Articles | Volume 22, issue 15
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3899-2025
© Author(s) 2025. 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-22-3899-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
13 Aug 2025
Research article |
| 13 Aug 2025
| 13 Aug 2025
Water chemistry and greenhouse gas concentrations in waterbodies of a thawing permafrost peatland complex in northern Norway
Jacqueline K. Knutson
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway
François Clayer
Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway
Peter Dörsch
Centre for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene, University of Oslo, 0371 Oslo, Norway
Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1433 Ås, Norway
Sebastian Westermann
Centre for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene, University of Oslo, 0371 Oslo, Norway
Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, 0371 Oslo, Norway
Heleen A. de Wit
Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway
Centre for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene, University of Oslo, 0371 Oslo, Norway
Related authors
No articles found.
Joana Pedro Baptista, Gonçalo Brito Guapo Teles Vieira, António Manuel de Carvalho Soares Correia, Hyoungseok Lee, and Sebastian Westermann
The Cryosphere, 19, 3459–3476, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3459-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3459-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Permafrost underlies ice-free areas of Antarctica, but its response to long-term warming is unclear due to a limited number of monitoring sites. To address this, we used the CryoGrid model, forced with climate data, to estimate permafrost temperatures and active layer thickness at King Sejong Station since 1950. The results show ground temperatures rising 0.25 °C per decade and the active layer thickening by 2 m. Warming has accelerated since 2015, highlighting the need for continued monitoring.
Anfisa Pismeniuk, Peter Dörsch, Mats Ippach, Clarissa Willmes, Sunniva Sheffield, Norbert Pirk, and Sebastian Westermann
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3059, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3059, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Biogeosciences (BG).
Short summary
Short summary
Thermokarst ponds in high latitudes are important methane (CH4) sources in summer. Meanwhile, these lakes are ice-covered for around 60 % of the year and can accumulate CH4 in the ice and within the underlying water column, which potentially results in high emissions during the ice-off. Here, we present data on wintertime CH4 storage of ponds located within two peat plateaus in Northern Norway. Our results show that the wintertime CH4 storage can contribute up to 40 % to the annual CH4 budget.
Robin B. Zweigel, Dashtseren Avirmed, Khurelbaatar Temuujin, Clare Webster, Hanna Lee, and Sebastian Westermann
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2366, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2366, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for The Cryosphere (TC).
Short summary
Short summary
Two years of data along a forest disturbance gradient in Mongolia show a larger annual ground surface temperature range in dead and logged forests than intact forest, while the range is dampened in stands of young regrowth. Compared to intact forest, mean annual ground surface temperatures are 0.5 °C colder in dead and logged forest and dense stands of young regrowth. This is linked to differences in vegetation and surface cover due to the disturbance and patterns in livestock activity.
Talent Namatsheve, Vegard Martinsen, Jan Mulder, Alfred Obia, and Peter Dörsch
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1939, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1939, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Biogeosciences (BG).
Short summary
Short summary
Effect of conservation agriculture (CA) and biochar on N2O emissions in unfertilized Ferralsol of northern Uganda was investigated for two seasons. The hypothesis was rotation with pigeon pea increases N2O emission, while biochar amendment in CA reduces N2O emissions. N2O emissions ranged from 0.44–1.11 kg N ha-1. Biochar did not affect N2O emissions but reduced yield-scaled N2O emissions without penalizing pigeon pea productivity.
Lotte Wendt, Line Rouyet, Hanne H. Christiansen, Tom Rune Lauknes, and Sebastian Westermann
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2972, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2972, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In permafrost environments, the ground surface moves due to the formation and melt of ice in the ground. This study compares ground surface displacements measured from satellite images against field data of ground ice contents. We find good agreement between the detected seasonal subsidence and observed ground ice melt. Our results show the potential of satellite remote sensing for mapping ground ice variability, but also indicate that ice in excess of the pore space must be considered.
