@article {4646, title = {Geochemical zones and environmental gradients for soils from the central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica}, journal = {Biogeosciences}, volume = {18}, year = {2021}, month = {03/2021}, pages = {1629 - 1644}, abstract = {

Previous studies have established links between biodiversity and soil geochemistry in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, where environmental gradients are important determinants of soil biodiversity. However, these gradients are not well established in the central Transantarctic Mountains, which are thought to represent some of the least hospitable Antarctic soils. We analyzed 220 samples from 11 ice-free areas along the Shackleton Glacier (~85\°S), a major outlet glacier of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. We established three zones of distinct geochemical gradients near the head of the glacier (upper), its central part (middle), and at the mouth (lower). The upper zone had the highest water-soluble salt concentrations with total salt concentrations exceeding 80 000 \µg g-1, while the lower zone had the lowest water-soluble N:P ratios, suggesting that, in addition to other parameters (such as proximity to water and/or ice), the lower zone likely represents the most favorable ecological habitats. Given the strong dependence of geochemistry on geographic parameters, we developed multiple linear regression and random forest models to predict soil geochemical trends given latitude, longitude, elevation, distance from the coast, distance from the glacier, and soil moisture (variables which can be inferred from remote measurements). Confidence in our random forest model predictions was moderately high with R2 values for total water-soluble salts, water-soluble N:P, ClO4-, and ClO3- of 0.81, 0.88, 0.78, and 0.74, respectively. These modeling results can be used to predict geochemical gradients and estimate salt concentrations for other Transantarctic Mountain soils, information that can ultimately be used to better predict distributions of soil biota in this remote region.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.5194/bg-18-1629-2021}, url = {https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/18/1629/2021/}, author = {Melisa A. Diaz and Christopher B. Gardner and Welch, Susan A. and W. Andrew Jackson and Adams, Byron J. and Diana H. Wall and Hogg, Ian D. and Noah Fierer and W. Berry Lyons} } @article {4577, title = {Geochemistry of contrasting stream types, Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {GSA Bulletin}, volume = {133}, year = {2021}, month = {01/2021}, pages = {425-448}, abstract = {

The McMurdo Dry Valley region is the largest ice-free area of Antarctica. Ephemeral streams flow here during the austral summer, transporting glacial meltwater to perennially ice-covered, closed basin lakes. The chemistry of 24 Taylor Valley streams was examined over the two-decade period of monitoring from 1993 to 2014, and the geochemical behavior of two streams of contrasting physical and biological character was monitored across the seven weeks of the 2010\–2011 flow season. Four species dominate stream solute budgets: HCO3\–, Ca2+, Na+, and Cl\–, with SO42\–, Mg2+, and K+ present in significantly lesser proportions. All streams contain dissolved silica at low concentrations. Across Taylor Valley, streams are characterized by their consistent anionic geochemical fingerprint of HCO3 \> Cl \> SO4, but there is a split in cation composition between 14 streams with Ca \> Na \> Mg \> K and 10 streams with Na \> Ca \> Mg \> K.


Andersen Creek is a first-order proglacial stream representative of the 13 short streams that flow \<1.5 km from source to gage. Von Guerard is representative of 11 long streams 2\–7 km in length characterized by extensive hyporheic zones. Both streams exhibit a strong daily cycle for solute load, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH, which vary in proportion to discharge. A well-expressed diurnal co-variation of pH with dissolved oxygen is observed for both streams that reflects different types of biological control. The relative consistency of Von Guerard composition over the summer flow season reflects chemostatic regulation, where water in transient storage introduced during times of high streamflow has an extended opportunity for water-sediment interaction, silicate mineral dissolution, and pore-water exchange.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1130/B35479.1}, url = {https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article/133/1-2/425/587799/Geochemistry-of-contrasting-stream-types-Taylor}, author = {Harmon, Russell S. and Leslie, Deborah L. and W. Berry Lyons and Kathleen A. Welch and Diane M. McKnight} } @article {4488, title = {Genetic diversity of soil invertebrates corroborates timing estimates for past collapses of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, year = {2020}, month = {08/2020}, abstract = {

During austral summer field seasons between 1999 and 2018, we sampled at 91 locations throughout southern Victoria Land and along the Transantarctic Mountains for six species of endemic microarthropods (Collembola), covering a latitudinal range from 76.0\°S to 87.3\°S. We assembled individual mitochondrial cyto-chrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) sequences (n = 866) and found high levels of sequence divergence at both small (\<10 km) and large (\>600 km) spatial scales for four of the six Collembola species. We applied molecular clock estimates and assessed genetic divergences relative to the timing of past glacial cycles, including collapses of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). We found that genetically distinct lineages within three species have likely been isolated for at least 5.54 My to 3.52 My, while the other three species diverged more recently (\<2 My). We suggest that Collembola had greater dispersal opportunities under past warmer climates, via flotation along coastal margins. Similarly increased opportunities for dispersal may occur under contemporary climate warming scenarios, which could influence the genetic structure of extant populations. As Collembola are a living record of past landscape evolution within Antarctica, these findings provide biological evidence to support geological and glaciological estimates of historical WAIS dynamics over the last ca. 5 My.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, climate change, microarthropods, molecular clock, phylogeography, terrestrial biodiversity}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2007925117}, url = {https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/08/19/2007925117}, author = {Gemma E. Collins and Hogg, Ian D. and Convey, Peter and Sancho, Leopoldo G. and Cowan, Don A. and W. Berry Lyons and Byron Adams and Diana H. Wall and Allan Green, T. G.} } @article {4471, title = {Geochemistry of aeolian material from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: Insights into Southern Hemisphere dust sources}, journal = {Earth and Planetary Science Letters}, volume = {547}, year = {2020}, month = {10/2020}, abstract = {

