ALBERT

Description: Concentrations of the toxic element lead (Pb) are elevated in seawater due to historical emissions. While anthropogenic atmospheric emissions are the dominant source of dissolved Pb (dPb) to the Atlantic Ocean, evidence is emerging of a natural source associated with subglacial discharge into the ocean but this has yet to be constrained around Greenland. Here, we show subglacial discharge from the cavity underneath Nioghalvfjerdsbræ floating ice tongue, is a previously unrecognized source of dPb to the NE Greenland Shelf. Contrasting cavity-inflowing and cavity-outflowing waters, we constrain the associated net-dPb flux as 2.2 ± 1.4 Mg·yr−1, of which ∼90% originates from dissolution of glacial bedrock and cavity sediments. We propose that the retreat of the floating ice tongue, the ongoing retreat of many glaciers on Greenland, associated shifts in sediment dynamics, and enhanced meltwater discharges into shelf waters may result in pronounced changes, possibly increases, in net-dPb fluxes to coastal waters. Key Points - Helium and neon show strong evidence for a subglacial source of Pb discharging onto the NE Greenland Shelf - Contrasting inflowing and outflowing waters beneath the floating ice tongue of Nioghalvfjerdsbræ shows a 2-3-fold dPb enrichment - The dissolved Pb flux from Nioghalvfjerdsbræ (2.2 ± 1.4 Mg·yr−1) is comparable to small Arctic rivers, with ∼90% of a sedimentary origin

Description: We present high-resolution profiles of dissolved, labile and total particulate trace metals (TMs) on the Northeast Greenland shelf from GEOTRACES cruise GN05 in August 2016. Combined with radium isotopes, stable oxygen isotopes, and noble gas measurements, elemental distributions suggest that TM dynamics were mainly regulated by the mixing between North Atlantic-derived Intermediate Water, enriched in labile particulate TMs (LpTMs), and Arctic surface waters, enriched in Siberian shelf-derived dissolved TMs (dTMs; Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni) carried by the Transpolar Drift. These two distinct sources were delineated by salinity-dependent variations of dTM and LpTM concentrations and the proportion of dTMs relative to the total dissolved and labile particulate ratios. Locally produced meltwater from the Nioghalvfjerdsbræ (79NG) glacier cavity, distinguished from other freshwater sources using helium excess, contributed a large pool of dTMs to the shelf inventory. Localized peaks in labile and total particulate Cd, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Al, V, and Ti in the cavity outflow, however, were not directly contributed by submarine melting. Instead, these particulate TMs were mainly supplied by the re-suspension of cavity sediment particles. Currently, Arctic Ocean outflows are the most important source of dFe, dCu and dNi on the shelf, while LpTMs and up to 60% of dMn and dCo are mainly supplied by subglacial discharge from the 79NG cavity. Therefore, changes in the cavity-overturning dynamics of 79NG induced by glacial retreat, and alterations in the transport of Siberian shelf-derived materials with the Transport Drift may shift the shelf dTM-LpTM stoichiometry in the future. Key Points The overall dissolved and particulate trace metal dynamics were mainly regulated by the mixing with Arctic surface waters Resuspension of cavity sediments is a major localized source of labile and total particulate Cd, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Al, V, and Ti Whilst dissolved and particulate trace metals are mostly coupled on the Greenland shelf, cavity outflow decouples both phases

Description: The Arctic Ocean is considered a source of micronutrients to the Nordic Seas and the North Atlantic Ocean through the gateway of Fram Strait. However, there is a paucity of trace element data from across the Arctic Ocean gateways, and so it remains unclear how Arctic and North Atlantic exchange shapes micronutrient availability in the two ocean basins. In 2015 and 2016, GEOTRACES cruises sampled the Barents Sea Opening (GN04, 2015) and Fram Strait (GN05, 2016) for dissolved iron (dFe), manganese (dMn), cobalt (dCo), nickel (dNi), copper (dCu) and zinc (dZn). Together with the most recent synopsis of Arctic-Atlantic volume fluxes, the observed trace element distributions suggest that Fram Strait is the most important gateway for Arctic-Atlantic dissolved micronutrient exchange as a consequence of Intermediate and Deep Water transport. Combining fluxes from Fram Strait and the Barents Sea Opening with estimates for Davis Strait (GN02, 2015) suggests an annual net southward flux of 2.7 ± 2.4 Gg·a-1 dFe, 0.3 ± 0.3 Gg·a-1 dCo, 15.0 ± 12.5 Gg·a-1 dNi and 14.2 ± 6.9 Gg·a-1 dCu from the Arctic towards the North Atlantic Ocean. Arctic-Atlantic exchange of dMn and dZn were more balanced, with a net southbound flux of 2.8 ± 4.7 Gg·a-1 dMn and a net northbound flux of 3.0 ± 7.3 Gg·a-1 dZn. Our results suggest that ongoing changes to shelf inputs and sea ice dynamics in the Arctic, especially in Siberian shelf regions, affect micronutrient availability in Fram Strait and the high latitude North Atlantic Ocean.