Disentangling weathering processes and rates and their response to climate change in the Arctic (RiS 10010)

Rock weathering is one of the main drivers of landscape development. It is highly susceptible to environmental changes such as temperature fluctuations, moisture availability (e.g. through precipitation and groundwater) and land cover changes such as glacial retreat. In addition, it is responsible for the production of nutrients and minerals that drive our ecosystems. Understanding changes in the rate and nature of weathered material production is therefore a critical issue in our understanding of environmental health. This research therefore addresses changes in weathering output rates, physical characteristics and chemistry and their signature in terrestrial fluvial channels. This project ties together glaciology, weathering sciences, hillslope geomorphology, fluvial research and sedimentology to map the impact of deglaciation on the production of sediment and availability of nutrients and minerals. The main tests will be: 1. Monitoring stations using temperature loggers and three different types of sedimentary rock to investigate weathering rates in microclimates around the Endalen and Ugledalen catchments. 2. Sediment load throughout the catchments; using simple field chemistry analysis we will compare the sediment load spatially both within and between catchments. 3. Chemical changes and flux monitoring throughout a month: in addition to spatial monitoring we will map temporal changes in flux by measuring each site every 3 days. This is a low risk project; the field methods are tried and tested and relatively simple yet it will provide excellent scope for expanding and establishing research that was started in 2014. In addition, the fieldwork will be carried out by experienced researchers and in a strong collaborative effort with Dr Hanne Christiansen and Professor Andy Hodson (UNIS). The availability of the UNIS laboratory ensures that samples will be properly prepared for transport. All facilities needed to analyse the samples are in place.