02748nas a2200241   4500008004100000245014000041210006900181260004600250300000800296490001000304520196700314653001502281653002102296653002602317653001502343653001902358653001202377653001402389653000902403100001902412700002402431856005102455       2018                        eng d00aBiogeochemistry, contaminant transport, and atmospheric exchange in glacial cryoconite meltwater of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aBiogeochemistry contaminant transport and atmospheric exchange i  aBoulder, CObUniversity of Coloradoc2018  a2450 vPh.D.3 a<p>Polar regions serve as a global sink for many forms of semi-volatile pollution emitted from low- or midlatitudes of the populated world. This study examined the longrange atmospheric transport, fate, and phase partitioning of semi-volatile organic contaminants from air masses into meltwater and aeolian sediment on six glaciers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. A novel low-cost, field-portable instrument was developed for the in-situ solid-phase extraction of trace contaminants in extreme environmental conditions without access to electricity or traditional laboratory facilities. Beyond polar research, this equipment is applicable for rapid field extraction and stabilization of samples assessing air and water quality after natural disasters. This is the first published study to identify the presence of anthropogenic perfluorinated compounds in the Transantarctic Mountain region and indicates a longer range of poleward contaminant transport than prior estimates in the Southern Hemisphere. Additional research examined the biochemistry and climatic variability of open and sealed cryoconite holes on glacial surfaces throughout the initial melt, equilibrium, and refreezing periods in 2013&ndash;2015. High solute concentrations relative to glacial ice indicate that the pools can remain isolated from hydrologic connectivity for more than a decade. Microbial carbon cycling in pools enclosed by ice led to atmospheric disequilibrium and extreme pH. Analysis of unique air, liquid, and ice stratification in cryoconite holes revealed vertical patterns representing a highly accurate, multi-year record of past weather conditions sensitive enough to identify individual dates. This research identifies fluctuations in atmospheric contaminant transport, specific timeframes for deposition events, and may be used in back-trajectory models to help identify the source and variability of semi-volatile emissions in the Southern hemisphere.</p>10aAntarctica10aapplied sciences10acontaminant transport10acryoconite10aearth sciences10aglacier10ahydrology10amelt1 aMass, Alex, Q.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.  uhttps://search.proquest.com/docview/204831467804020nas a2200241   4500008004100000245019000041210006900231260004000300490001000340520313500350653002103485653001703506653001503523653001903538653001703557653003803574653002903612653001803641653000903659100001903668700002403687856006703711       2016                        eng d00aQuantifying sources, distribution, and processing of light absorbing aerosols in the cryosphere: A comparison of dissolved and refractory black carbon in polar and high mountain regions0 aQuantifying sources distribution and processing of light absorbi  aBoulder, CObUniversity of Colorado0 vPh.D.3 a<div title="Page 4"><div><div><p>Light absorbing aerosols (LAAs) in snow and ice are one of the least understood parameters in global climate models due to complicated physical processes within the cryosphere and too few&nbsp;in situ&nbsp;observations. Ground observations are limited due to the difficulty of collecting and preserving samples for analysis from remote environments.<br />In order to help build a larger repository of ground observations, this dissertation explores the concentration and composition of black carbon (BC) in snow and glacial melt-water across the polar regions in the Arctic and Antarctic, as well as major mountain regions such as the Himalayas, Rockies, and Andes Mountains.</p><p>Three state-of-the-art methods for BC detection are applied in this dissertation. The first chapter identifies chemical signatures of past and present sources of dissolved black carbon (DBC) in Antarctic lakes, utilizing a DBC molecular marker method. Here we find that DBC with a woody signature is preserved in the deep, ancient brines of Antarctic lake bottom waters. In contrast, the surface waters are enriched in BC from fossil fuels. The second chapter, which also utilizes the DBC molecular marker</p></div></div><div><div><p>iii&nbsp;</p></div></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div title="Page 5"><div><div><p>technique, explores DBC across the cryosphere. We show that DBC concentrations are surprisingly high in the bottom waters of Antarctic lakes compared to other remote regions of the cryosphere, even those located near point sources. Aged snow also contains higher DBC concentrations than fresh snow suggesting that dry deposition brings the majority of BC to the cryosphere. Additionally, the DBC composition across samples from the cryosphere are similar due to high amounts of solar exposure leading to photodegradation, except in fresh snow with a wildfire signature. The third and fourth chapters utilize the Single Particle Soot Photometer to measure refractory black carbon (rBC). The third chapter also applies spectral albedo measurements and the light absorption heating method to find that&nbsp;coal dust from an active mine in Svalbard, Norway significantly reduces the spectral reflectance of the surrounding Arctic surface snow.