@article {3206, title = {Spring thaw ionic pulses boost nutrient availability and microbial growth in entombed Antarctic Dry Valley cryoconite holes}, journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, volume = {5}, year = {2014}, month = {12/2014}, abstract = {

The seasonal melting of ice entombed cryoconite holes on McMurdo Dry Valley glaciers provides oases for life in the harsh environmental conditions of the polar desert where surface air temperatures only occasionally exceed 0\°C during the Austral summer. Here we follow temporal changes in cryoconite hole biogeochemistry on Canada Glacier from fully frozen conditions through the initial stages of spring thaw toward fully melted holes. The cryoconite holes had a mean isolation age from the glacial drainage system of 3.4 years, with an increasing mass of aqueous nutrients (dissolved organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus) with longer isolation age. During the initial melt there was a mean nine times enrichment in dissolved chloride relative to mean concentrations of the initial frozen holes indicative of an ionic pulse, with similar mean nine times enrichments in nitrite, ammonium, and dissolved organic matter. Nitrate was enriched twelve times and dissolved organic nitrogen six times, suggesting net nitrification, while lower enrichments for dissolved organic phosphorus and phosphate were consistent with net microbial phosphorus uptake. Rates of bacterial production were significantly elevated during the ionic pulse, likely due to the increased nutrient availability. There was no concomitant increase in photosynthesis rates, with a net depletion of dissolved inorganic carbon suggesting inorganic carbon limitation. Potential nitrogen fixation was detected in fully melted holes where it could be an important source of nitrogen to support microbial growth, but not during the ionic pulse where nitrogen availability was higher. This study demonstrates that ionic pulses significantly alter the timing and magnitude of microbial activity within entombed cryoconite holes, and adds credence to hypotheses that ionic enrichments during freeze-thaw can elevate rates of microbial growth and activity in other icy habitats, such as ice veins and subglacial regelation zones

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2014.00694}, url = {http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00694/abstract}, author = {Telling, J. and Alexandre M. Anesio and Martyn Tranter and Andrew G Fountain and Thomas H. Nylen and Hawkings, Jon and Singh, Virendra B. and Kaur, Preeti and Musilova, Michaela and Wadham, J. L.} } @article {4062, title = {Seismic multiplet response triggered by melt at Blood Falls, Taylor Glacier, Antarctica}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface}, volume = {117}, year = {2012}, month = {07/2012}, abstract = {

Meltwater input often triggers a seismic response from glaciers and ice sheets. It is difficult, however, to measure melt production on glaciers directly, while subglacial water storage is not directly observable. Therefore, we document temporal changes in seismicity from a dry-based polar glacier (Taylor Glacier, Antarctica) during a melt season using a synthesis of seismic observation and melt modeling. We record icequakes using a dense six-receiver network of three-component geophones and compare this with melt input generated from a calibrated surface energy balance model. In the absence of modeled surface melt, we find that seismicity is well-described by a diurnal signal composed of microseismic events in lake and glacial ice. During melt events, the diurnal signal is suppressed and seismicity is instead characterized by large glacial icequakes. We perform network-based correlation and clustering analyses of seismic record sections and determine that 18\% of melt-season icequakes are repetitive (multiplets). The epicentral locations for these multiplets suggest that they are triggered by meltwater produced near a brine seep known as Blood Falls. Our observations of the correspondingp-wave first motions are consistent with volumetric source mechanisms. We suggest that surface melt enables a persistent pathway through this cold ice to an englacial fracture system that is responsible for brine release episodes from the Blood Falls seep. The scalar moments for these events suggest that the volumetric increase at the source region can be explained by melt input.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1029/2011JF002221}, url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2011JF002221/full}, author = {Carmichael, J. D. and Pettit, E. and Hoffman, M and Andrew G Fountain and Hallet, B.} } @article {1166, title = {Snow in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica.}, journal = {International Journal of Climatology}, volume = {30}, year = {2010}, month = {04/2010}, pages = {633-642}, type = {Journal}, abstract = {

