Solute Acquisition in Glacial Melt Waters. II Argentière (French Alps): Bulk Melt Waters with Open-System Characteristics

Abstract

AbstractVariations in dissolved cations, total alkalinity, sulphate, and field pH are recorded for subglacial melt and bulk melt waters (those emerging from the portal) at Argentière (France), in peak and recession flow conditions. Calcium and bicarbonate are the major ions and the bulk melt waters are demonstrated to have acquired solutes by weathering and dissolution in a system open to atmospheric carbon dioxide. Subglacial melt waters have closed-system characteristics, are close to saturation with calcite and quartz, and must be in near-equilibrium with weathered particulates. Recession-flow bulk melt waters are chemically similar to subglacial melt but have open-system characteristics, either due to re-equilibration with the atmosphere for ground-water mixing.