Call number:
ZSP-202-50
In:
Research report / Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, 50
Description / Table of Contents:
Summary: Samples of cryoconite from the Nuna ramp area in Northwest Greenland have been analyzed for the mineral and cryptogamic content. The non-mineral content of the blue-black gelatinous, drip-free cryoconite was found to be about 95% of the wet mass. After drying and ashing, the organic matter comprised 13.9 to 20% of the oven-dry sample. The mineral matter was predominately fine-grained, sharp-edged grains from 1 mm or larger to microscopic in size and appeared to have been wind-borne from the adjacent nunataks and moraines. The organic matter was found to be largely algae with inclusion of fungi and a rotifer. Since algae utilize radiation primarily in the blue region between 0.40 μ and 0.65 μ, where ice has the greatest transmissivity, it is possible that the cryoconite holes are at least partly the product of energy released by photosynthetic and metabolic processes rather than by direct absorption of red or heat-wave lengths of solar radiation by the dark cryoconite. The uniformity in the pattern and dimensions of the cryoconite holes supports the assumption that biological processes are dominant in their formation and growth.
Type of Medium:
Series available for loan
Pages:
iv, 12, A2 Seiten
,
Illustrationen
Series Statement:
Research report / Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory 50
URL:
https://hdl.handle.net/11681/2735
Language:
English
Note:
CONTENTS
Preface
Summary
Introduction
Observations on the Nuna ramp
Sample collection
Distribution of the cryoconite holes
Observations in the Thule ramp
Physical analyses of the cryoconite
Biological assay of the cryoconite
References
Appendix: A study of the bacteria and fungus content of the cryoconite of the Thule area
Location:
AWI Reading room
Branch Library:
AWI Library
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