Articles | Volume 19, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1211-2022
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1211-2022
Research article
 | 
28 Feb 2022
Research article |  | 28 Feb 2022

Age and chemistry of dissolved organic carbon reveal enhanced leaching of ancient labile carbon at the permafrost thaw zone

Karis J. McFarlane, Heather M. Throckmorton, Jeffrey M. Heikoop, Brent D. Newman, Alexandra L. Hedgpeth, Marisa N. Repasch, Thomas P. Guilderson, and Cathy J. Wilson

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Cited articles

Amon, R. M. W. and Meon, B.: The biogeochemistry of dissolved organic matter and nutrients in two large Arctic estuaries and potential implications for our understanding of the Arctic Ocean system, Mar. Chem., 92, 311–330, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2004.06.034, 2004. 
Amon, R. M. W., Rinehart, A. J., Duan, S., Louchouarn, P., Prokushkin, A., Guggenberger, G., Bauch, D., Stedmon, C., Raymond, P. A., Holmes, R. M., McClelland, J. W., Peterson, B. J., Walker, S. A., and Zhulidov, A. V.: Dissolved organic matter sources in large Arctic rivers, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 94, 217–237, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.07.015, 2012. 
Aurela, M., Laurila, T., and Tuovinen, J.-P.: Annual CO2 balance of a subarctic fen in northern Europe: Importance of the wintertime efflux, J. Geophys. Res., 107, 4607, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002jd002055, 2002. 
Balcarczyk, K. L., Jones, J. B., Jaffé, R., and Maie, N.: Stream dissolved organic matter bioavailability and composition in watersheds underlain with discontinuous permafrost, Biogeochemistry, 94, 255–270, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-009-9324-x, 2009. 
Benner, R., Benitez-Nelson, B., Kaiser, K., and Amon, R. M. W.: Export of young terrigenous dissolved organic carbon from rivers to the Arctic Ocean, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L05305, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003gl019251, 2004. 
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Short summary
Planetary warming is increasing seasonal thaw of permafrost, making this extensive old carbon stock vulnerable. In northern Alaska, we found more and older dissolved organic carbon in small drainages later in summer as more permafrost was exposed by deepening thaw. Younger and older carbon did not differ in chemical indicators related to biological lability suggesting this carbon can cycle through aquatic systems and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions as warming increases permafrost thaw.
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