Climatic Variation and Solute Concentration and Flux in Meltwaters Draining from an Alpine Glacier

Measurements of electrical conductivity and discharge ofmeltwaters in the Gornera, which drains from the 83%glacierised basin containing Gornergletscher, PennineAlps, Switzerland, were undertaken between May andSeptember in both 1979 and 1998. Discharge in theGornera was 43% higher in 1998, average air temperatureduring the ablation season being 2.1 °C warmer andpreceding winter precipitation 28% lower than in 1979. Mean electrical conductivity of meltwater in 1998 wasreduced by 40%. In the same 60 day period in 1998,however, solute flux was augmented by only 2% bycomparison with 1979. Year-to-year climatic variations,reflected in discharge variability, strongly affectsolute concentration in glacial meltwaters, but havelimited impact on solute flux. Climatic conditionstranslate into meltwater quality through inter-relationships between mineral reaction rates, subglacialresidence time in contact with sediment, and discharge. Annual variability in solute flux depends on the extentto which volume of flow can offset decline in soluteconcentration brought about by reducing residence time.