Water chemistry and biology of the Canada Glacier glacial meltwater stream

The chemistry of glacial meltwater from the Canada Glacier was characterised and the analysis was compared against another selected meltwater stream at Cape Bird, one from the Miers Valley and the Onyx River. The aim was to identify and explain dry diurnal and seasonal variation in water chemistry in relation to climate and plant growth.

A v-notch weir was erected before the stream began to flow and chemical analyses were carried out consecutively for nearly 6 weeks. Water samples were analysed for sodium and potassium concentrations and chemical analyses were conducted on plant and soil material. A sampling pattern was created with 9 sites to be sampled, 4 times per day on two days per week for determination of 13 chemical species.