In the Southern Hemisphere, the major sources of dust and other aeolian materials are from Patagonia, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Dust from Patagonia and New Zealand has been identified in ice cores throughout Antarctica, suggesting that during arid and windy periods, such as glacial periods, dust can be entrained and transported onto the continent. However, little information exists on modern Antarctic dust sources, transport, and its role in the Southern Hemisphere dust cycle. We present the first geochemical characterization of aeolian materials collected at five heights (between 5 cm and 100 cm) above the surface in four valleys within the McMurdo Dry Valleys, the largest ice-free area in Antarctica. Our mineralogy data indicate that these materials are primarily derived from local rocks of the McMurdo Volcanics, Ferrar Dolerite, Beacon Sandstone and Granite Harbor Intrusives, with varying contributions of each rock type dependent on the valley location. While major oxide, trace element and rare earth element data show that low elevation and coastal locations (with respect to the Ross Sea) are dominated by local sources, high elevation and inland locations have accumulated both local materials and dust from other distant Southern Hemisphere sources. This far-traveled material may not be accumulating today, but represents a paleo source that is resuspended from the soils. By geochemically \“fingerprinting\” aeolian materials from the MDV, we can better inform future studies on the transport of materials within Antarctica and between Southern Hemisphere land masses.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, aeolian material, Antarctica, major oxides, mineralogy, rare earth elements, trace elements}, doi = {10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116460}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012821X20304040}, author = {Melisa A. Diaz and Welch, Susan A. and Sheets, J. M. and Kathleen A. Welch and Khan, Alia L. and Byron Adams and Diane M. McKnight and Craig S Cary and W. Berry Lyons} } @article {4450, title = {The Geochemistry of Englacial Brine From Taylor Glacier, Antarctica}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences}, volume = {124}, year = {2019}, month = {03/2019}, abstract = {

Blood Falls is a hypersaline, iron-rich discharge at the terminus of the Taylor Glacier in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. In November 2014, brine in a conduit within the glacier was penetrated and sampled using clean-entry techniques and a thermoelectric melting probe called the IceMole. We analyzed the englacial brine sample for filterable iron (fFe), total Fe, major cations and anions, nutrients, organic carbon, and perchlorate. In addition, aliquots were analyzed for minor and trace elements and isotopes including δD and δ18O of water, δ34S and δ18O of sulfate, 234U, 238U, δ11B, 87Sr/86Sr, and δ81Br. These measurements were made in order to (1) determine the source and geochemical evolution of the brine and (2) compare the chemistry of the brine to that of nearby hypersaline lake waters and previous supraglacially sampled collections of Blood Falls outflow that were interpreted as end-member brines. The englacial brine had higher Cl\− concentrations than the Blood Falls end-member outflow; however, other constituents were similar. The isotope data indicate that the water in the brine is derived from glacier melt. The H4SiO4 concentrations and U and Sr isotope suggest a high degree of chemical weathering products. The brine has a low N:P ratio of ~7.2 with most of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen in the form of NH4+. Dissolved organic carbon concentrations are similar to end-member outflow values. Our results provide strong evidence that the original source of solutes in the brine was ancient seawater, which has been modified with the addition of chemical weathering products.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1029/2018JG004411}, url = {https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2018JG004411}, author = {W. Berry Lyons and Jill A. Mikucki and German, Laura A. and Kathleen A. Welch and Sue Welch and Christopher B. Gardner and Tulaczyk, Slawek M. and Pettit, Erin C. and Kowalski, Julia and Dachwald, Bernd} } @article {4188, title = {The geochemistry of glacial deposits in Taylor Valley, Antarctica: Comparison to upper continental crustal abundances}, journal = {Applied Geochemistry}, year = {2019}, month = {05/2019}, abstract = {

