5. Summary

marked amounts of both harmful heavy metals and life-supporting nutrients. In respect to soils, it can be highlighted that their ionic components may be at lower concentrations than those encountered in the riverine waters flowing out of glacial catchments, especially the fast-

Type of abiotic sample Determined compound(s)/parameters Identified level/range References Soil pH 7.38–8.79 [34, 65] Anions Cl� [µEq L�<sup>1</sup>

NO3

SO4

Cations Na<sup>þ</sup> [mmol kg�<sup>1</sup>

SiO2 3.3 [mg L�<sup>1</sup>

Organic carbon [%] [65]

Table 5c. Literature overview of chemical concentrations in surface water samples from the glacial catchments of

] [77]

] [34]

] [µEq L�<sup>1</sup>

] [34]

] [72]

0.12–1.72 180

] [34, 65]

] [49]

120


Kþ 1.74–4.04 31 Mg2<sup>þ</sup> 4.11–23.4 1700 Ca2<sup>þ</sup> 63.2–528 2700

N 0.04–0.16 [65]

1.28–6.05

31.9

� 19

<sup>2</sup>� 240

Determined compound(s)/parameters Identified level/range References

165–426

95.7–639

–

DON <7–27 [38]

flowing, sediment-rich proglacial rivers (Table 5c).

HCO3

Cryoconite (sediment) Metals Fe [g kg�<sup>1</sup>

DIN <LOD-132.5 [µg N L�<sup>1</sup>

PFOA [pg L�<sup>1</sup>

26 Glacier Evolution in a Changing World

PFOS <LOQ-967

TIN <LOD-18.2 TN 2200–3800

Svalbard.

The results of research presented in the reviewed literature do not answer all questions arising in the context of the current global warming. The role of glaciers as contributors to the sea level rise is widely discussed by scientists, and extensively described in the latest IPCC report. However, the role of the changing glaciers and glacial waters, particularly for the biota of the polar environment, frequently does not receive enough attention. Considering the presence of contaminants such as POPs in many abiotic elements of the glacial catchment (e.g., snow, ice, surface water), it seems necessary to ask questions about the way and pace of the release of these highly toxic contaminants from the rapidly melting Arctic glaciers, as well as about the potential impact of those on the polar wildlife. Further research should address these questions, in order to help protect the highly sensitive environment of this area. Especially, a more detailed approach to the transport, deposition, and redistribution or transformation of pollutants in the glacial catchments is required, as opposed to the focus on the presence of pollutants in the environment only. However, without a stronger basis in chemical monitoring, there is frequently too little data to draw more global conclusions about the fate of chemicals in Svalbard glaciers.
