The Chemistry of Cave Ice: Two Examples from Slovenia

• DOI: 10.21663/eeg-d-23-00001
• Publication Date: 2024-07-11T13:58:28Z
• Authors: Devin F. Smith; W. Berry Lyons; Susan A. Welch; Matija Zorn; Jure Tičar; Matej Lipar; Anne E. Carey
• Keywords: 0207 environmental engineering; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Abstract Cave ice can contain a wealth of paleo-climatic and geochemical information that is rapidly being lost with the melting temperate zone cryosphere. The karst areas Slovenia host over 260 caves. We collected samples for stable water isotope, major ion, nutrient analyses from two Slovenian Samples included shallow cores in Snežna Cave, ∼5 m apart, an face profile Ivačičeva Cave. All isotopic ratios reflected modern precipitation could be described by high-elevation meteoric lines. An offset suggested fractionation mixing processes melted affected signals. Cation concentrations both caves showed Ca ≫ Mg > Na K. high Ca2+ Mg2+ contents elevated HCO3− indicate CaCO3 dissolution within local landscape primary control on chemistry. Low inconsistent patterns other ions nutrients suggest atmospheric deposition vadose leaching were also sources to ice. Differences Cl− SO42− at similar depths imply melting, mixing, re-freezing affect climatic signal stored While repositories information, secondary diagenetic chemical composition alter original signal. In addition analysis, physical must studied small spatial scale understand interpret