Glacial Meltwater and Moraine Interaction: Evolution of Near-surface Waters at Kangerlussuaq, Western Greenland☆

Abstract Moraine waters and solid samples were collected at Kangerlussuaq, western Greenland, during the early autumns of 2014 and 2015. While the solid samples show only limited evidence of chemical weathering of silicates, both the moraine groundwaters and meltwater ponds have substantial solute concentrations. The moraine meltwater data denote a considerable contribution from efflorescent salts to the Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and SO 4 2− levels. The contributions of CO 2 (embedded in the melting ice) and H 2 SO 4 (from oxidation of sulfides by O 2 in the melting ice) in weathering reactions involving carbonates and silicates has been studied by stoichiometric mass-balance and chemical equilibrium calculations.