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SUMMARY:Mirabilite and salinity dynamics in sea ice brines - Ben Butler\, 
 James Hutton Institute
DTSTART:20161102T100000Z
DTEND:20161102T110000Z
UID:TALK66896@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Dave Munday
DESCRIPTION:Seawater is a relatively complex mixture of dissolved salts th
 at is dominated by six major ions: Na+\, K+\, Mg2+\, Ca2+\, Cl- and SO42-.
  When seawater freezes in high latitude environments on Earth\, the presen
 ce of these dissolved salts markedly affects the microstructure of the ice
  that forms\, resulting in sea ice that is permeated by countless inclusio
 ns of concentrated seawater brine. The brine inclusions represent the site
  of all chemical and biological reactions in sea ice\, and become increasi
 ngly saline with decreasing temperature. The paired effect of changing tem
 perature and salinity results in dramatic changes to mineral solubility wi
 thin the brine\, which results in the precipitation of a whole suite of mi
 nerals within the sea ice microstructure. Each mineral displays a distinct
  behaviour and role within the sea ice system.\n\nThis talk tells the stor
 y of one of these sea ice minerals\, mirabilite (Na2SO4·10H2O). Mirabilit
 e has never been identified in sea ice in the field\, but through a range 
 of laboratory investigations it will firstly be shown that it is likely to
  be omnipresent in the sea ice environment below –6.4 °C. Secondly\, th
 e effects of mirabilite precipitation on the geochemical properties of the
  sea ice brine system will be evaluated. Lastly\, the significance of thes
 e changes in relation to the measurement of salinity in the sea ice brine 
 environment\, which is a crucial physico-chemical property of the sea ice 
 biome\, will be outlined. \n
LOCATION:British Antarctic Survey\, Room 187
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