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Ruggiero L, Sciarra A, Mazzini A, Florindo F, Wilson G, Tartarello MC, Mazzoli C, Anderson JTH, Romano V, Worthington R, Bigi S, Sassi R, Ciotoli G. Antarctic permafrost degassing in Taylor Valley by extensive soil gas investigation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 866:161345. [PMID: 36603636 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing studies conducted in northern polar regions reveal that permafrost stability plays a key role in the modern carbon cycle as it potentially stores considerable quantities of greenhouse gases. Rapid and recent warming of the Arctic permafrost is resulting in significant greenhouse gas emissions, both from physical and microbial processes. The potential impact of greenhouse gas release from the Antarctic region has not, to date, been investigated. In Antarctica, the McMurdo Dry Valleys comprise 10 % of the ice-free soil surface areas in Antarctica and like the northern polar regions are also warming albeit at a slower rate. The work presented herein examines a comprehensive sample suite of soil gas (e.g., CO2, CH4 and He) concentrations and CO2 flux measurements conducted in Taylor Valley during austral summer 2019/2020. Analytical results reveal the presence of significant concentrations of CO2, CH4 and He (up to 3.44 vol%, 18,447 ppmv and 6.49 ppmv, respectively) at the base of the active layer. When compared with the few previously obtained measurements, we observe increased CO2 flux rates (estimated CO2 emissions in the study area of 21.6 km2 ≈ 15 tons day-1). We suggest that the gas source is connected with the deep brines migrating from inland (potentially from beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet) towards the coast beneath the permafrost layer. These data provide a baseline for future investigations aimed at monitoring the changing rate of greenhouse gas emissions from Antarctic permafrost, and the potential origin of gases, as the southern polar region warms.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Ruggiero
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Roma, Via Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Roma, Italy
| | - A Sciarra
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Roma, Via Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Roma, Italy.
| | - A Mazzini
- Center of Earth Evolution and Dynamics, University of Oslo, Sem Sælandsvei 2A, 0371 Oslo, Norway; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Roma, Via Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Roma, Italy
| | - F Florindo
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Roma, Via Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Roma, Italy
| | - G Wilson
- GNS Science, 30-368, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand; Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - M C Tartarello
- Earth Science Department, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - C Mazzoli
- Department of Geosciences, University of Padua, Via Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - J T H Anderson
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - V Romano
- Earth Science Department, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - R Worthington
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - S Bigi
- Earth Science Department, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - R Sassi
- Department of Geosciences, University of Padua, Via Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - G Ciotoli
- National Research Council, Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, CNR-IGAG, Area della Ricerca di Roma 1- Strada Provinciale, 5d, 9 - 00010, Montelibretti, Rome, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Roma, Via Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Roma, Italy
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Williams KE, Heldmann JL, McKay CP, Mellon MT. The effects of snow and salt on ice table stability in University Valley, Antarctica. ANTARCTIC SCIENCE 2018; 30:67-78. [PMID: 32818010 PMCID: PMC7430506 DOI: 10.1017/s0954102017000402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Antarctic Dry Valleys represent a unique environment where it is possible to study dry permafrost overlaying an ice-rich permafrost. In this paper, two opposing mechanisms for ice table stability in University Valley are addressed: i) diffusive recharge via thin seasonal snow deposits andii) desiccation via salt deposits in the upper soil column. A high-resolution time-marching soil and snow model was constructed and applied to University Valley, driven by meteorological station atmospheric measurements. It was found that periodic thin surficial snow deposits (observed in University Valley) are capable of drastically slowing (if not completely eliminating) the underlying ice table ablation. The effects of NaCl, CaCl2 and perchlorate deposits were then modelled. Unlike the snow cover, however, the presence of salt in the soil surface (but no periodic snow) results in a slight increase in the ice table recession rate, due to the hygroscopic effects of salt sequestering vapour from the ice table below. Near-surface pore ice frequently forms when large amounts of salt are present in the soil due to the suppression of the saturation vapour pressure. Implications for Mars high latitudes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- K E Williams
- Montana State University, Department of Earth Sciences, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
- US Geological Survey, Astrogeology Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
| | - J L Heldmann
- NASA Ames Research Center, Division of Space Sciences and Astrobiology, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Christopher P McKay
- NASA Ames Research Center, Division of Space Sciences and Astrobiology, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Michael T Mellon
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Planetary Exploration Group, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
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Fountain AG, Saba G, Adams B, Doran P, Fraser W, Gooseff M, Obryk M, Priscu JC, Stammerjohn S, Virginia RA. The Impact of a Large-Scale Climate Event on Antarctic Ecosystem Processes. Bioscience 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biw110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Marchant DR, Mackay SL, Lamp JL, Hayden AT, Head JW. A review of geomorphic processes and landforms in the Dry Valleys of southern Victoria Land: implications for evaluating climate change and ice-sheet stability. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1144/sp381.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe Dry Valleys are subdivided into three microclimate zones on the basis of summertime measurements of atmospheric temperature, soil moisture, relative humidity and wind-speed/ direction. Subtle variations in these climate parameters result in considerable differences in process geomorphology and in the development of unique landforms within each zone. The mapped zones include a coastal thaw zone, an inland mixed zone and a stable upland zone. Landforms within each zone are subdivided into macroscale features (e.g. valleys, slopes and gullies), mesoscale features (e.g. polygons and viscous-flow features) and microscale features (e.g. rock and near-surface soil features, including the effects of salt weathering, wind erosion and pitting). We present a review of landscape development in the Dry Valleys with implications for long-term climate change and ice-sheet stability. Chronological control is afforded by 40Ar/39Ar dating of volcanic ash-fall deposits and cosmogenic nuclide analyses of surface boulders. Collectively, the data call for persistent cold and dry conditions in the stable upland zone for approximately the last 14 Ma, although some level of climatic amelioration and landform modification may have occurred within low-lying regions and in the inland mixed zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. R. Marchant
- Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - S. L. Mackay
- Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - J. L. Lamp
- Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - A. T. Hayden
- Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - J. W. Head
- Department of Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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Mellon MT, Boynton WV, Feldman WC, Arvidson RE, Titus TN, Bandfield JL, Putzig NE, Sizemore HG. A prelanding assessment of the ice table depth and ground ice characteristics in Martian permafrost at the Phoenix landing site. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2007je003067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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