Goldschmidt Conference 2017 Sessions: https://goldschmidt.info/2017/program/programViewThemes

Session 9e - The future of biogeochemical cycling in the polar regions

Convenors: Ruth Hindshaw, Catherine Hirst
Keynote: Jorien Vonk (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

The Polar regions are currently experiencing a period of warming, resulting in the retreat of glaciers, an increase in the active layer depth of permafrost and a changing hydrological cycle. Decreased permafrost cover is expected to increase overall fluxes of solutes as the active layer deepens. Likewise, solute fluxes from glaciers are predicted to increase by virtue of the increased discharge as a result of a longer melt season. As highlighted in the recent 2016 Arctic Freshwater Synthesis report, the interplay between hydrology, microbiology and geochemistry in controlling the flux of inorganic and organic solutes and the downstream impacts on freshwater ecosystems is uncertain. For example, will changing environmental conditions (e.g. hydrology) influence the cycling of metals (e.g., calcium and iron) and carbon (inorganic and organic) and in turn, the microbial communities which mediate many of the chemical reactions occurring in these environments? In this session we invite contributions from geochemistry, hydrochemistry, modelling and microbiology: essentially from all researchers seeking to understand biogeochemical cycling in these special environments with the aim of promoting dialogue between often separate disciplines.

Abstract submission deadline is 1 April 2017.

Visit the Conference website for more details.