Collaborative Research: Chemical Weathering in Taylor Valley Streams: Sources, Mechanisms and Global Implications

The field component investigated the geochemistry of stream waters and stream sediments in Taylor Valley, Antarctica in order to determine the extent of chemical weathering occurring in a polar desert stream system where the mean annual temperature is -20C. Stream waters and sediments were collected and analyzed for a large number of major, minor and trace elements as well as 87Sr/86Sr.

In addition, our Tulane collaborators analyzed stream and closed-basin lake waters for 238U and 235U decay series. The laboratory portion of the study conducted by our U of A collaborators consisted of a series of experiments where the major rock types found in Taylor Valley Hills were crushed, size-separated and exposed to a series of freeze-thaw cycles. The waters from the experiments were analyzed at Ohio State for major ion concentrations.