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To understand the geological origins of minerals in cryoconite and the nutrients sources for microbes on glaciers, we analyzed the Sr–Nd isotopic ratios of the four mineral fractions in cryoconites including saline, carbonate, phosphate, silicate and the organic fraction obtained from Gulkana Glacier in Alaska. The isotopes in the silicate mineral fraction exhibited spatial variation within the glacier (87Sr/86Sr: 0.704533–0.709563, εNd (0): −16.0 to 0.5), which can be explained by the different mixing ratios of the two distinct sources: one of the sources is lateral and terminal moraines or soil, and the other is the medial moraine of the glacier. The minerals in the cryoconite at the lower sites in the glacier are likely derived from the former source, whereas those at the upper sites are from latter sources. The mineralogical and elemental compositions also support mixing of the silicate minerals from the two local sources. The Sr isotopic ratios of the organic fraction also showed spatial variation on the glacier in the middle sites – a trend similar to those of the phosphate fraction. The results suggest that the organic matter is mostly the byproducts of microbes using the phosphate minerals as a nutrient source.

Cryoconite holes are water-filled cylindrical holes formed on ablation ice surfaces and commonly observed on glaciers worldwide. Temporal changes of cryoconite holes characteristically

Cryoconite holes are small depressions of the glacier surface filled with melting water and with a wind-blown debris on the bottom. These environments are considered hot spots of biodiversity and biological activities on glaciers and host communities dominated by bacteria. Most of the studies on cryoconite holes assume that their communities are stable. However, evidence of seasonal variation in cryoconite hole ecological communities exists. We investigated the variation of the bacterial communities of cryoconite holes of Forni Glacier (Central Italian Alps) during the melting seasons (July–September) 2013 and 2016, for which samples at three and five time-points, respectively were available. Bacterial communities were characterized by high-throughput Illumina sequencing of the hypervariable V5−V6 regions of 16S rRNA gene, while meteorological data were obtained by an automatic weather station. We found consistent trends in bacterial communities, which shifted from cyanobacteria-dominated communities in July to communities dominated by heterotrophic orders in late August and September. Temperature seems also to affect seasonal dynamics of communities. We also compared bacterial communities at the beginning of the melting season across 4 years (2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016) and found significant year-to-year variability. Cryoconite hole communities on temperate glaciers are therefore not temporally stable.

To understand the geological origins of minerals in cryoconite and the nutrients sources for microbes on glaciers, we analyzed the Sr–Nd isotopic ratios of the four mineral fractions in cryoconites including saline, carbonate, phosphate, silicate and the organic fraction obtained from Gulkana Glacier in Alaska. The isotopes in the silicate mineral fraction exhibited spatial variation within the glacier (87Sr/86Sr: 0.704533–0.709563, ε Nd (0): −16.0 to 0.5), which can be explained by the different mixing ratios of the two distinct sources: one of the sources is lateral and terminal moraines or soil, and the other is the medial moraine of the glacier. The minerals in the cryoconite at the lower sites in the glacier are likely derived from the former source, whereas those at the upper sites are from latter sources. The mineralogical and elemental compositions also support mixing of the silicate minerals from the two local sources. The Sr isotopic ratios of the organic fraction also showed spatial variation on the glacier in the middle sites – a trend similar to those of the phosphate fraction. The results suggest that the organic matter is mostly the byproducts of microbes using the phosphate minerals as a nutrient source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryoconite holes are water-filled cylindrical holes formed on ablation ice surfaces and commonly observed on glaciers worldwide. Temporal changes of cryoconite holes characteristically <5 cm in diameter were monitored with a time-lapse interval camera over 15 d during the melting season on Qaanaaq Glacier in northwest Greenland. The holes drastically changed their dimensions and synchronously collapsed twice during the study period. When the holes collapsed, the coverage of cryoconite on the ice surface increased from 1.0 to 3.5% in the field of view of the camera, and then decreased again to 0.4% after the holes reformed. Comparison with meteorological data showed that the collapses occurred in cloudy and rainy or windy weather conditions, corresponding to low shortwave solar radiation (68–126 W m−2, 40–55% of the incoming flux). In contrast, holes developed in sunny conditions correspond to high solar radiation (186–278 W m−2, 63–88%). Results suggest that the dimensions of holes drastically changed depending on the weather conditions and that frequent cloudy, warm and windy conditions would cause a decay of holes and weathering crust, inducing an increase in the cryoconite coverage on the ice, consequently darkening the glacier surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryoconite holes are small depressions of the glacier surface filled with melting water and with a wind-blown debris on the bottom. These environments are considered hot spots of biodiversity and biological activities on glaciers and host communities dominated by bacteria. Most of the studies on cryoconite holes assume that their communities are stable. However, evidence of seasonal variation in cryoconite hole ecological communities exists. We investigated the variation of the bacterial communities of cryoconite holes of Forni Glacier (Central Italian Alps) during the melting seasons (July–September) 2013 and 2016, for which samples at three and five time-points, respectively were available. Bacterial communities were characterized by high-throughput Illumina sequencing of the hypervariable V5−V6 regions of 16S rRNA gene, while meteorological data were obtained by an automatic weather station. We found consistent trends in bacterial communities, which shifted from cyanobacteria-dominated communities in July to communities dominated by heterotrophic orders in late August and September. Temperature seems also to affect seasonal dynamics of communities. We also compared bacterial communities at the beginning of the melting season across 4 years (2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016) and found significant year-to-year variability. Cryoconite hole communities on temperate glaciers are therefore not temporally stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antarctic subglacial lakes are of great interest to the science community. These systems are considered to be in pristine condition, potentially harbouring an environment containing undisturbed sedimentary sequences and ecosystems adapted to cold oligotrophic environments in the absence of sunlight. Gaining access to subglacial lakes presents major technological challenges. To comply with conventions covering the exploration of pristine Antarctic environments, access should be conducted so the lake is not contaminated in any way. Consequently, all equipment to enter the lake must be sterile and the entrance should isolate the lake from the external environment. Currently, clean access to these environments is achieved using a hot-water drilling system. Differences between the hydraulic pressure head of the lake and the glacial surface result in a section of the borehole being air-filled. It is imperative that this section is disinfected prior to introducing any sampling equipment. This paper describes the design process involved in rapid-prototyping an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection reactor for achieving this goal. Considerations such as UV output, physical constraints, temperature management, and deployment procedures are assessed. We present a design that addresses these considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]