The Cryosphere
The Cryosphere
TC
Articles | Volume 4, issue 2
Articles | Volume 4, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-4-227-2010
© Author(s) 2010. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-4-227-2010
© Author(s) 2010. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Articles | Volume 4, issue 2
Brief communication
 | 
28 May 2010
Brief communication |  | 28 May 2010

Brief Communication: Ikaite (CaCO3·6H2O) discovered in Arctic sea ice

G. S. Dieckmann, G. Nehrke, C. Uhlig, J. Göttlicher, S. Gerland, M. A. Granskog, and D. N. Thomas

Abstract. We report for the first time on the discovery of calcium carbonate crystals as ikaite (CaCO3·6H2O) in sea ice from the Arctic (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard) as confirmed by morphology and indirectly by X-ray diffraction as well as XANES spectroscopy of its amorophous decomposition product. This finding demonstrates that the precipitation of calcium carbonate during the freezing of sea ice is not restricted to the Antarctic, where it was observed for the first time in 2008. This observation is an important step in the quest to quantify its impact on the sea ice driven carbon cycle.

How to cite. Dieckmann, G. S., Nehrke, G., Uhlig, C., Göttlicher, J., Gerland, S., Granskog, M. A., and Thomas, D. N.: Brief Communication: Ikaite (CaCO3·6H2O) discovered in Arctic sea ice, The Cryosphere, 4, 227–230, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-4-227-2010, 2010.
Received: 18 Jan 2010 – Discussion started: 09 Feb 2010 – Revised: 17 May 2010 – Accepted: 25 May 2010 – Published: 28 May 2010