk-ice DMSP+DMS concentrations were caused mainly by the presence of algae assemblages in the ice. ► Supply of freshwater containing high levels of DMSP+DMS to the water just under the ice as the ice melted.