Wet-based glacial deposits have been used traditionally as an analog for upper continental crust (UCC) abundances. To provide more information on the validity of using glacial deposits from wet-based glaciers, samples deposited by the dry-based polar glaciers located in Taylor Valley, Antarctica, were collected. Stream channel sediments, comprised of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks initially deposited as glacial tills by polar glaciers, were analyzed by XRF, ICP-MS, and SEM. Based on the Chemical Index of Alteration values and A\–CN\–K ternary diagram, there are low levels of chemical weathering in these tills. Additionally, major and trace element geochemical data are compared to the average UCC values. The observed discrepancies between the mean UCC and Antarctic samples develop from the existence of mafic components, most likely the McMurdo Volcanic Group and Ferrar Dolerite, being present in the Taylor Valley tills. Even though the mafic material typically comprises 3\–7\% of the till, the volcanic rocks have a significant influence on the tills\’ bulk geochemistry. The existence of this mafic fraction in the dry-based glacial tills results from the reduced rate of weathering, as compared to wet-based glaciers. Geochemical analyses of the dry-based glacial tills in polar deserts, such as those found in Taylor Valley, may provide a better representative composition of the original material than wet-based glaciers and need to be incorporated into upper continental crust calculations.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Antarctica, geochemistry, glacial deposits, polar dry-based glaciers, Taylor Valley}, doi = {10.1016/j.apgeochem.2019.05.006}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0883292719301246}, author = {Carolyn Dowling and Sue Welch and W. Berry Lyons} } @thesis {4099, title = {The geochemistry of minor cations within Antarctic stream water: Determining the role of the hyporheic zone}, volume = {B.A.}, year = {2017}, school = {The Ohio State University}, type = {bachelors}, address = {Columbus, OH}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, url = {http://library.ohio-state.edu/record=b8218699~S7}, author = {Saelens, Elsa D.}, editor = {W. Berry Lyons} } @article {1086, title = {Garwood Valley, Antarctica: A new record of Last Glacial Maximum to Holocene glaciofluvial processes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys}, journal = {Geological Society of America Bulletin}, volume = {125}, year = {2013}, month = {09/2013}, pages = {1484 - 1502}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1130/B30783.1}, url = {http://bulletin.geoscienceworld.org/content/early/2013/06/07/B30783.1.abstract}, author = {Joseph S. Levy and Andrew G Fountain and O{\textquoteright}Connor, J. E. and Kathleen A. Welch and W. Berry Lyons} } @article {1104, title = {The geochemistry of upland ponds, Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Antarctic Science}, volume = {24}, year = {2012}, month = {2/2012}, pages = {3 - 14}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1017/S0954102011000617}, url = {http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online\&aid=8483351}, author = {W. Berry Lyons and Kathleen A. Welch and Christopher B. Gardner and Chris Jaros and Daryl L. Moorhead and Knoepfle, J and Peter T. Doran} } @phdthesis {1231, title = {The geochemistry of glacier snow and melt: The Oregon Cascades and Taylor Valley, Antarctica.}, volume = {Ph.D.}, year = {2008}, school = {The Ohio State University}, type = {doctoral}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Sarah Fortner} } @article {1297, title = {The Geochemistry of Supraglacial Streams of Canada Glacier, Taylor Valley (Antarctica), and their Evolution into Proglacial Waters}, journal = {Aquatic Geochemistry}, volume = {11}, year = {2005}, pages = {391-412}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Sarah Fortner and Martyn Tranter and Andrew G Fountain and W. Berry Lyons and Kathleen A. Welch} } @article {1299, title = {Groundwater seeps in Taylor Valley Antarctica: An example of a subsurface melt event}, journal = {Annals of Glaciology}, volume = {40}, year = {2005}, pages = {200-206}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {W. Berry Lyons and Kathleen A. Welch and Anne E. Carey and Diana H. Wall and Ross A. Virginia and Andrew G Fountain and Peter T. Doran and Csatho, B and Tremper, C} } @article {1333, title = {Geomicrobiology of Blood Fall: An iron-rich saline discharge at the terminus of the Taylor Glacier, Antarctica}, journal = {Aquatic Geochemistry}, volume = {10}, year = {2004}, pages = {199-200}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Jill A. Mikucki and Christine M. Foreman and Sattler, B and W. Berry Lyons and John C. Priscu} } @article {1459, title = {Geomicrobiology of sub-glacial ice above Vostok Station}, journal = {Science}, volume = {286}, year = {1999}, pages = {2141-2144}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1126/science.286.5447.2141}, author = {John C. Priscu and Edward E. Adams and W. Berry Lyons and Mary A. Voytek and David W. Mogk and Robert L. Brown and Christopher P. McKay and Cristina D. Takacs-Vesbach and Kathleen A. Welch and Craig F. Wolf and Julie D. Kirshtein and Recep Avci} } @inbook {1499, title = {Geochemical Linkages Among Glaciers, Streams, and Lakes Within the Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, booktitle = {Ecosystem Processes in a Polar Desert: The McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica}, volume = {72}, year = {1998}, pages = {77-92}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {W. Berry Lyons and Kathleen A. Welch and Klaus Neumann and Jeffrey K. Toxey and Robyn McArthur and Changela Williams and Diane M. McKnight and Daryl L. Moorhead} } @article {1636, title = {The geochemical evolution of terrestrial waters in the antarctic: the role of rock-water interactions, in Physical and Biogeochemical Processes in Antarctic Lakes}, volume = {59}, year = {1993}, pages = {135-143}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {W. Berry Lyons and Paul A. Mayewski} }