06572nas a2200169 4500008004100000245008400041210006900125520601300194100001906207700002406226700001506250700001906265700001706284700002106301700002406322856005606346 2015 eng d00aPatterns and processes of salt efflorescences in the McMurdo region, Antarctica0 aPatterns and processes of salt efflorescences in the McMurdo reg3 a

Evaporite salts are abundant around the McMurdo region, Antarctica (~78°S) due to very low precipitation, low relative humidity, and limited overland flow. Hygroscopic salts in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs) are preferentially formed in locations where liquid water is present in the austral summer, including along ephemeral streams, ice-covered lake boundaries, or shallow groundwater tracks. In this study, we collected salts from the Miers, Garwood, and Taylor Valleys on the Antarctic continent, as well as around McMurdo Station on Ross Island in close proximity to water sources with the goal of understanding salt geochemistry in relationship to the hydrology of the area. Halite is ubiquitous; sodium is the major cation (ranging from 70%–90% of cations by meq kg−1 sediment) and chloride is the major anion (>50%) in nearly all samples. However, a wide variety of salt phases and morphologies are tentatively identified through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) work. We present new data that identifies trona (Na3(CO3)(HCO3)·2H2O), tentative gaylussite (Na2Ca(CO3)2·5H2O), and tentative glauberite (Na2Ca(SO4)2) in the MDV, of which the later one has not been documented previously. Our work allows for the evaluation of processes that influence brine evolution on a local scale, consequently informing assumptions underlying large-scale processes (such as paleoclimate) in the MDV. Hydrological modeling conducted in FREZCHEM and PHREEQC suggests that a model based on aerosol deposition alone in low elevations on the valley floor inadequately characterizes salt distributions found on the surfaces of the soil because it does not account for other hydrologic inputs/outputs. Implications for the salt distributions include their use as tracers for paleolake levels, geochemical tracers of ephemeral water tracks or “wet patches” in the soil, indicators of chemical weathering products, and potential delineators of ecological communities.

1 aBisson, K., M.1 aWelch, Kathleen, A.1 aWelch, Sue1 aSheets, J., M.1 aLyons, Berry1 aLevy, Joseph, S.1 aFountain, Andrew, G uhttp://aaarjournal.org/doi/abs/10.1657/AAAR0014-02402527nas a2200181 4500008004100000245016700041210006900208260001200277300001600289490000700305520184500312100002102157700002402178700002402202700002102226700001702247856008102264 2015 eng d00aPressure-driven, shoreline currents in a perennially ice-covered, pro-glacial lake in Antarctica, identified from a LiCl tracer injected into a pro-glacial stream0 aPressuredriven shoreline currents in a perennially icecovered pr c05-2015 a2212 - 22310 v293 a

The distribution of streamwater within ice-covered lakes influences sub-ice currents, biological activity and shoreline morphology. Perennially ice-covered lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, provide an excellent natural laboratory to study hydrologic–limnologic interactions under ice cover. For a 2 h period on 17 December 2012, we injected a lithium chloride tracer into Andersen Creek, a pro-glacial stream flowing into Lake Hoare. Over 4 h, we collected 182 water samples from five stream sites and 15 ice boreholes. Geochemical data showed that interflow travelled West of the stream mouth along the shoreline and did not flow towards the lake interior. The chemistry of water from Andersen Creek was similar to the chemistry of water below shoreline ice. Additional evidence for Westward flow included the morphology of channels on the ice surface, the orientation of ripple marks in lake sediments at the stream mouth and equivalent temperatures between Andersen Creek and water below shoreline ice. Streamwater deflected to the right of the mouth of the stream, in the opposite direction predicted by the Coriolis force. Deflection of interflow was probably caused by the diurnal addition of glacial runoff and stream discharge to the Eastern edge of the lake, which created a strong pressure gradient sloping to the West. This flow directed stream momentum away from the lake interior, minimizing the impact of stream momentum on sub-ice currents. It also transported dissolved nutrients and suspended sediments to the shoreline region instead of the lake interior, potentially affecting biological productivity and bedform development.

1 aCastendyk, Devin1 aMcKnight, Diane, M.1 aWelch, Kathleen, A.1 aNiebuhr, Spencer1 aJaros, Chris uhttp://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/hyp.v29.9http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/hyp.1035200677nas a2200181 4500008004100000245009700041210006900138300001000207490000600217100002000223700002400243700002700267700001700294700002100311700001600332700002400348856012300372 2005 eng d00aPerturbation of hydrochemical conditions in natural microcosms entombed within Antarctic ice0 aPerturbation of hydrochemical conditions in natural microcosms e a22-230 v61 aTranter, Martyn1 aFountain, Andrew, G1 aFritsen, Christian, H.1 aLyons, Berry1 aPriscu, John, C.1 aStratham, P1 aWelch, Kathleen, A. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/perturbation-hydrochemical-conditions-natural-microcosms-entombed-within-antarctic-ice