Biochemical evolution of dissolved organic matter during snow metamorphism across the ablation season for a glacier on the central Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

The metamorphism of snow (snowmelt process) has a potential influence on chemical and physical process occurring within it. This study carried out a detailed study on the variation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in different stages of snowmelt in a typical mountain glacier located at Tibetan Plateau through collecting four different surface snow/ice categories, i.e., fresh snow, fine firn, coarse firn, and granular ice during May to October in 2015. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was observed by lost 44% from fresh snow to fine firn and enriched 129% from fine firn to granular ice, reflecting the dynamic variability in DOC concentration during snow metamorphism. The absorbance properties of each snow category are positively correlated with DOC concentration. The result of excitation emission matrix fluorescence with parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) highlighted the domination of lipid- and protein-like compounds in glacial-derived DOM. The molecular composition of the DOM also exhibited a new N-containing molecular formula (CHON classes) that was enriched during snow metamorphism. This study suggests that snow metamorphism could induce a loss of DOM as well as enrich and modify the DOM.