Determining the source of melt water at a cold based glacier, Wright Lower Glacier, Wright Valley, Antarctica

The seasonal melt regime of the Wright Lower Glacier, Wright Valley, Dry Valleys, Antarctica was investigated and monitored over three field seasons (04-05, 05-06 and 06-07). Melt water samples were collected at the glacier outlet to determine where the melt issuing from the glacier comes from. Samples were analysed for oxygen isotope ratios, organic carbon and solutes. The melt water stream was sampled at the glacier outlet when the flow was deep enough to gauge. Samples were collected twice daily and filtered with a 45µm pore filter paper. Samples were also collected on four occasions at hourly intervals over the melt length for a day to assess possible diurnal and seasonal patterns. Meltwater samples were compared with measurements made of surface ice and cryoconite hole waters. The ice samples were taken at 50m intervals along a transect line. The samples were taken with a Sipre auger at a depth of approx. 0.75m and just below the surface. The samples were melted and filtered in the field.