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Research article2010Peer reviewed

Temporal isotopic variations of dissolved silicon in a pristine boreal river

Engström, Emma; Rodushkin, Ilia; Ingri, Johan; Baxter, Douglas; Ecke, Frauke; Österlund, Helene; Öhlander, Björn

Abstract

The results implicate biogeochemical Si-cycling via formation and dissolution of biogenic silica as processes significantly affecting the dissolved Si transport in boreal systems during April to early October. The Si budget in the river system appeared to be controlled by relative Si enrichment during high discharge events and relative Si depletions in the subarctic mountainous and lake dominated areas. The Si enrichments and depletions were accompanied by decreasing and increasing riverine delta(29)Si and delta(30)Si, respectively. These isotope variations can be explained by release of plant derived silica, depleted in heavier Si isotopes, during the spring snowmelt. Further, increased volumetric contribution from the headwater and losses of dissolved Si due to biogenic silica formation by diatoms in the subarctic lakes at a later period are expected to be responsible for the preferential losses of lighter isotopes, as further verified by land cover analysis. (C) 2010 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Silicon isotopic composition; Dissolved Si; Biogenic silica; Subarctic river system; Biogeochemical Si cycle; MC-ICPMS

Published in

Chemical Geology
2010, Volume: 271, number: 3-4, pages: 142-152
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

    Sustainable Development Goals

    SDG14 Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Ecology

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2010.01.005

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/39996