Chemical characterization of meltwater from East Rathong glacier vis-a-vis Western Himalayan glaciers
Abstract
Ice and meltwater samples from Rathong glacier and its pro-glacial stream Rathong chu, were collected during late winter season. Samples were analyzed to study the chemical composition , weathering, and geochemical processes in ice and meltwater at high altitudes. This study elucidate the variation of major cations (Li<sup>+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, NH<sub>4</sub> <sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, Ca<sup>2+</sup>) and major anions (PO<sub>4</sub> <sup>3-</sup>, F<sup>-</sup>, NO<sub>2</sub> <sup>-</sup>, Cl<sup>-</sup>, SO<sub>4</sub> <sup>2-</sup>, NO<sub>3</sub> <sup>-</sup>) with respect to ionic concentration reported for glaciers in western Himalaya High correlation between Ca<sup>2+</sup> and Mg<sup>2+</sup>, the contribution of (Ca<sup>2+</sup> + Mg<sup>2+</sup>) to the total cations and high value of [(Ca<sup>2+</sup> + Mg<sup>2+</sup>)/(Na<sup>+</sup> + K<sup>+</sup>)] ratio suggests that the major source of dissolved ions in the meltwater is carbonate weathering. Enrichment of samples with NO<sub>3</sub> <sup>-</sup> and NH<sub>4</sub> <sup>+</sup> suggests that scavenging of HNO<sub>3</sub> present in the atmosphere is a major contributor for these ions. High average value of Na<sup>+</sup>/Cl<sup>-</sup> and K<sup>+</sup>/Cl<sup>-</sup> ratio suggest that marine aerosols are not the only contributor to ionic composition. R-mode factor analysis was performed to understand the contribution of geochemical weathering and atmosphere in accumulating major cations and anions in ice and meltwater, which suggests that a majority of ions were from chemical weathering and post-depositional sources
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