Robin Benjamin Zweigel, Avirmed Dashtseren, Khurelbaatar Temuujin, Anarmaa Sharkhuu, Clare Webster, Hanna Lee, and Sebastian Westermann
Biogeosciences, 21, 5059–5077, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5059-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5059-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Intense grazing at grassland sites removes vegetation, reduces the snow cover, and inhibits litter layers from forming. Grazed sites generally have a larger annual ground surface temperature amplitude than ungrazed sites, but the net effect depends on effects in the transitional seasons. Our results also suggest that seasonal use of pastures can reduce ground temperatures, which can be a strategy to protect currently degrading grassland permafrost.
Sigrid Trier Kjær, Sebastian Westermann, Nora Nedkvitne, and Peter Dörsch
Biogeosciences, 21, 4723–4737, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4723-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4723-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Permafrost peatlands are thawing due to climate change, releasing large quantities of carbon that degrades upon thawing and is released as CO2, CH4 or dissolved organic carbon (DOC). We incubated thawed Norwegian permafrost peat plateaus and thermokarst pond sediment found next to permafrost for up to 350 d to measure carbon loss. CO2 production was initially the highest, whereas CH4 production increased over time. The largest carbon loss was measured at the top of the peat plateau core as DOC.
Juditha Aga, Livia Piermattei, Luc Girod, Kristoffer Aalstad, Trond Eiken, Andreas Kääb, and Sebastian Westermann
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 1049–1070, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1049-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1049-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Coastal rock cliffs on Svalbard are considered to be fairly stable; however, long-term trends in coastal-retreat rates remain unknown. This study examines changes in the coastline position along Brøggerhalvøya, Svalbard, using aerial images from 1970, 1990, 2010, and 2021. Our analysis shows that coastal-retreat rates accelerate during the period 2010–2021, which coincides with increasing storminess and retreating sea ice.
Marco Mazzolini, Kristoffer Aalstad, Esteban Alonso-González, Sebastian Westermann, and Désirée Treichler
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1404, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1404, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In this work, we use the satellite laser altimeter ICESat-2 to retrieve snow depth in areas where snow amounts are still poorly estimated despite the high societal importance. We explore how to update snow models with these observations through algorithms that spatially propagate the information beyond the narrow satellite profiles. The positive results show the potential of this approach for improving snow simulations, both in terms of average snow depth and spatial distribution.
François Clayer, Jan Erik Thrane, Kuria Ndungu, Andrew King, Peter Dörsch, and Thomas Rohrlack
Biogeosciences, 21, 1903–1921, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-1903-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-1903-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Determination of dissolved greenhouse gas (GHG) in freshwater allows us to estimate GHG fluxes. Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) is used to preserve water samples prior to GHG analysis despite its environmental and health impacts and interferences with water chemistry in freshwater. Here, we tested the effects of HgCl2, two substitutes and storage time on GHG in water from two boreal lakes. Preservation with HgCl2 caused overestimation of CO2 concentration with consequences for GHG flux estimation.
Elin Ristorp Aas, Heleen A. de Wit, and Terje K. Berntsen
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 2929–2959, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-2929-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-2929-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
By including microbial processes in soil models, we learn how the soil system interacts with its environment and responds to climate change. We present a soil process model, MIMICS+, which is able to reproduce carbon stocks found in boreal forest soils better than a conventional land model. With the model we also find that when adding nitrogen, the relationship between soil microbes changes notably. Coupling the model to a vegetation model will allow for further study of these mechanisms.
Moritz Langer, Jan Nitzbon, Brian Groenke, Lisa-Marie Assmann, Thomas Schneider von Deimling, Simone Maria Stuenzi, and Sebastian Westermann
The Cryosphere, 18, 363–385, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-363-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-363-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Using a model that can simulate the evolution of Arctic permafrost over centuries to millennia, we find that post-industrialization permafrost warming has three "hotspots" in NE Canada, N Alaska, and W Siberia. The extent of near-surface permafrost has decreased substantially since 1850, with the largest area losses occurring in the last 50 years. The simulations also show that volcanic eruptions have in some cases counteracted the loss of near-surface permafrost for a few decades.