&nbsp;The fourth chapter reports aerosol rBC concentrations in the boundary layer of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, as well as in snow from the accumulation area of the Commonwealth Glacier. Here we determine that aerosol concentrations increase during high wind events, but there is no significant trend in deposition in the snow pit. This could be due to sporadic deposition during katabatic wind events.</p><p>These findings support the importance of real&nbsp;in-situ&nbsp;observations in order to fully understand the role of BC in the global carbon cycle. It is also evident that local environmental processes can control the concentrations and composition of BC in the cryosphere. These ground-based measurements will likely serve as ground validation for future remote sensing of snow/ice impurities and LAAs deposition models.</p></div></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>10aapplied sciences10ablack carbon10acryosphere10aearth sciences10aglacial melt10ahealth and environmental sciences10alight absorbing aerosols10apolar regions10asnow1 aKhan, Alia, L.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.  uhttps://search.proquest.com/docview/1834518541?accountid=1450303401nas a2200241   4500008004100000245013400041210006900175260004000244300000800284490001000292520259800302653001002900653001502910653002402925653001902949653001602968653001902984653002403003653001903027100002203046700002403068856006703092       2015                        eng d00aPhysical and chemical controls on the abundance and composition of stream microbial mats from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aPhysical and chemical controls on the abundance and composition   aBoulder, CObUniversity of Colorado  a2720 vPh.D.3 a<p>&nbsp;</p><div title="Page 4"><div><div><p>The McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are a cold, dry desert, yet perennial microbial mats are abundant in the ephemeral glacial meltwater streams that flow during austral summers. Three types of mats are present (orange, black, and green), and are primarily comprised of filamentous cyanobacteria,&nbsp;Nostoc, and chlorophytes, respectively. Mat types furthermore occupy distinct habitats within streams, utilizing the benthos, hyporheic zone, and water column, which expose them to different environmental conditions. Due to a lack of lateral inflows, allochthonous organic inputs, and negligible grazing activity, these streams are ideal for the controlled ecological study of microbial mats. Here, I investigated how mats will respond to physical disturbance, alterations in the hydrologic regime, and nutrient liberation from permafrost melt in the future. Specifically, I: 1) quantified and characterized the regrowth of mat biomass, community structure, and elemental stoichiometry after a scouring disturbance, 2) investigated how geomorphology and taxonomic identity influences the response of mat biomass to hydrologic regime in transects monitored over two decades, and 3) evaluated relationships between water chemistry and the elemental and isotopic composition of mat types over longitudinal and valley-wide gradients in Taylor Valley. I found that mats recovered ~20-50% of their biomass over the course of an austral summer following scour. Algal communities were significantly different in composition between disturbed and control treatments, but all samples naturally varied in species and elemental stoichiometry over the study period. When the long- term record of mat biomass was compared with hydrologic variables, stream channel mats (orange and green) had the greatest correlations, while marginal mats (black) showed weaker relationships with flow regime. Relationships also differed as a function of stream geomorphology, indicating the importance of substrata and gradient in conjunction with discharge. Lastly, mats showed unique elemental and isotopic compositions. Green and orange mats within the stream channel most reflected water column nutrient concentrations, while black mats showed significant nitrogen fixation. These results highlight the importance of taxonomic identity and habitat to modeling primary production here and elsewhere, and provide insight to how stream microbial mat communities are formed, maintained, and ultimately persist in an isolated polar desert.</p></div></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>10aalgae10aAntarctica10abiological sciences10aclimate change10aDisturbance10aearth sciences10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10amicrobial mats1 aKohler, Tyler, J.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.  