Cold Region Meltwater Geochemistry: Biological, Chemical and Physical Controls

There has been a quantum leap in the past decade in the types of meltwater researched and sampled in cold regions, including supra-, en- and sub- glacial meltwaters, both from smaller glaciers and ice sheets, meltwaters in proglacial plains and associated seeps, permafrost melt and snowmelt, both over soils, permafrost and glaciers. The research imperatives that have prompted this activity include the impact of snow and ice melt on local, regional and global geochemical cycles, and the search for flowpaths and particular biological, chemical and physical processes in and through the unique environments that melting cold regions provide. As in all earth surface environments, the role of microbial processes is often key to driving (bio)geochemical weathering reactions and shaping the concentrations and phase association of solutes in solution.

The current literature is being written around the globe, and is published in a disparate literature. Thus, the goal of this Research Topic is to collect a spectrum of global research papers into one visible and easily accessible location. We aim to commission papers in the following areas, but other suggestions are welcome:
- Supraglacial meltwaters on ice masses in Antarctica, Greenland and the Himalayas, including those in cryoconite holes and in other subsurface environments.
- Glacial runoff in Antarctica, Greenland, Alaska, the Alps, the Andes, the Himalayas and the Rockies.
- Subglacial meltwaters and lakes beneath Greenland and Antarctica.
- Proglacial zone waters worldwide.
- Permafrost melt worldwide.
- Snowmelt worldwide.
- Modelling chemical reactions in cold regions.