Glacier sediment plumes in small bays on the Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula

Glacimarine sedimentary environments provide information about climate and oceanographic evolution in the Antarctic Peninsula. This study focuses on the generation of sediment plumes from glaciers. In February 2013 and 2014, two Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) Scientific Expeditions were carried out on board the Chilean Navy vessel Aquiles. Five relatively small bays were visited: Curtiss Bay, Recess Cove, Beaupre Cove, Paradise Harbour/Oscar Cove and Salvesen bay. Hydrography and turbidity profiling was carried out up to 100m depth using an SBE19 Plus-V2 CTD-T. In general, the results showed sediment plumes at two levels: an upper plume from the surface up to 10m deep and a deeper plume at 40-100 m. These plumes were identified by higher turbidity concentrations and their association with colder water tongues. The deeper plume tended to remain below the 1027.5 kg m(-3) isopycnal and extended similar to 4km from the glacier, maintaining its shape with a gradually decreasing particle concentration. This longitudinal extension was favoured by ebb tides. The characteristics of the sediment plumes may be influenced by the heat input from water masses. The contribution of the sediments from these small bay systems could play an important role in regional sedimentary processes.