Biogeochemistry of glacial environments

At first, research sought to characterise nutrient yields from glacial environments during melt. This was undertaken in Svalbard (High Arctic) and in the South Orkney Islands (maritime Antarctic). In so doing, it was found that melting stimulates a significant internal nutrient within the snowpacks and glaciers themselves, leading more recent efforts to be directed toward biogeochemical cycling in these so-called glacial habitats (see 'Glacier ecology').

Relevant papers

• Hodgson, D.A., Roberts, S.J., Bentley, M.J., Smith, J.A., Johnson, J.S., Verleyen, E., Vyverman, W., Hodson, A.J., Leng, M.J., Cziferszky, A., Fox, A.J., Sanderson, D.C.W. and Sugden, D.E. (2009). Exploring former subglacial Hodgson Lake, Antarctica Paper I: site description, geomorphology and limnology. Quaternary Science Reviews, 28(23-24), 2295-2309.
  doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2009.04.011
• Hodson, A.J., Roberts, T., Engvall, A.C., Holmén, K. and Mumford, P.N. (2009). Glacier ecosystem response to episodic nitrogen enrichment in Svalbard, European High Arctic. Biogeochemistry.
  doi:10.1007/s10533-009-9384-y
• Wynn, P.M., Hodson, A.J., Heaton, T.H.E. and Chenery, S.R. (2007). Nitrate production beneath a High Arctic glacier, Svalbard. Chemical Geology, 244(1-2), 88-102.
  doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2007.06.008
• Hodson, A.J. (2006). Biogeochemistry of snowmelt in an Antarctic glacial ecosystem. Water Resources Research, 42
  doi:10.1029/2005WR004311
• Wynn, P.M., Hodson, A.J., Heaton, T. (2006). Chemical and isotopic switching within the subglacial environment of a High Arctic glacier. Biogeochemistry, 78(2), 173-193.
  doi:10.1007/s10533-005-3832-0
• Hodson, A.J., Mumford, P.N., Kohler, J. and Wynn, P.M. (2005). The High Arctic glacial ecosystem: new insights from nutrient budgets. Biogeochemistry 72(2), 233-256.
  doi:10.1007/s10533-004-0362-0
• Hodson, A.J., Mumford, P.N. and Lister, D. (2004). Suspended sediment and phosphorus in proglacial rivers: bioavailability and potential impacts upon the P status of ice-marginal receiving waters. Hydrological Processes, 18(13), 2409 - 2422.
  doi:10.1002/hyp.1471