| dc.description.abstract | Global warming has been affecting several aspects of the environment, e.g. physical, ecological, and economic. Therefore, research on the different aspects of the global warming process is going on continuously. Arctic amplification contributes to rapid surface temperature warming in the region, that is why special attention is paid to the Arctic environment. Glacier retreat accelerated in the past few decades because of climate change, and on the areas previously covered with ice, proglacial lakes and ponds are formed. They are small water bodies not contacting with soil,
ice-covered most part of the year. Proglacial lakes/ponds are easily accessible, and their sediment material has some resemblance with overbank sediment, although the latter is subjected to weathering to a higher extent.
The current study explores if the proglacial lakes/ponds are a valid environmental monitoring tool. It was done by examining water and sediment material from proglacial lakes/ponds in vicinity of Midtre Lovénbreen, Austre Brøggerbreen, and Vestre Brøggerbreen glaciers. The samples were analyzed on the content of major ions (Mg, Na, Ca, K, S, Sr, and Br), selected trace metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, and As), anions (Cl⁻, SO24⁻), TOC/TIC/ROC, 16 U.S. EPA PAHs and seven indicator PCBs. Proglacial lakes/ponds sediments’ content of PAHs is compared with those in surface soil, and Cd concentrations are compared with those determined in overbank sediments.
5 out of 16 U.S. EPA PAHs were found in the sediments’ samples, and are presumably linked to coal mining and aircraft fuel combustion. The majority were light-weight PAHs except for pyrene. Naphthalene and phenanthrene were determined to be the major components of the PAHs mass in the samples. The former was found in all three studied areas. The PAHs distribution had no pattern. The concentrations of PAHs from the proglacial lakes/ponds were lower than those in surface soil.
Selected trace metals are presumably of anthropogenic origin in water samples from proglacial lakes/ponds in all three areas. Cd and Zn in the sediments’ samples are of probable anthropogenic origin in Midtre Lovénbreen area, whereas other trace metals in the area are linked to geogenic sources. All studied selected trace metals are presumably of geogenic origin in the sediments from proglacial lakes/ponds in Austre Brøggerbreen and Vestre Brøggerbreen areas. The selected trace metals are both linked to coal mining industry and are natural constituents of coal-rich areas. Cd content in the sediments taken in Vestre Brøggerbreen area corresponded to those found in overbank sediments. Concentrations determined in other studied areas were lower than in overbank sediments.
Major ions content is of mixed origin, where local geology, weathering, dissolution of rocks, and marine input are contributors to the composition. Yet, probable atmospheric transport of Br of presumably anthropogenic or mixed origin into proglacial lakes/ponds water and sediments in Midtre Lovénbreen area was noted. | |