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.
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.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Permafrost degradation and nitrogen cycling in Arctic rivers: insights from stable nitrogen isotope studies
Adam Francis
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Raja S. Ganeshram
School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Robyn E. Tuerena
Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, UK
Robert G. M. Spencer
Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Science, Florida State
University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Robert M. Holmes
Woodwell Climate Research Center, Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA
Jennifer A. Rogers
Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Science, Florida State
University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Claire Mahaffey
Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, University of
Liverpool, UK
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Cited
14 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Permafrost thaw and precipitation control late-season nitrate mobilization in a High Arctic periglacial catchment M. Verret & A. Hodson https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103513
- Terrestrial inputs of nutrients and dissolved organic carbon to the Arctic Ocean and their influence on primary production S. Mathew et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107182
- Emerging thermokarst lakes amplify benthic activity and carbon mobilization in a continuous permafrost landscape D. Folhas et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ae5513
- Effects of climate change on river and groundwater nutrient inputs to the coastal ocean C. Richardson et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02594-6
- Sea ice loss drives a regime shift in Arctic Ocean nitrogen biogeochemistry M. Santos-García et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03569-x
- Climate and Anthropogenic Disturbances Control Soil Organic Matter Content and Isotopic Composition in Tropical Regions H. SUN et al. https://doi.org/10.3724/EE.1672-9250.2025.53.074
- Implications of climate change on biogeochemical cycles in the Arctic Ocean with special emphasis on the nitrogen cycle F. Alangadan et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-025-03387-5
- Hydrology Controls Dissolved Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Export and Post‐Storm Recovery in Two Arctic Headwaters A. Shogren et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JG007583
- Fluvial Export of Carbon and Nutrients from Boreal Catchments Disturbed by Fire and Permafrost Thaw T. Harms et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-026-01063-1
- A watershed-scale perspective: Elucidating the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanisms of nitrate along the Lancang River M. Sun et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141226
- Isotopic insights into the fate of atmospheric nitrogen in alpine tundra ponds with contrasting land cover and cryospheric conditions R. Balestrini et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2026.110160
- Catchment-scale thawing and greening decreases long-term nitrogen export in NE Greenland S. Speir et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad3e8e
- Pan-Arctic riverine carbon and nitrogen exports dominated by hydrologic factors Y. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122017
- Observing Northern High-Latitude River Systems to Understand Changes in a Warming Arctic J. Koch & J. O’Donnell https://doi.org/10.1007/s40641-025-00202-5
14 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Permafrost thaw and precipitation control late-season nitrate mobilization in a High Arctic periglacial catchment M. Verret & A. Hodson https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103513
- Terrestrial inputs of nutrients and dissolved organic carbon to the Arctic Ocean and their influence on primary production S. Mathew et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107182
- Emerging thermokarst lakes amplify benthic activity and carbon mobilization in a continuous permafrost landscape D. Folhas et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ae5513
- Effects of climate change on river and groundwater nutrient inputs to the coastal ocean C. Richardson et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02594-6
- Sea ice loss drives a regime shift in Arctic Ocean nitrogen biogeochemistry M. Santos-García et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03569-x
- Climate and Anthropogenic Disturbances Control Soil Organic Matter Content and Isotopic Composition in Tropical Regions H. SUN et al. https://doi.org/10.3724/EE.1672-9250.2025.53.074
- Implications of climate change on biogeochemical cycles in the Arctic Ocean with special emphasis on the nitrogen cycle F. Alangadan et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-025-03387-5
- Hydrology Controls Dissolved Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Export and Post‐Storm Recovery in Two Arctic Headwaters A. Shogren et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JG007583
- Fluvial Export of Carbon and Nutrients from Boreal Catchments Disturbed by Fire and Permafrost Thaw T. Harms et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-026-01063-1
- A watershed-scale perspective: Elucidating the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanisms of nitrate along the Lancang River M. Sun et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141226
- Isotopic insights into the fate of atmospheric nitrogen in alpine tundra ponds with contrasting land cover and cryospheric conditions R. Balestrini et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2026.110160
- Catchment-scale thawing and greening decreases long-term nitrogen export in NE Greenland S. Speir et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad3e8e
- Pan-Arctic riverine carbon and nitrogen exports dominated by hydrologic factors Y. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122017
- Observing Northern High-Latitude River Systems to Understand Changes in a Warming Arctic J. Koch & J. O’Donnell https://doi.org/10.1007/s40641-025-00202-5
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 13 Jun 2026
Editorial statement
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.
Vast areas of permafrost are being degraded by climate change, which can release substantial...
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.
Climate change is causing extensive permafrost degradation and nutrient releases into rivers...
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