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.
Research article
| Highlight paper
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24 Jan 2023
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 24 Jan 2023
| 24 Jan 2023
Permafrost degradation and nitrogen cycling in Arctic rivers: insights from stable nitrogen isotope studies
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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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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