Articles | Volume 19, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1871-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1871-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
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04 Apr 2022
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 04 Apr 2022
| 04 Apr 2022
Low biodegradability of particulate organic carbon mobilized from thaw slumps on the Peel Plateau, NT, and possible chemosynthesis and sorption effects
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
Canada
Suzanne E. Tank
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
Canada
Jorien E. Vonk
Department of Earth Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the
Netherlands
Scott Zolkos
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
Canada
current address: John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied
Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 6357–6409, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-6357-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-6357-2026, 2026
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This dataset includes monthly measurements of carbon dioxide and methane exchange between land, water, and the atmosphere from over 1000 sites in Arctic and boreal regions. It combines measurements from a variety of ecosystems, including wetlands, forests, tundra, lakes, and rivers, gathered by over 260 researchers from 1984–2024. This dataset can be used to improve and reduce uncertainty in carbon budgets in order to strengthen our understanding of climate feedbacks in a warming world.
Marco A. Bolandini, Jordon D. Hemingway, Negar Haghipour, Kirsi H. Keskitalo, Jorien E. Vonk, Timothy I. Eglinton, and Lisa Bröder
Biogeosciences, 23, 4447–4462, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-4447-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-4447-2026, 2026
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Abrupt permafrost thaw mobilizes ancient organic matter, which could fuel further warming, yet its fate remains uncertain. We studied thaw slumps in Arctic Canada using thermal, radiocarbon, and molecular analyses. Recently thawed debris and runoff exiting the slumps contained old, thermally stable organic matter, compositionally similar to surrounding permafrost. This suggests that much of the thaw-mobilised carbon survives initial transport and may be processed or sequestered downstream.
Christine L. Olson, Kevin Schaefer, Alyssa Azaroff, Hélène Angot, Sasiri Bandara, Thomas A. Douglas, Bo Elberling, Maria Florencia Fahnestock, Xinbin Feng, Charlotte Haugk, Gustaf Hugelius, Erfan Jahangir, Sofi Jonsson, Shichang Kang, Adam Kirkwood, Jennifer Korosi, Igor Lehnherr, Artem Lim, Rinat Manasypov, Dmitriy Moskovchenko, Mina Nasr, Daniel Obrist, David Olefeldt, Connor Olson, Oleg Pokrovsky, Laura Sereni, Sarah Shakil, M. Isabel Smith, Jens Søndergaard, Jeroen Sonke, Kasia Staniszewska, Jens Strauss, Kyra St. Pierre, Lauren Thompson, Andrey Yurtaev, Yanxu Zhang, and Scott Zolkos
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 4509–4522, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4509-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4509-2026, 2026
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Permafrost regions store large amounts of mercury, a toxic pollutant that can be released as the ground warms. We combined thousands of measurements from soils, plants, water, and lake sediments into one open database to better understand where mercury is stored and how it moves. The results show clear differences among environments and reveal major data gaps, helping improve future research, monitoring, and decision-making.
George Tanski, Michael Fritz, Jorien E. Vonk, Jens Strauss, Léo Chassiot, Vladislav Carnero-Bravo, Jade Falardeau, Kostantin Klein, Parick Lajeunesse, Hugues Lantuit, Niek J. Speetjens, Anne de Vernal, Dustin Whalen, and Anna M. Irrgang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2314, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2314, 2026
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As the Arctic warms, permafrost coasts erode rapidly, flushing carbon from frozen ground into the sea. We studied a lagoon in the western Canadian Arctic, collecting sediments and analyzing organic carbon content, stable isotopes, and grain size, alongside satellite imagery. Carbon content fell by over 50 % from land to open ocean, while erosion rates quintupled since the 1950s. Arctic lagoons bury, degrade, and export terrestrial carbon, acting as coastal reactors whose role will grow.
Gabrielle K. F. Hatten, Steven V. Kokelj, Sophie Opfergelt, Duane G. Froese, Alejandro Alvarez, Joseph M. Young, and Suzanne E. Tank
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1844, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1844, 2026
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Sorption of organic matter (OM) to recently thawed permafrost sediments can critically alter OM fate. Using 32 sediment samples from a suite of diverse permafrost landscapes, we show that organo-mineral interactions “sort” dissolved OM, enriching the aquatic matrix in labile compounds and increasing biodegradation via shifts in OM composition and nutrient release. Sorption potential varied across and within regions and was tied to sediment characteristics, dictated by landscape history.
Julia Wagner, Juliane Wolter, Justine Ramage, Victoria Martin, Andreas Richter, Niek Jesse Speetjens, Jorien E. Vonk, Rachele Lodi, Annett Bartsch, Michael Fritz, Hugues Lantuit, and Gustaf Hugelius
SOIL, 12, 113–132, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-113-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-113-2026, 2026
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Permafrost soils store vast amounts of organic carbon, key to understanding climate change. This study uses machine learning and combines existing data with new field data to create detailed regional maps of soil carbon and nitrogen stocks for the Yukon coastal plain. The results show how soil properties vary across the landscape highlighting the importance of data selection for accurate predictions. These findings improve carbon storage estimates and may aid regional carbon budget assessments.