uhttps://search.proquest.com/docview/1690497718?accountid=1450303418nas a2200217   4500008004100000245009200041210006900133260004000202490001000242520270900252653001502961653002402976653002203000653001203022653001903034653002403053653001203077100002103089700002403110856006603134       2011                        eng d00aEcological controls on stream diatom communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 aEcological controls on stream diatom communities in the McMurdo   aBoulder, CObUniversity of Colorado0 vPh.D.3 a<p>&nbsp;</p><div title="Page 4"><div><div><p>Diatoms are vital primary producers in aquatic ecosystems and useful indicators of environmental change. In climatically sensitive polar areas, diatoms have been used as beacons of climate change, allowing us to monitor physical, chemical, and biological changes. This research aims to improve our understanding of diatom ecology in the pristine and dynamic McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, where diatoms reside in stream microbial mats. These results aid in understanding how changes in hydrologic regime will affect stream microbial communities, biodiversity, and ecosystem function in a changing environment.</p><p>Relationships between hydrologic regime and diatom community composition were investigated using long-term data. Diatom communities were structured by stream physical features, and streams with more similar hydrologic characteristics had more similar communities. Variation in diatom community composition was best explained by hydrologic regime. Small diatoms increased in relative abundances with increasing streamflow, suggesting a role of diatom size in structuring communities. Overall, diatom communities were resistant to flood and drought-like conditions, suggesting an adaptation to frequent disturbances.</p><p>The importance of hydrologic regime on drift activity was investigated during three 24- hour experiments. Diel variations in drift could be attributed to diurnal flow peaks. Biomass and diatom cell densities followed a clockwise pattern with stream discharge and support the dominant role of hydraulic processes. The quality of source material differed between seasons and throughout the day. Drifting diatom communities were dominated by&nbsp;<em>Fistulifera pelliculosa</em>, which is rarely found in stream mats and suggests a different source. Modeling results suggest that the less firmly anchored marginal mats contribute more to the drift than channel mats in low- flow seasons, while the channel mats become more important during high-flow seasons.</p><p>The relationships between diatom and bacterial assemblages in microbial mats were assessed based on phylogenetic and functional relatedness in five Dry Valley streams. Significant relationships between diatom and bacterial communities were found, and co-occurrence analysis identified numerous correlations between individual diatom and bacterial taxa. A consistency in metabolic lifestyles of correlated taxa suggests that the relationships are ecologically relevant. Diatom and bacterial diversity showed opposite patterns, which indicate differences in environmental drivers of diversity for bacteria and eukaryotes.</p></div></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>10aAntarctica10abiological sciences10acommunity ecology10adiatoms10aearth sciences10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10astreams1 aStanish, Lee, F.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.  uhttps://search.proquest.com/docview/915694114?accountid=1450303183nas a2200229   4500008004100000245011200041210006900153260004600222300000800268490001000276520245700286653001102743653001502754653001902769653001302788653001302801653001502814653003702829100001302866700002402879856005002903       2010                        eng d00aHydrologic and biogeochemical implications of flooding in two catchments underlain by continuous permafrost0 aHydrologic and biogeochemical implications of flooding in two ca  aBoulder, CObUniversity of Coloradoc2010  a2060 vPh.D.3 a<p>Flooding is a critical driver of ecosystem productivity. By rapidly increasing stream stage and velocity, floods mix water and solutes from the stream, hyporheic zone, and floodplains/riparian areas. Such mixing may spur biogeochemical activity. In catchments underlain by permafrost, flooding is more common due to both the potential for rapid ice melting and minimal storage potential in frozen soils. High latitude environments are often underlain by permafrost and are also areas of biogeochemical interest, due to large stores of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), and the potential for rapid cycling. The increased complexity in groundwater/surface water hydrology during floods requires rigorous hydrologic analysis before biogeochemical trends can be correctly interpreted. This research aims to accurately quantify the hydrology and biogeochemical cycling of C and N in two high-latitude catchments utilizing stream tracer additions, synoptic sampling, and surface water (sw), groundwater (gw), and coupled sw/gw flow models.