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Climate warming is expected to mobilize northern permafrost and peat organic carbon (PP-C), yet magnitudes and system specifics of even current releases are poorly constrained. While part of the PP-C will degrade at point of thaw to CO 2 and CH 4 to directly amplify global warming, another part will enter the fluvial network, potentially providing a window to observe large-scale PP-C remobilization patterns. Here, we employ a decade-long, high-temporal resolution record of 14 C in dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC and POC, respectively) to deconvolute PP-C release in the large drainage basins of rivers across Siberia: Ob, Yenisey, Lena, and Kolyma. The 14 C-constrained estimate of export specifically from PP-C corresponds to only 17 ± 8% of total fluvial organic carbon and serves as a benchmark for monitoring changes to fluvial PP-C remobilization in a warming Arctic. Whereas DOC was dominated by recent organic carbon and poorly traced PP-C (12 ± 8%), POC carried a much stronger signature of PP-C (63 ± 10%) and represents the best window to detect spatial and temporal dynamics of PP-C release. Distinct seasonal patterns suggest that while DOC primarily stems from gradual leaching of surface soils, POC reflects abrupt collapse of deeper deposits. Higher dissolved PP-C export by Ob and Yenisey aligns with discontinuous permafrost that facilitates leaching, whereas higher particulate PP-C export by Lena and Kolyma likely echoes the thermokarst-induced collapse of Pleistocene deposits. Quantitative 14 C-based fingerprinting of fluvial organic carbon thus provides an opportunity to elucidate large-scale dynamics of PP-C remobilization in response to Arctic warming.
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Permafrost degradation and nitrogen cycling in Arctic rivers: insights from stable nitrogen isotope studies
Abstract. Across the Arctic, vast areas of permafrost are being degraded by climatechange, which has the potential to release substantial quantities ofnutrients, including nitrogen into large Arctic rivers. These rivers heavilyinfluence the biogeochemistry of the Arctic Ocean, so it is important tounderstand the potential changes to rivers from permafrost degradation. Thisstudy utilized dissolved nitrogen species (nitrate and dissolved organicnitrogen (DON)) along with nitrogen isotope values (δ15N-NO3- and δ15N-DON) of samples collectedfrom permafrost sites in the Kolyma River and the six largest Arctic rivers.Large inputs of DON and nitrate with a unique isotopically heavy δ15N signature were documented in the Kolyma, suggesting the occurrenceof denitrification and highly invigorated nitrogen cycling in the Yedomapermafrost thaw zones along the Kolyma. We show evidence for permafrost-derived DON being recycled to nitrate as it passes through the river,transferring the high 15N signature to nitrate. However, the potentialto observe these thaw signals at the mouths of rivers depends on the spatialscale of thaw sites, permafrost degradation, and recycling mechanisms. Incontrast with the Kolyma, with near 100 % continuous permafrost extent,the Ob River, draining large areas of discontinuous and sporadicpermafrost, shows large seasonal changes in both nitrate and DON isotopicsignatures. During winter months, water percolating through peat soilsrecords isotopically heavy denitrification signals in contrast with thelighter summer values when surface flow dominates. This early yeardenitrification signal was present to a degree in the Kolyma, but the abilityto relate seasonal nitrogen signals across Arctic Rivers to permafrostdegradation could not be shown with this study. Other large rivers in theArctic show different seasonal nitrogen trends. Based on nitrogen isotopevalues, the vast majority of nitrogen fluxes in the Arctic rivers is fromfresh DON sourced from surface runoff through organic-rich topsoil and notfrom permafrost degradation. However, with future permafrost thaw, otherArctic rivers may begin to show nitrogen trends similar to the Ob. Ourstudy demonstrates that nitrogen inputs from permafrost thaw can beidentified through nitrogen isotopes, but only on small spatial scales.Overall, nitrogen isotopes show potential for revealing integrated catchmentwide nitrogen cycling processes.
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- PAR ID:
- 10444814
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Biogeosciences
- Volume:
- 20
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 1726-4189
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 365 to 382
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-365-2023
