Chemistry of streams of Signy Island, maritime Antarctic: sources of major ions

Abstract

A general study of the streams of Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, was undertaken to identify the effects of catchment, distance from source, and time on concentrations of dissolved ions. In the majority of cases catchment did not affect the chemistry of streams, although marine-derived ions were affected by distance from the sea. Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻ and NH₄⁺were derived from the thawing of the winter snowpack. NO₃⁻ was derived from areas of permanent ice. SiO₄⁴⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and CO²⁻₃ were derived from crustal weathering. Although PO₄³⁻ was also derived from crustal weathering, it was released as a pulse related to the thawing of the soil.