Bernd Etzelmüller, Ketil Isaksen, Justyna Czekirda, Sebastian Westermann, Christin Hilbich, and Christian Hauck
The Cryosphere, 17, 5477–5497, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-5477-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-5477-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Permafrost (permanently frozen ground) is widespread in the mountains of Norway and Iceland. Several boreholes were drilled after 1999 for long-term permafrost monitoring. We document a strong warming of permafrost, including the development of unfrozen bodies in the permafrost. Warming and degradation of mountain permafrost may lead to more natural hazards.
Esteban Alonso-González, Kristoffer Aalstad, Norbert Pirk, Marco Mazzolini, Désirée Treichler, Paul Leclercq, Sebastian Westermann, Juan Ignacio López-Moreno, and Simon Gascoin
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 4637–4659, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4637-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4637-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Here we explore how to improve hyper-resolution (5 m) distributed snowpack simulations using sparse observations, which do not provide information from all the areas of the simulation domain. We propose a new way of propagating information throughout the simulations adapted to the hyper-resolution, which could also be used to improve simulations of other nature. The method has been implemented in an open-source data assimilation tool that is readily accessible to everyone.
Anatoly O. Sinitsyn, Sara Bazin, Rasmus Benestad, Bernd Etzelmüller, Ketil Isaksen, Hanne Kvitsand, Julia Lutz, Andrea L. Popp, Lena Rubensdotter, and Sebastian Westermann
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2950, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2950, 2023
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
This study looked at under the ground on Svalbard, an archipelago close to the North Pole. We found something very surprising – there is water under the all year around frozen soil. This was not known before. This water could be used for drinking if we manage it carefully. This is important because getting clean drinking water is very difficult in Svalbard, and other Arctic places. Also, because the climate is getting warmer, there might be even more water underground in the future.
Léo C. P. Martin, Sebastian Westermann, Michele Magni, Fanny Brun, Joel Fiddes, Yanbin Lei, Philip Kraaijenbrink, Tamara Mathys, Moritz Langer, Simon Allen, and Walter W. Immerzeel
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 4409–4436, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4409-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4409-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Across the Tibetan Plateau, many large lakes have been changing level during the last decades as a response to climate change. In high-mountain environments, water fluxes from the land to the lakes are linked to the ground temperature of the land and to the energy fluxes between the ground and the atmosphere, which are modified by climate change. With a numerical model, we test how these water and energy fluxes have changed over the last decades and how they influence the lake level variations.
Juditha Aga, Julia Boike, Moritz Langer, Thomas Ingeman-Nielsen, and Sebastian Westermann
The Cryosphere, 17, 4179–4206, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4179-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4179-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a new model scheme for simulating ice segregation and thaw consolidation in permafrost environments, depending on ground properties and climatic forcing. It is embedded in the CryoGrid community model, a land surface model for the terrestrial cryosphere. We describe the model physics and functionalities, followed by a model validation and a sensitivity study of controlling factors.
Matan Ben-Asher, Florence Magnin, Sebastian Westermann, Josué Bock, Emmanuel Malet, Johan Berthet, Ludovic Ravanel, and Philip Deline
Earth Surf. Dynam., 11, 899–915, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-899-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-899-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Quantitative knowledge of water availability on high mountain rock slopes is very limited. We use a numerical model and field measurements to estimate the water balance at a steep rock wall site. We show that snowmelt is the main source of water at elevations >3600 m and that snowpack hydrology and sublimation are key factors. The new information presented here can be used to improve the understanding of thermal, hydrogeological, and mechanical processes on steep mountain rock slopes.
Brian Groenke, Moritz Langer, Jan Nitzbon, Sebastian Westermann, Guillermo Gallego, and Julia Boike
The Cryosphere, 17, 3505–3533, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3505-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3505-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
It is now well known from long-term temperature measurements that Arctic permafrost, i.e., ground that remains continuously frozen for at least 2 years, is warming in response to climate change. Temperature, however, only tells half of the story. In this study, we use computer modeling to better understand how the thawing and freezing of water in the ground affects the way permafrost responds to climate change and what temperature trends can and cannot tell us about how permafrost is changing.
