The Effect of Glacial Weathering on the Antarctic Waters.

摘要

Published estimates regarding the amount of glacially eroded sediments produced by the Antarctic continent, and the amount of dissolution that this material undergoes once it reaches Antarctic waters, appear to be overestimated by several orders of magnitude. Glacial erosion does not appear to have a significant effect on the silica budget of Antarctic waters. This conclusion is based on: (1) laboratory experiments involving the reaction of Antarctic rocks with seawater under simulated Antarctic conditions; (2) other workers' laboratory experiments and field data regarding the solubility, solution rate, and crystallographic condition of minerals commonly found in Antarctica; (3) the size range of material produced; (4) the amount of inorganic material suspended in seawater; (5) the possible lack of dissolved silica production during the formation of Antarctic Bottom Water; and (6) the actual amount of glacially eroded material produced annually. (Author)