Biogeosciences
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Articles | Volume 20, issue 2
Articles | Volume 20, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-365-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-365-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 20, issue 2
Research article
 | Highlight paper
 | 
24 Jan 2023
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 24 Jan 2023

Permafrost degradation and nitrogen cycling in Arctic rivers: insights from stable nitrogen isotope studies

Adam Francis, Raja S. Ganeshram, Robyn E. Tuerena, Robert G. M. Spencer, Robert M. Holmes, Jennifer A. Rogers, and Claire Mahaffey

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Nitrogen isotope measurements from Arctic rivers and permafrost degradation sites, February 2017 - September 2018. Francis A.; Ganeshram R.; Tuerena R.; Spencer R.G.M.; Holmes R.M.; Rogers J.A.; Mahaffey C. https://doi.org/10.5285/e777252b-b44a-7978-e053-6c86abc0d89f

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Vast areas of permafrost are being degraded by climate change, which can release substantial quantities of nutrients into rivers and the ocean. This study shows how nitrogen isotopes can be used to determine how climate change affects the fluxes of nitrogen to the Arctic Ocean through permafrost melt.
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Short summary
Climate change is causing extensive permafrost degradation and nutrient releases into rivers with great ecological impacts on the Arctic Ocean. We focused on nitrogen (N) release from this degradation and associated cycling using N isotopes, an understudied area. Many N species are released at degradation sites with exchanges between species. N inputs from permafrost degradation and seasonal river N trends were identified using isotopes, helping to predict climate change impacts.
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