Snowfall was measured at 11 sites in the McMurdo Dry Valleys to determine its magnitude, its temporal changes, and spatial patterns. Annual values ranged from 3 to 50 mm water equivalent with the highest values nearest the coast and decreasing inland. A particularly strong spatial gradient exists in Taylor Valley, probably resulting from local uplift conditions at the coastal margin and valley topography that limits migration inland. More snow occurs in winter near the coast, whereas inland no seasonal pattern is discernable. This may be due, again, to local uplift conditions, which are common in winter. We find no influence of the distance to the sea ice edge. Katabatic winds play an important role in transporting snow to the valley bottoms and essentially double the precipitation. That much of the snow accumulation sublimates prior to making a hydrologic contribution underscores the notion that the McMurdo Dry Valleys are indeed an extreme polar desert. Copyright \© 2009 Royal Meteorological Society

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Biggie}, doi = {10.1002/joc.1933}, author = {Andrew G Fountain and Thomas H. Nylen and Andrew Monaghan and Hassan J. Basagic and David Bromwich} } @article {1226, title = {Surface energy balance and melt thresholds over 11 years at Taylor Glacier, Antarctica}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface}, volume = {113}, year = {2008}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1029/2008JF001029}, author = {Hoffman, M and Andrew G Fountain and Liston, G} } @article {1237, title = {Solute and isotope geochemistry of subsurface ice melt seeps in Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Geological Society of America Bulletin}, volume = {119}, year = {2007}, month = {01/2007}, pages = {548-555}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Climate Response}, doi = {10.1130/B25913.1}, url = {http://gsabulletin.gsapubs.org/content/119/5-6/548.short}, author = {Harris, K and Anne E. Carey and Kathleen A. Welch and W. Berry Lyons and Andrew G Fountain} } @article {1258, title = {A stable isotopic investigation of a polar desert hydrologic system, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica}, journal = {Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research}, volume = {38}, year = {2006}, month = {02/2006}, pages = {60-71}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1657/1523-0430(2006)038[0060:ASIIOA]2.0.CO;2}, author = {Michael N. Gooseff and W. Berry Lyons and Diane M. McKnight and Bruce H. Vaughn and Andrew G Fountain and Carolyn Dowling} } @article {1369, title = {Surface glaciochemistry of Taylor Valley, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica and its relationship to stream chemistry.}, journal = {Hydrological Processes}, volume = {17}, year = {2003}, pages = {115-130}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {W. Berry Lyons and Kathleen A. Welch and Andrew G Fountain and Gayle L. Dana and Bruce H. Vaughn and Diane M. McKnight} } @article {1383, title = {Satellite-Derived Indices of Stream Discharge in Taylor Valley,Antarctica.}, journal = {Hydrological Processes}, volume = {16}, year = {2002}, pages = {1603-1616}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Gayle L. Dana and Davis, R and Andrew G Fountain and Robert A. Wharton Jr.} } @article {1376, title = {Snow patch influence on soil biogeochemical processes and invertebrate distribution in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica}, journal = {Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research}, volume = {35}, year = {2002}, month = {02/2003}, pages = {91-99}, type = {Journal}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Biggie}, doi = {10.1657/1523-0430(2003)035[0091:SPIOSB]2.0.CO;2}, url = {http://instaar.metapress.com/content/r086455ju7213711/}, author = {Michael N. Gooseff and John E. Barrett and Peter T. Doran and Andrew G Fountain and W. Berry Lyons and Andrew N. Parsons and Porazinska, D and Ross A. Virginia and Diana H. Wall} } @article {1384, title = {Synthetic aperture radar detection of the snowline on Commonwealth and Howard Glaciers, Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Annals of Glaciology}, volume = {34}, year = {2002}, pages = {177-183}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Bardel, P and Andrew G Fountain and Hall, D and Kwok, R} } @mastersthesis {1420, title = {Synthetic aperture radar imagery of polar glaciers}, volume = {M.S.}, year = {2001}, school = {Portland State University}, type = {masters}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Bardel, P} } @article {1533, title = {Surface energy balance and meltwater production for a Dry Valley glacier, Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Annals of Glaciology}, volume = {27}, year = {1998}, pages = {603-609}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Karen J. Lewis and Andrew G Fountain and Gayle L. Dana} } @mastersthesis {1586, title = {Surface energy balance and meltwater production for a dry valley glacier, Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, volume = {M.S.}, year = {1996}, school = {University of Colorado}, type = {masters}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Karen J. Lewis} }