Strontium isotope systematics and the age of melting ice in the Oppstryn drainage basin, Western Norway

A preliminary assessment of the distribution of 87Sr/86Sr ratio in suspended sediments in stream waters of the Oppstryn drainage basin, located in the north-western part of Jostedalsbreen (Jostedal Glacier, Western Norway), was carried out during late summer 2006. The measured 87Sr/86Sr ratios vary between 0.71256 and 0.71567 compared to 0.7092 in average seawater and c.0.7098 in rainwater. The highest value was measured in a sample of suspended sediment particles from the glacial lake located below Erdalsbreen, and the lowest value was measured in suspended sediment particles in the river draining Vetledalsbreen. An intermediate value was measured in the sandur area below the confluence of Stordalselva and Vetledalselva. The measured difference in 87Sr/86Sr ratio between the uppermost and lowermost locations of the investigated part of the drainage basin was 1.75 x 10−3. This is significant and sufficient for application in future estimates of weathering rates. The age of water in the glacial lake at the...