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Werenskiold Glacier delivers Nutrients to the Arctic: An International Team uncovers New Mechanisms of Iron and Silicon Transport

An international research team led by dr Łukasz Stachnik from the Institute of Geography and Regional Development at the University of Wrocław argues that valley glaciers may make an important contribution to the supply of nutrients to Arctic ecosystems. The team’s findings have been published in the journal Chemical Geology.

Glaciers are not just sources of freshwater—they also play a crucial role in supplying nutrients to aquatic ecosystems. As glaciers erode the underlying bedrock, large amounts of mineral-rich suspended sediment are released into meltwater. On the surface of these particles, essential elements such as iron, silicon, and phosphorus can adsorb, forming bioavailable compounds that fuel Arctic ecosystems and influence primary production and the global carbon cycle.

Glacial suspended sediment acts as a carrier of nutrients. Iron, especially in reactive forms like ferrihydrite, can stimulate phytoplankton growth, while amorphous silica is vital for diatoms. Even phosphorus, though typically present in lower concentrations, can be released from sediment particles under favorable chemical conditions. Moreover, the presence of these nutrients supports the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO₂) by aquatic organisms, contributing to its sequestration in sediments. Glaciers thus serve as natural laboratories where atmospheric carbon is actively captured and stored.

Research conducted on the Werenskiold Glacier in Svalbard reveals that the geological and chemical diversity of the glacier bedrock significantly influences the type and quantity of nutrients transported. In areas dominated by iron sulfide oxidation, the sediment is particularly enriched in bioavailable iron. In contrast, regions where silicate weathering prevails show elevated levels of silicon and phosphorus.

As demonstrated in a study published in Chemical Geology, the load of iron bound to suspended sediment was up to 42 times greater than its dissolved form, and the silicon load was three times higher. These findings suggest that valley glaciers like Werenskioldbreen may be important sources of nutrients for Arctic coastal ecosystems, especially in the context of accelerating ice melt due to climate change.

The research was conducted as part of the FLOURISH project (NCN SONATA 17, grant no. UMO-2021/43/D/ST10/00687) and supported by the Mieczysław Bekker Programme (NAWA, grant no. BPN/BEK/2021/1/00431). The article is the result of collaboration between numerous scientific institutions from Poland and abroad, including: University of Wrocław, University of Silesia, University of Warsaw, GFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (Potsdam), University of Pennsylvania (USA), Arctic University of Norway (UiT), CNR – Institute of Polar Science (Italy), Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, University of Basel (Switzerland), and Freie Universität Berlin.

Bibliographic note

Stachnik, Ł., Hawkings, J., Spolaor, A., Stachniak, K., Ignatiuk, D., Sitek, S., Janik, K., Łepkowska, E., Burgay, F., Syczewski, M.D., Segato, D., Forjanes, P., Benning, L.G. (2025). Controls of sediment-bound and dissolved nutrient transport from a glacierised metasedimentary catchment in the high Arctic. Chemical Geology, 691, 122940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2025.122940

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