A critical assessment of technologies for the study of organic matter in glaciers and ice sheets

Abstract

Polar and temperate glaciers harbor active microbial communities and a substantial storage of organic carbon. These frozen ecosystems are especially sensitive to the effects of climate change and are expected to release roughly 15 teragrams of carbon by 2050. This creates a sense of urgency for further experimentation to increase our understanding of glacier ecosystem function and the impact glacier habitats have on local and global biogeochemical cycles. Due to the complex nature of organic matter, there is no single method which is suitable for every study. Technological advancements have improved methods for determining the quantity and quality of organic matter and emerging new technologies are providing faster and less-costly ways to overcome the challenges of working in these harsh environments. Consequently, a synthesis of peer-reviewed literature was conducted to summarize the current state of microbial ecology of glaciers and ice sheets, and to explore the techniques and new tools which are being developed to aid in the study of these rapidly disappearing ecosystems. The culmination of this work is an introduction and guide for analysts interested in examining the source, transformation history, and fate of organic matter in glacial systems. It was found that there is not one single technique superior to another, rather the appropriate technique is dependent on the questions being addressed and the resources available.