Louise Steffensen Schmidt, Thomas Vikhamar Schuler, Erin Emily Thomas, and Sebastian Westermann
The Cryosphere, 17, 2941–2963, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2941-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2941-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Here, we present high-resolution simulations of glacier mass balance (the gain and loss of ice over a year) and runoff on Svalbard from 1991–2022, one of the fastest warming regions in the Arctic. The simulations are created using the CryoGrid community model. We find a small overall loss of mass over the simulation period of −0.08 m yr−1 but with no statistically significant trend. The average runoff was found to be 41 Gt yr−1, with a significant increasing trend of 6.3 Gt per decade.
Justyna Czekirda, Bernd Etzelmüller, Sebastian Westermann, Ketil Isaksen, and Florence Magnin
The Cryosphere, 17, 2725–2754, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2725-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2725-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We assess spatio-temporal permafrost variations in selected rock walls in Norway over the last 120 years. Ground temperature is modelled using the two-dimensional ground heat flux model CryoGrid 2D along nine profiles. Permafrost probably occurs at most sites. All simulations show increasing ground temperature from the 1980s. Our simulations show that rock wall permafrost with a temperature of −1 °C at 20 m depth could thaw at this depth within 50 years.
Norbert Pirk, Kristoffer Aalstad, Yeliz A. Yilmaz, Astrid Vatne, Andrea L. Popp, Peter Horvath, Anders Bryn, Ane Victoria Vollsnes, Sebastian Westermann, Terje Koren Berntsen, Frode Stordal, and Lena Merete Tallaksen
Biogeosciences, 20, 2031–2047, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2031-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2031-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We measured the land–atmosphere exchange of CO2 and water vapor in alpine Norway over 3 years. The extremely snow-rich conditions in 2020 reduced the total annual evapotranspiration to 50 % and reduced the growing-season carbon assimilation to turn the ecosystem from a moderate annual carbon sink to an even stronger source. Our analysis suggests that snow cover anomalies are driving the most consequential short-term responses in this ecosystem’s functioning.
Sebastian Westermann, Thomas Ingeman-Nielsen, Johanna Scheer, Kristoffer Aalstad, Juditha Aga, Nitin Chaudhary, Bernd Etzelmüller, Simon Filhol, Andreas Kääb, Cas Renette, Louise Steffensen Schmidt, Thomas Vikhamar Schuler, Robin B. Zweigel, Léo Martin, Sarah Morard, Matan Ben-Asher, Michael Angelopoulos, Julia Boike, Brian Groenke, Frederieke Miesner, Jan Nitzbon, Paul Overduin, Simone M. Stuenzi, and Moritz Langer
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 2607–2647, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2607-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-2607-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The CryoGrid community model is a new tool for simulating ground temperatures and the water and ice balance in cold regions. It is a modular design, which makes it possible to test different schemes to simulate, for example, permafrost ground in an efficient way. The model contains tools to simulate frozen and unfrozen ground, snow, glaciers, and other massive ice bodies, as well as water bodies.
François Clayer, Leah Jackson-Blake, Daniel Mercado-Bettín, Muhammed Shikhani, Andrew French, Tadhg Moore, James Sample, Magnus Norling, Maria-Dolores Frias, Sixto Herrera, Elvira de Eyto, Eleanor Jennings, Karsten Rinke, Leon van der Linden, and Rafael Marcé
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 1361–1381, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1361-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-1361-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We assessed the predictive skill of forecasting tools over the next season for water discharge and lake temperature. Tools were forced with seasonal weather predictions; however, most of the prediction skill originates from legacy effects and not from seasonal weather predictions. Yet, when skills from seasonal weather predictions are present, additional skill comes from interaction effects. Skilful lake seasonal predictions require better weather predictions and realistic antecedent conditions.
Cas Renette, Kristoffer Aalstad, Juditha Aga, Robin Benjamin Zweigel, Bernd Etzelmüller, Karianne Staalesen Lilleøren, Ketil Isaksen, and Sebastian Westermann
Earth Surf. Dynam., 11, 33–50, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-33-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-33-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
One of the reasons for lower ground temperatures in coarse, blocky terrain is a low or varying soil moisture content, which most permafrost modelling studies did not take into account. We used the CryoGrid community model to successfully simulate this effect and found markedly lower temperatures in well-drained, blocky deposits compared to other set-ups. The inclusion of this drainage effect is another step towards a better model representation of blocky mountain terrain in permafrost regions.