</p><p>Two catchments, in Alaska and Antarctica represent very different ecosystems, both characterized by continuous permafrost and shallow aquifers. In Antarctica, coupled surface water/groundwater flow modeling and tracer additions identify sources of DOC (dissolved organic carbon) and locations of denitrification. Mass balance calculations identify heightened water/sediment interactions at high flows, and increased C and N uptake when solutes return to the stream during low flows. In Alaska, discharge correlates to DOC and nitrate concentrations, indicating leaching and flushing of organic material from the hillslope during high discharge, with a greater potential for microbial processing of this organic material during low flows. Multiple tracer additions demonstrate a seasonal trend, with the greatest C and N uptake early in the summer, potentially related to shallower flowpaths.</p><p>Differences between discharge, flooding, and C and N cycling in these two catchments indicate the importance of stream size and morphology. Using tracer dilution and major ion and uranium isotope chemistry, we identify preferential flow near and beneath the stream, indicating erosion of the stream bed via soil piping and thermokarsting. We propose that channel evolution will lead to decreased stream/catchment interactions and subsequently decreased C and N uptake potential in these high-latitude catchments.</p>10acarbon10acatchments10aearth sciences10aflooding10anitrogen10apermafrost10asurface-groundwater interactions1 aKoch, J.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.  uhttps://search.proquest.com/docview/83900886503833nas a2200217   4500008004100000245017200041210006900213260004600282300000800328490001000336520305700346653001503403653001903418653002103437653002503458653001903483653002303502100001603525700002403541856005003565       2009                        eng d00aControls on stream and hyporheic temperatures, Taylor Valley, Antarctica and large-scale climate influences on interannual flow variation in the Onyx River, Antarctica0 aControls on stream and hyporheic temperatures Taylor Valley Anta  aBoulder, CObUniversity of Coloradoc2009  a3170 vPh.D.3 a<p>The McMurdo Dry Valleys comprise the largest ice-free polar desert on the continent of Antarctica. My Ph.D. research investigated summertime glacial meltwater streams flowing through this region. This work is presented in Chapters 2 through 6 of my thesis. Chapters 2-5 present the work I have done related to hyporheic processes while Chapter 6 focuses on the hydroclimatological investigations I have carried out.</p><p>More specifically, Chapter 2 addresses the question: what are the dominant processes controlling dry valley stream temperatures? In particular, this investigation quantified the role of hyporheic exchange. The study found that in the Dry Valleys, exchange acted to decrease stream temperatures, accounting for 6&ndash;21% of cooling.</p><p>Chapter 3 discusses a follow up tracer study to investigate whether the comparatively large daily changes in dry valley stream temperatures (6-9&deg;C) affect hyporheic processes, for instance through viscosity effects. Results showed that the hyporheic zone volume and exchange coefficient were lower during the warmer, afternoon stream/streambed temperature regime than during the cooler, morning one. A temperature-induced feedback mechanism that increases subsurface flow path preferentiality is proposed as a possible explanation for the reduction in hyporheic volume under warmer conditions. The tracer results also suggested a &ldquo;Swiss Cheese&rdquo; type conceptual model of the hyporheic zone in which flow takes place along paths weaving their way through isolated areas.</p><p>Chapter 4 presents work done to elucidate individual hyporheic flow path lengths and residence times. A streambed injection revealed some long (over 100 m) paths that were also fast, having subsurface travel times on par with the surface water. Hyporheic pipeflow is proposed as an explanation.</p><p>In Chapter 5 research is presented showing that nitrate and phosphate concentrations at specific locations in the hyporheic zone increase with the decreasing connectivity of that location to the stream.</p><p>Finally, Chapter 6 describes the large-scale climate conditions that prevailed during December and January during the highest and lowest flow summers of the Onyx River record, the longest flow record for Antarctica. Climate variables and regions in the Southern Hemisphere that had a statistically significant linear correlation to Onyx River flows were also identified. The highest flow summer on record, 2001-2, was found to have some unusual climate features when compared to the other high flow summers. It stands out as having an anomalous wind pattern that would have increased katabatic winds in the valleys, raising air temperatures and possibly depositing sediment on the glaciers, decreasing their albedo. It is also characterized by anomalously high incoming shortwave radiation. We postulate that those high levels may have been due in part to the unusually low concentrations of radiation absorbing stratospheric ozone prevalent over the valleys that particular summer.</p>10aAntarctica10aearth sciences10ahydroclimatology10ahyporheic flow paths10ahyporheic zone10astream temperature1 aCozzetto, K1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.  uhttps://search.proquest.com/docview/304866366