Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
4532611 Continental Shelf Research 2011 7 Pages PDF
Abstract

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.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Earth and Planetary Sciences Geology
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