Norbert Pirk, Kristoffer Aalstad, Sebastian Westermann, Astrid Vatne, Alouette van Hove, Lena Merete Tallaksen, Massimo Cassiani, and Gabriel Katul
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 7293–7314, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-7293-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-7293-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we show how sparse and noisy drone measurements can be combined with an ensemble of turbulence-resolving wind simulations to estimate uncertainty-aware surface energy exchange. We demonstrate the feasibility of this drone data assimilation framework in a series of synthetic and real-world experiments. This new framework can, in future, be applied to estimate energy and gas exchange in heterogeneous landscapes more representatively than conventional methods.
Juri Palmtag, Jaroslav Obu, Peter Kuhry, Andreas Richter, Matthias B. Siewert, Niels Weiss, Sebastian Westermann, and Gustaf Hugelius
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 4095–4110, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-4095-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-4095-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The northern permafrost region covers 22 % of the Northern Hemisphere and holds almost twice as much carbon as the atmosphere. This paper presents data from 651 soil pedons encompassing more than 6500 samples from 16 different study areas across the northern permafrost region. We use this dataset together with ESA's global land cover dataset to estimate soil organic carbon and total nitrogen storage up to 300 cm soil depth, with estimated values of 813 Pg for carbon and 55 Pg for nitrogen.
Leah A. Jackson-Blake, François Clayer, Sigrid Haande, James E. Sample, and S. Jannicke Moe
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 3103–3124, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3103-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-3103-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We develop a Gaussian Bayesian network (GBN) for seasonal forecasting of lake water quality and algal bloom risk in a nutrient-impacted lake in southern Norway. Bayesian networks are powerful tools for environmental modelling but are almost exclusively discrete. We demonstrate that a continuous GBN is a promising alternative approach. Predictive performance of the GBN was similar or improved compared to a discrete network, and it was substantially less time-consuming and subjective to develop.
Noah D. Smith, Eleanor J. Burke, Kjetil Schanke Aas, Inge H. J. Althuizen, Julia Boike, Casper Tai Christiansen, Bernd Etzelmüller, Thomas Friborg, Hanna Lee, Heather Rumbold, Rachael H. Turton, Sebastian Westermann, and Sarah E. Chadburn
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 3603–3639, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-3603-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-3603-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The Arctic has large areas of small mounds that are caused by ice lifting up the soil. Snow blown by wind gathers in hollows next to these mounds, insulating them in winter. The hollows tend to be wetter, and thus the soil absorbs more heat in summer. The warm wet soil in the hollows decomposes, releasing methane. We have made a model of this, and we have tested how it behaves and whether it looks like sites in Scandinavia and Siberia. Sometimes we get more methane than a model without mounds.
Leah A. Jackson-Blake, François Clayer, Elvira de Eyto, Andrew S. French, María Dolores Frías, Daniel Mercado-Bettín, Tadhg Moore, Laura Puértolas, Russell Poole, Karsten Rinke, Muhammed Shikhani, Leon van der Linden, and Rafael Marcé
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1389–1406, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1389-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1389-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We explore, together with stakeholders, whether seasonal forecasting of water quantity, quality, and ecology can help support water management at five case study sites, primarily in Europe. Reliable forecasting, a season in advance, has huge potential to improve decision-making. However, managers were reluctant to use the forecasts operationally. Key barriers were uncertainty and often poor historic performance. The importance of practical hands-on experience was also highlighted.
Sarah E. Chadburn, Eleanor J. Burke, Angela V. Gallego-Sala, Noah D. Smith, M. Syndonia Bret-Harte, Dan J. Charman, Julia Drewer, Colin W. Edgar, Eugenie S. Euskirchen, Krzysztof Fortuniak, Yao Gao, Mahdi Nakhavali, Włodzimierz Pawlak, Edward A. G. Schuur, and Sebastian Westermann
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 1633–1657, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-1633-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-1633-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We present a new method to include peatlands in an Earth system model (ESM). Peatlands store huge amounts of carbon that accumulates very slowly but that can be rapidly destabilised, emitting greenhouse gases. Our model captures the dynamic nature of peat by simulating the change in surface height and physical properties of the soil as carbon is added or decomposed. Thus, we model, for the first time in an ESM, peat dynamics and its threshold behaviours that can lead to destabilisation.
