1. Australian Antarctic Data Centre
2. Discover and Manage Data
3. Records
4. AAS_4633_BEAUT_Terrestrial_Cryoconite_BungerHills_2024_25

Description

Cryoconite holes were sampled in the Bunger Hills as part of the Biodiversity of East Antarctica: Underwater and Terrestrial (BEAUT) field program in 2024/2025. Cryoconite holes were located on the Edisto/Apfel glacier, proximal to Edgeworth David field camp. For each cryoconite hole, a series of samples were collected including water (for chemistry, n = 16) and sediment (for physical parameters, invertebrate eDNA and extraction, n = 20).

Approximately 10 to 100 g of sediment was collected into a 50 mL sterile falcon tube, depending on the amount of sediment layer available. All equipment including the ice axe and red glove were sterilized using 10% bleach and ethanol between each hole. Basic measurements of each hole were also recorded including water depth, hole height, and width. Samples were frozen at -20 for transport and then moved into -80 storage at the AAD. Additionally, several “background” soil samples were taken from the nearby moraine island approx. 500 m away from cryoconite sampling locations to understand any influence or similarities between nearby soil communities.

This data set is water chemistry results and physical measurements of a range of cryoconite holes on the Edisto/Apfel Glaciers, Bunger Hills, East Antarctica. Water samples were sent to ALS for analysis of the following parameters: electrical conductivity, bicarbonate, carbonate, total alkalinity, sulfate, chloride, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, total N, TP, reactive phosphorus, ionic balance, total anions, total cations, TOC.

Cryoconite is a powdery, windblown dust composed of rock particles, soot, and microbes that accumulates on glaciers and ice caps. Due to its dark colour, it absorbs solar heat and melts into the ice, forming cylindrical, water-filled "cryoconite holes" that harbor vibrant micro-ecosystems.

Purpose

The purpose of this data set is to understand the biodiversity living within cryoconite holes in the Bunger Hills.

Quality

There are no problems with data quality.

Access

These data are not yet publicly available for download.

Temporal Coverages

• Start date: 2024-12-01 - Stop date: 2025-01-31

Spatial Coverages

Science Keywords

• EARTH SCIENCE > CRYOSPHERE > GLACIERS/ICE SHEETS > ABLATION ZONES/ACCUMULATION ZONES
• EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES
• EARTH SCIENCE > SPECTRAL/ENGINEERING > VISIBLE WAVELENGTHS > VISIBLE IMAGERY
• EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > GLACIERS/ICE SHEETS
• EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES > ROTIFERS
• EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
• EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > WATER QUALITY/WATER CHEMISTRY
• EARTH SCIENCE > CLIMATE INDICATORS > PALEOCLIMATE INDICATORS > LAND RECORDS > SEDIMENTS
• EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES > WATER BEARS (TARDIGRADES)
• EARTH SCIENCE > CRYOSPHERE > GLACIERS/ICE SHEETS > GLACIERS
• EARTH SCIENCE > CRYOSPHERE > GLACIERS/ICE SHEETS

Use Constraints

This data set conforms to the CCBY Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Please follow instructions listed in the citation reference provided at http://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/metadata/citation.cfm?entry_id=AAS_4633_BEAUT_Terrestrial_Cryoconite_BungerHills_2024_25 when using these data.