Investigating iron and organic matter incorporation in growing sea ice

High concentration of exopolysacharides (EPS) and iron have been found in sea ice surrounding the Antarctic continent. However, the mechanisms leading to that enrichment remain unclear. Scavenging of iron by organic matter in seawater and entrainment during sea ice formation are thought to be responsible for the accumulation of iron in sea ice. EPS could also play a role in the iron passive chelative scavenging process in sea ice and in the increase of iron bioavailability. Our study investigates the processes responsible for the accumulation of iron (dissolved, particulate and total dissolvable iron), EPS, dissolved and particulate organic matter, macro-nutrients (silicic acid, nitrate and nitrite, phosphoric acid and ammonium), chlorophyll a and sea ice algae in young sea ice during an Australian-lead spring voyage off East Antarctica (SIPEX II September – November 2012) and a German-lead winter voyage to the Weddell Sea (AWECS June – August 2013). We used a combination of field- (“in situ”) and laboratory- based sea ice growth time-series experiments. In addition different types of newly formed sea ice as pancake ice, grey ice, frost flowers and slush were collected during both voyages as a means to compare and validate the experimental data. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the biogeochemical properties of newly formed Antarctic pack ice samples in the winter. Ice temperature, salinity and textures are also presented to support the biogeochemical observations at the onset of sea ice formation.