A Close Look at Dissolved Silica Dynamics in Disko Bay, West Greenland

Research reveals that subglacial discharge plumes significantly enrich dissolved silica (dSi) in the Ilulissat Icefjord, contributing 93 ± 51% of its dSi content. Unlike land-terminating glaciers, where dSi dynamics are conservative and driven by mixing, marine-terminating glaciers entrain saline waters rich in dSi, suggesting a complex interplay between glacial runoff and ocean biogeochemistry. The study also estimates minor but notable contributions from icebergs (0.25 ± 0.67 Gmol yr−1) and pelagic amorphous silica dissolution (~1.9 Gmol year−1). By analyzing macronutrient-salinity distributions across Disko Bay, the findings highlight the nuanced role of glaciers in supplying dSi to marine ecosystems, with implications for nutrient cycling in Greenland's coastal waters.

Hopwood, M. J., Carroll, D., Gu, Y., Huang, X., Krause, J., Cozzi, S., Cantoni, C., Gastelu Barcena, M. F., Carroll, S., & Körtzinger, A. (2025). A Close Look at Dissolved Silica Dynamics in Disko Bay, West Greenland. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 39(1). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023gb008080