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Biological processes on glacier and ice sheet surfaces

Nature Geoscience volume 5, pages 771–774 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Glaciers and ice sheets are melting in response to climate warming. Whereas the physical behaviour of glaciers has been studied intensively, the biological processes associated with glaciers and ice sheets have received less attention. Nevertheless, field observations and laboratory experiments suggest that biological processes that occur on the surface of glaciers and ice sheets — collectively termed supraglacial environments — can affect the physical behaviour of glaciers by changing surface reflectivity. Furthermore, supraglacial cyanobacteria and algae capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into organic matter. Supraglacial microbes break down this material, together with organic matter transported from further afield, and generate carbon dioxide that is released back into the atmosphere. The balance between these two processes will determine whether a glacier is a net sink or source of carbon dioxide. In general, ice sheet interiors seem to function as sinks, whereas ice sheet edges and small glaciers act as a source. Meltwaters flush microbially modified organic matter and pollutants out of the glacier, with potential consequences for downstream ecosystems. We conclude that microbes living on glaciers and ice sheets are an integral part of both the glacial environment and the Earth's ecosystem.

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Figure 1: Deposition and aggregation of wind-borne debris on the glacier surface.
Figure 2: Organic carbon (OC) sources and carbon balance in the supraglacial environment.

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Acknowledgements

MS was supported by Danish Research Council grant FNU 10-085274. JŽ acknowledges the support from Marie-Curie ITN NSINK Project No. 215503 and a scholarship of the University of Innsbruck (2011/2/Bio22 140797).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geochemistry, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Øster Voldgade 10, Copenhagen K, 1350, Denmark

    Marek Stibal

  2. Department of Geography and Geology, Center for Permafrost, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, Copenhagen K, 1350, Denmark

    Marek Stibal

  3. British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK

    Marie Šabacká

  4. Centre for Polar Ecology, University of South Bohemia, Na Zlaté stoce 3, České Budějovice, 370 05, Czech Republic

    Marie Šabacká

  5. Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria

    Jakub Žárský

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Stibal, M., Šabacká, M. & Žárský, J. Biological processes on glacier and ice sheet surfaces. Nature Geosci 5, 771–774 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1611

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