Jessica A. Serbu, Suzanne E. Tank, Bernhard Peucker-Ehrenbrink, Xiying Sun, Craig A. Emmerton, and Vincent L. St. Louis
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5020, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5020, 2025
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In water, CO2 can chemically react with (i.e., weather) fine sediment produced as glaciers abrade bedrock. Studying three glacier-fed rivers in the Canadian Rockies across multiple seasons, we found that near glaciers, rivers consumed CO2 mainly via carbonate weathering. Importance of silicate weathering and organic matter decomposition as drivers of CO2 cycling increased downriver. As glaciers retreat, subsequent shifts in river biogeochemistry will affect regional and global carbon budgets.
Ashu Dastoor, Hélène Angot, Johannes Bieser, Flora Brocza, Brock Edwards, Aryeh Feinberg, Xinbin Feng, Benjamin Geyman, Charikleia Gournia, Yipeng He, Ian M. Hedgecock, Ilia Ilyin, Jane Kirk, Che-Jen Lin, Igor Lehnherr, Robert Mason, David McLagan, Marilena Muntean, Peter Rafaj, Eric M. Roy, Andrei Ryjkov, Noelle E. Selin, Francesco De Simone, Anne L. Soerensen, Frits Steenhuisen, Oleg Travnikov, Shuxiao Wang, Xun Wang, Simon Wilson, Rosa Wu, Qingru Wu, Yanxu Zhang, Jun Zhou, Wei Zhu, and Scott Zolkos
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 2747–2860, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-2747-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-2747-2025, 2025
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This paper introduces the Multi-Compartment Mercury (Hg) Modeling and Analysis Project (MCHgMAP) aimed at informing the effectiveness evaluations of two multilateral environmental agreements: the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. The experimental design exploits a variety of models (atmospheric, land, oceanic ,and multimedia mass balance models) to assess the short- and long-term influences of anthropogenic Hg releases into the environment.
Hayley F. Drapeau, Suzanne E. Tank, Maria A. Cavaco, Jessica A. Serbu, Vincent L. St. Louis, and Maya P. Bhatia
Biogeosciences, 22, 1369–1391, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1369-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1369-2025, 2025
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From glacial headwaters to 100 km downstream, we found clear organic matter gradients in Canadian Rocky Mountain rivers. In contrast, microbial communities exhibited overall cohesion, indicating that species dispersal may be an over-riding control on community dynamics in these connected rivers. Identification of glacial-specific microbes suggests that glaciers seed headwater microbial assemblages; these findings show the importance of glacial waters and microbiomes in changing mountain systems.
Lucas R. Diaz, Clement J. F. Delcourt, Moritz Langer, Michael M. Loranty, Brendan M. Rogers, Rebecca C. Scholten, Tatiana A. Shestakova, Anna C. Talucci, Jorien E. Vonk, Sonam Wangchuk, and Sander Veraverbeke
Earth Syst. Dynam., 15, 1459–1482, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-15-1459-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-15-1459-2024, 2024
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Our study in eastern Siberia investigated how fires affect permafrost thaw depth in larch forests. We found that fire induces deeper thaw, yet this process was mediated by topography and vegetation. By combining field and satellite data, we estimated summer thaw depth across an entire fire scar. This research provides insights into post-fire permafrost dynamics and the use of satellite data for mapping fire-induced permafrost thaw.
Sandra Raab, Karel Castro-Morales, Anke Hildebrandt, Martin Heimann, Jorien Elisabeth Vonk, Nikita Zimov, and Mathias Goeckede
Biogeosciences, 21, 2571–2597, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-2571-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-2571-2024, 2024
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Water status is an important control factor on sustainability of Arctic permafrost soils, including production and transport of carbon. We compared a drained permafrost ecosystem with a natural control area, investigating water levels, thaw depths, and lateral water flows. We found that shifts in water levels following drainage affected soil water availability and that lateral transport patterns were of major relevance. Understanding these shifts is crucial for future carbon budget studies.
Kirsi H. Keskitalo, Lisa Bröder, Tommaso Tesi, Paul J. Mann, Dirk J. Jong, Sergio Bulte Garcia, Anna Davydova, Sergei Davydov, Nikita Zimov, Negar Haghipour, Timothy I. Eglinton, and Jorien E. Vonk
Biogeosciences, 21, 357–379, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-357-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-357-2024, 2024
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Permafrost thaw releases organic carbon into waterways. Decomposition of this carbon pool emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, enhancing climate warming. We show that Arctic river carbon and water chemistry are different between the spring ice breakup and summer and that primary production is initiated in small Arctic rivers right after ice breakup, in contrast to in large rivers. This may have implications for fluvial carbon dynamics and greenhouse gas uptake and emission balance.
