Black carbon effects and seasonal isotope records in the Godwin-Austen snowpack and K2 high-altitude camps

This study investigates black carbon (BC) concentrations in the seasonal snowpack on the Godwin-Austen Glacier and in surface snow at K2 Camps 1 and 2 (Karakoram Range), assessing their impact on snowmelt during the 2019 ablation season. Potential BC and moisture sources were identified through back...

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Main Authors: Nicolás González-Santacruz, Francisco Fernandoy, Kumiko Goto-Azuma, Motohiro Hirabayashi, Raul R. Cordero, Sarah Feron, Sérgio Henrique Faria
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Glaciology
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143024001114/type/journal_article
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author Nicolás González-Santacruz
Francisco Fernandoy
Kumiko Goto-Azuma
Motohiro Hirabayashi
Raul R. Cordero
Sarah Feron
Sérgio Henrique Faria
author_facet Nicolás González-Santacruz
Francisco Fernandoy
Kumiko Goto-Azuma
Motohiro Hirabayashi
Raul R. Cordero
Sarah Feron
Sérgio Henrique Faria
author_sort Nicolás González-Santacruz
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates black carbon (BC) concentrations in the seasonal snowpack on the Godwin-Austen Glacier and in surface snow at K2 Camps 1 and 2 (Karakoram Range), assessing their impact on snowmelt during the 2019 ablation season. Potential BC and moisture sources were identified through back-trajectory analysis and atmospheric reanalyses. Variations in water stable isotopes (δ1⁸O and δ2H) in the snowpack were analysed to confirm its representativeness as a climatic record for the 2018–19 accumulation season. The average BC concentration in the snow pits (12 ng g−1) generated 66 mm w.e. (or 53 mm w.e. excluding the basal zone) of meltwater. Surface snow at K2 Camp 1 showed BC concentrations of 7 ng g−1, consistent with those on the snowpack surface, suggesting it may reflect local BC levels in late February 2019. In contrast, higher concentrations at K2 Camp 2 (26 ng g−1) were potentially linked to expedition activities.
format Article
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institution DOAJ
issn 0022-1430
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language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Cambridge University Press
record_format Article
series Journal of Glaciology
spelling doaj-art-2d2bd18807f84b3695232acdccb75f142025-08-20T02:50:59ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Glaciology0022-14301727-56522025-01-017110.1017/jog.2024.111Black carbon effects and seasonal isotope records in the Godwin-Austen snowpack and K2 high-altitude campsNicolás González-Santacruz0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6379-319XFrancisco Fernandoy1Kumiko Goto-Azuma2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0992-1079Motohiro Hirabayashi3Raul R. Cordero4Sarah Feron5Sérgio Henrique Faria6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8825-7518Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Leioa, SpainLaboratorio de Análisis Isotópico, Universidad Andrés Bello, Viña del Mar, ChileNational Institute of Polar Research, Tachikawa, Tokyo, JapanNational Institute of Polar Research, Tachikawa, Tokyo, JapanUniversidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, ChileUniversidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile University of Groningen, Leeuwarden, The NetherlandsBasque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Leioa, Spain IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, SpainThis study investigates black carbon (BC) concentrations in the seasonal snowpack on the Godwin-Austen Glacier and in surface snow at K2 Camps 1 and 2 (Karakoram Range), assessing their impact on snowmelt during the 2019 ablation season. Potential BC and moisture sources were identified through back-trajectory analysis and atmospheric reanalyses. Variations in water stable isotopes (δ1⁸O and δ2H) in the snowpack were analysed to confirm its representativeness as a climatic record for the 2018–19 accumulation season. The average BC concentration in the snow pits (12 ng g−1) generated 66 mm w.e. (or 53 mm w.e. excluding the basal zone) of meltwater. Surface snow at K2 Camp 1 showed BC concentrations of 7 ng g−1, consistent with those on the snowpack surface, suggesting it may reflect local BC levels in late February 2019. In contrast, higher concentrations at K2 Camp 2 (26 ng g−1) were potentially linked to expedition activities.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143024001114/type/journal_articleclimate changeenergy balancemountain glacierssnow chemistrysnow/ice surface processes
spellingShingle Nicolás González-Santacruz
Francisco Fernandoy
Kumiko Goto-Azuma
Motohiro Hirabayashi
Raul R. Cordero
Sarah Feron
Sérgio Henrique Faria
Black carbon effects and seasonal isotope records in the Godwin-Austen snowpack and K2 high-altitude camps
Journal of Glaciology
climate change
energy balance
mountain glaciers
snow chemistry
snow/ice surface processes
title Black carbon effects and seasonal isotope records in the Godwin-Austen snowpack and K2 high-altitude camps
title_full Black carbon effects and seasonal isotope records in the Godwin-Austen snowpack and K2 high-altitude camps
title_fullStr Black carbon effects and seasonal isotope records in the Godwin-Austen snowpack and K2 high-altitude camps
title_full_unstemmed Black carbon effects and seasonal isotope records in the Godwin-Austen snowpack and K2 high-altitude camps
title_short Black carbon effects and seasonal isotope records in the Godwin-Austen snowpack and K2 high-altitude camps
title_sort black carbon effects and seasonal isotope records in the godwin austen snowpack and k2 high altitude camps
topic climate change
energy balance
mountain glaciers
snow chemistry
snow/ice surface processes
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143024001114/type/journal_article
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