TY - GEN

T1 - Geochemical and microbiological features of cryoconite, sampled from glaciers of the Central Caucasus region (Kabardino-Balkarian republic, Russia)

AU - Abakumov, Evgeny

AU - Polyakov, Vyacheslav

AU - Kushnov, Ivan

AU - Tembotov, Rustam

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Determination of geochemical and microbiological properties of the cryoconite, related typesof sediments and periglacial soils is essential to investigate impact of glaciers on terrains development atthe Central Caucasus region. The studied sediments were sampled at the Garabashi and Skhelda glaciers aswell as in vertical sections of local soils at the Baksan gorge. Sampled materials were investigated in termsof physicochemical parameters and nutritional state. The trace elements concentrations (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni,Cd) were also evaluated in samples selected. The data obtained shows much higher content of organiccarbon in soils (up to 7.82%) in comparison with cryoconite (max. 1.63%) due to the effect of superficialvegetation cover, however, rates of microbial activity were similar between some samples of sedimentsand soils. The analysis of the particle size distribution shows a similarity of the studied materials: inalmost all samples, there is a dominance of the sand fraction. Cryoconite sediments on both of the abovementioned glaciers are found as enriched with phosphorus, essential values of potassium (298 mg/kg inK2O units) and ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4 - max. 247 mg*kg) are identified at Garabashi glacier whichcould be a result of long-distant transfer and anthropogenic activity. The highest content among traceelements was identified for Zn (62 mg*kg for cryoconite and 60.5 mg*kg for soils), the most contaminatedmaterials were sediments from Garabashi glacier and Entisols, up to moderate level, which is mostlyassociated with anthropogenic activity. Thus, development of tourism in the Central Caucasus, which ismostly associated with construction and transport, affects the pollution status of supraglacial sedimentsand periglacial soils as well as their agrochemical and microbiological features.

AB - Determination of geochemical and microbiological properties of the cryoconite, related typesof sediments and periglacial soils is essential to investigate impact of glaciers on terrains development atthe Central Caucasus region. The studied sediments were sampled at the Garabashi and Skhelda glaciers aswell as in vertical sections of local soils at the Baksan gorge. Sampled materials were investigated in termsof physicochemical parameters and nutritional state. The trace elements concentrations (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni,Cd) were also evaluated in samples selected. The data obtained shows much higher content of organiccarbon in soils (up to 7.82%) in comparison with cryoconite (max. 1.63%) due to the effect of superficialvegetation cover, however, rates of microbial activity were similar between some samples of sedimentsand soils. The analysis of the particle size distribution shows a similarity of the studied materials: inalmost all samples, there is a dominance of the sand fraction. Cryoconite sediments on both of the abovementioned glaciers are found as enriched with phosphorus, essential values of potassium (298 mg/kg inK2O units) and ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4 - max. 247 mg*kg) are identified at Garabashi glacier whichcould be a result of long-distant transfer and anthropogenic activity. The highest content among traceelements was identified for Zn (62 mg*kg for cryoconite and 60.5 mg*kg for soils), the most contaminatedmaterials were sediments from Garabashi glacier and Entisols, up to moderate level, which is mostlyassociated with anthropogenic activity. Thus, development of tourism in the Central Caucasus, which ismostly associated with construction and transport, affects the pollution status of supraglacial sedimentsand periglacial soils as well as their agrochemical and microbiological features.

M3 - Conference contribution

T3 - BIO Web of Conferences

BT - MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS AND THEIR COMPONENTS 2021

T2 - MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS AND THEIR COMPONENTS

Y2 - 20 September 2001 through 25 September 2021

ER -