Martine Lizotte, Bennet Juhls, Atsushi Matsuoka, Philippe Massicotte, Gaëlle Mével, David Obie James Anikina, Sofia Antonova, Guislain Bécu, Marine Béguin, Simon Bélanger, Thomas Bossé-Demers, Lisa Bröder, Flavienne Bruyant, Gwénaëlle Chaillou, Jérôme Comte, Raoul-Marie Couture, Emmanuel Devred, Gabrièle Deslongchamps, Thibaud Dezutter, Miles Dillon, David Doxaran, Aude Flamand, Frank Fell, Joannie Ferland, Marie-Hélène Forget, Michael Fritz, Thomas J. Gordon, Caroline Guilmette, Andrea Hilborn, Rachel Hussherr, Charlotte Irish, Fabien Joux, Lauren Kipp, Audrey Laberge-Carignan, Hugues Lantuit, Edouard Leymarie, Antonio Mannino, Juliette Maury, Paul Overduin, Laurent Oziel, Colin Stedmon, Crystal Thomas, Lucas Tisserand, Jean-Éric Tremblay, Jorien Vonk, Dustin Whalen, and Marcel Babin
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 1617–1653, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1617-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1617-2023, 2023
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Permafrost thaw in the Mackenzie Delta region results in the release of organic matter into the coastal marine environment. What happens to this carbon-rich organic matter as it transits along the fresh to salty aquatic environments is still underdocumented. Four expeditions were conducted from April to September 2019 in the coastal area of the Beaufort Sea to study the fate of organic matter. This paper describes a rich set of data characterizing the composition and sources of organic matter.
Niek Jesse Speetjens, Gustaf Hugelius, Thomas Gumbricht, Hugues Lantuit, Wouter R. Berghuijs, Philip A. Pika, Amanda Poste, and Jorien E. Vonk
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 541–554, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-541-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-541-2023, 2023
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The Arctic is rapidly changing. Outside the Arctic, large databases changed how researchers look at river systems and land-to-ocean processes. We present the first integrated pan-ARctic CAtchments summary DatabasE (ARCADE) (> 40 000 river catchments draining into the Arctic Ocean). It incorporates information about the drainage area with 103 geospatial, environmental, climatic, and physiographic properties and covers small watersheds , which are especially subject to change, at a high resolution
Dirk Jong, Lisa Bröder, Tommaso Tesi, Kirsi H. Keskitalo, Nikita Zimov, Anna Davydova, Philip Pika, Negar Haghipour, Timothy I. Eglinton, and Jorien E. Vonk
Biogeosciences, 20, 271–294, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-271-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-271-2023, 2023
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With this study, we want to highlight the importance of studying both land and ocean together, and water and sediment together, as these systems function as a continuum, and determine how organic carbon derived from permafrost is broken down and its effect on global warming. Although on the one hand it appears that organic carbon is removed from sediments along the pathway of transport from river to ocean, it also appears to remain relatively ‘fresh’, despite this removal and its very old age.
Niek Jesse Speetjens, George Tanski, Victoria Martin, Julia Wagner, Andreas Richter, Gustaf Hugelius, Chris Boucher, Rachele Lodi, Christian Knoblauch, Boris P. Koch, Urban Wünsch, Hugues Lantuit, and Jorien E. Vonk
Biogeosciences, 19, 3073–3097, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3073-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3073-2022, 2022
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Climate change and warming in the Arctic exceed global averages. As a result, permanently frozen soils (permafrost) which store vast quantities of carbon in the form of dead plant material (organic matter) are thawing. Our study shows that as permafrost landscapes degrade, high concentrations of organic matter are released. Partly, this organic matter is degraded rapidly upon release, while another significant fraction enters stream networks and enters the Arctic Ocean.
David Olefeldt, Mikael Hovemyr, McKenzie A. Kuhn, David Bastviken, Theodore J. Bohn, John Connolly, Patrick Crill, Eugénie S. Euskirchen, Sarah A. Finkelstein, Hélène Genet, Guido Grosse, Lorna I. Harris, Liam Heffernan, Manuel Helbig, Gustaf Hugelius, Ryan Hutchins, Sari Juutinen, Mark J. Lara, Avni Malhotra, Kristen Manies, A. David McGuire, Susan M. Natali, Jonathan A. O'Donnell, Frans-Jan W. Parmentier, Aleksi Räsänen, Christina Schädel, Oliver Sonnentag, Maria Strack, Suzanne E. Tank, Claire Treat, Ruth K. Varner, Tarmo Virtanen, Rebecca K. Warren, and Jennifer D. Watts
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 5127–5149, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-5127-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-5127-2021, 2021
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Wetlands, lakes, and rivers are important sources of the greenhouse gas methane to the atmosphere. To understand current and future methane emissions from northern regions, we need maps that show the extent and distribution of specific types of wetlands, lakes, and rivers. The Boreal–Arctic Wetland and Lake Dataset (BAWLD) provides maps of five wetland types, seven lake types, and three river types for northern regions and will improve our ability to predict future methane emissions.
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Short summary
Permafrost thaw-driven landslides in the western Arctic are increasing organic carbon delivered to headwaters of drainage networks in the western Canadian Arctic by orders of magnitude. Through a series of laboratory experiments, we show that less than 10 % of this organic carbon is likely to be mineralized to greenhouse gases during transport in these networks. Rather most of the organic carbon is likely destined for burial and sequestration for centuries to millennia.
Permafrost thaw-driven landslides in the western Arctic are increasing organic carbon delivered...
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