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The silicon cycle impacted by past ice sheets

Author

Listed:
  • Jon R. Hawkings

    (School of Geographical Sciences)

  • Jade E. Hatton

    (School of Geographical Sciences)

  • Katharine R. Hendry

    (University of Bristol)

  • Gregory F. Souza

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Jemma L. Wadham

    (School of Geographical Sciences)

  • Ruza Ivanovic

    (University of Leeds)

  • Tyler J. Kohler

    (Charles University)

  • Marek Stibal

    (Charles University)

  • Alexander Beaton

    (University of Southampton Waterfront Campus)

  • Guillaume Lamarche-Gagnon

    (School of Geographical Sciences)

  • Andrew Tedstone

    (School of Geographical Sciences)

  • Mathis P. Hain

    (University of California
    University of Southampton Waterfront Campus)

  • Elizabeth Bagshaw

    (Cardiff University)

  • Jennifer Pike

    (Cardiff University)

  • Martyn Tranter

    (School of Geographical Sciences)

Abstract

Globally averaged riverine silicon (Si) concentrations and isotope composition (δ30Si) may be affected by the expansion and retreat of large ice sheets during glacial−interglacial cycles. Here we provide evidence of this based on the δ30Si composition of meltwater runoff from a Greenland Ice Sheet catchment. Glacier runoff has the lightest δ30Si measured in running waters (−0.25 ± 0.12‰), significantly lower than nonglacial rivers (1.25 ± 0.68‰), such that the overall decline in glacial runoff since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) may explain 0.06–0.17‰ of the observed ocean δ30Si rise (0.5–1.0‰). A marine sediment core proximal to Iceland provides further evidence for transient, low-δ30Si meltwater pulses during glacial termination. Diatom Si uptake during the LGM was likely similar to present day due to an expanded Si inventory, which raises the possibility of a feedback between ice sheet expansion, enhanced Si export to the ocean and reduced CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, because of the importance of diatoms in the biological carbon pump.

Suggested Citation

  • Jon R. Hawkings & Jade E. Hatton & Katharine R. Hendry & Gregory F. Souza & Jemma L. Wadham & Ruza Ivanovic & Tyler J. Kohler & Marek Stibal & Alexander Beaton & Guillaume Lamarche-Gagnon & Andrew Ted, 2018. "The silicon cycle impacted by past ice sheets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-05689-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05689-1
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    Cited by:

    1. H. Patton & A. Hubbard & J. Heyman & N. Alexandropoulou & A. P. E. Lasabuda & A. P. Stroeven & A. M. Hall & M. Winsborrow & D. E. Sugden & J. Kleman & K. Andreassen, 2022. "The extreme yet transient nature of glacial erosion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Camilla S. Andresen & Nanna B. Karlsson & Fiammetta Straneo & Sabine Schmidt & Thorbjørn J. Andersen & Emily F. Eidam & Anders A. Bjørk & Nicolas Dartiguemalle & Laurence M. Dyke & Flor Vermassen & Id, 2024. "Sediment discharge from Greenland’s marine-terminating glaciers is linked with surface melt," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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