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High export of dissolved silica from the Greenland Ice Sheet
Meire, L.; Meire, P.; Struyf, E.; Krawczyk, D.W.; Arendt, K.E.; Yde, J.C.; Juul-Pedersen, T.; Hopwood, M.J.; Rysgaard, S.; Meysman, F.J.R. (2016). High export of dissolved silica from the Greenland Ice Sheet. Geophys. Res. Lett. 43(17): 9173-9182. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2016GL070191
In: Geophysical Research Letters. American Geophysical Union: Washington. ISSN 0094-8276; e-ISSN 1944-8007
Peer reviewed article  
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  • NIOZ: NIOZ Open Repository 296588 [ download pdf ]
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Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    silica cycle; Greenland Ice Sheet; biogeochemistry; weathering
Authors  Top 
  • Meire, L.
  • Meire, P.
  • Struyf, E.
  • Krawczyk, D.W.
  • Arendt, K.E.
  • Yde, J.C.
  • Juul-Pedersen, T.
  • Hopwood, M.J.
  • Rysgaard, S.
  • Meysman, F.J.R.
Abstract
    Silica is an essential element for marine life and plays a key role in the biogeochemistry of the ocean. Glacial activity stimulates rock weathering, generating dissolved silica that is exported to coastal areas along with meltwater. The magnitude of the dissolved silica export from large glacial areas such as the Greenland Ice Sheet is presently poorly quantified and not accounted for in global budgets. Here we present data from two fjord systems adjacent to the Greenland Ice Sheet which reveal a large export of dissolved silica by glacial meltwater relative to other macronutrients. Upscaled to the entire Greenland Ice Sheet, the export of dissolved silica equals 22 ± 10 Gmol Si yr−1. When the silicate-rich meltwater mixes with upwelled deep water, either inside or outside Greenland's fjords, primary production takes place at increased silicate to nitrate ratios. This likely stimulates the growth of diatoms relative to other phytoplankton groups.
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