Bernd Etzelmüller, Justyna Czekirda, Florence Magnin, Pierre-Allain Duvillard, Ludovic Ravanel, Emanuelle Malet, Andreas Aspaas, Lene Kristensen, Ingrid Skrede, Gudrun D. Majala, Benjamin Jacobs, Johannes Leinauer, Christian Hauck, Christin Hilbich, Martina Böhme, Reginald Hermanns, Harald Ø. Eriksen, Tom Rune Lauknes, Michael Krautblatter, and Sebastian Westermann
Earth Surf. Dynam., 10, 97–129, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-97-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-97-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This paper is a multi-authored study documenting the possible existence of permafrost in permanently monitored rockslides in Norway for the first time by combining a multitude of field data, including geophysical surveys in rock walls. The paper discusses the possible role of thermal regime and rockslide movement, and it evaluates the possible impact of atmospheric warming on rockslide dynamics in Norwegian mountains.
Léo C. P. Martin, Jan Nitzbon, Johanna Scheer, Kjetil S. Aas, Trond Eiken, Moritz Langer, Simon Filhol, Bernd Etzelmüller, and Sebastian Westermann
The Cryosphere, 15, 3423–3442, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3423-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3423-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
It is important to understand how permafrost landscapes respond to climate changes because their thaw can contribute to global warming. We investigate how a common permafrost morphology degrades using both field observations of the surface elevation and numerical modeling. We show that numerical models accounting for topographic changes related to permafrost degradation can reproduce the observed changes in nature and help us understand how parameters such as snow influence this phenomenon.
Juditha Undine Schmidt, Bernd Etzelmüller, Thomas Vikhamar Schuler, Florence Magnin, Julia Boike, Moritz Langer, and Sebastian Westermann
The Cryosphere, 15, 2491–2509, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2491-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2491-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents rock surface temperatures (RSTs) of steep high-Arctic rock walls on Svalbard from 2016 to 2020. The field data show that coastal cliffs are characterized by warmer RSTs than inland locations during winter seasons. By running model simulations, we analyze factors leading to that effect, calculate the surface energy balance and simulate different future scenarios. Both field data and model results can contribute to a further understanding of RST in high-Arctic rock walls.
Thomas Schneider von Deimling, Hanna Lee, Thomas Ingeman-Nielsen, Sebastian Westermann, Vladimir Romanovsky, Scott Lamoureux, Donald A. Walker, Sarah Chadburn, Erin Trochim, Lei Cai, Jan Nitzbon, Stephan Jacobi, and Moritz Langer
The Cryosphere, 15, 2451–2471, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2451-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2451-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Climate warming puts infrastructure built on permafrost at risk of failure. There is a growing need for appropriate model-based risk assessments. Here we present a modelling study and show an exemplary case of how a gravel road in a cold permafrost environment in Alaska might suffer from degrading permafrost under a scenario of intense climate warming. We use this case study to discuss the broader-scale applicability of our model for simulating future Arctic infrastructure failure.
Jan Nitzbon, Moritz Langer, Léo C. P. Martin, Sebastian Westermann, Thomas Schneider von Deimling, and Julia Boike
The Cryosphere, 15, 1399–1422, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1399-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1399-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We used a numerical model to investigate how small-scale landscape heterogeneities affect permafrost thaw under climate-warming scenarios. Our results show that representing small-scale heterogeneities in the model can decide whether a landscape is water-logged or well-drained in the future. This in turn affects how fast permafrost thaws under warming. Our research emphasizes the importance of considering small-scale processes in model assessments of permafrost thaw under climate change.
Simone Maria Stuenzi, Julia Boike, William Cable, Ulrike Herzschuh, Stefan Kruse, Luidmila A. Pestryakova, Thomas Schneider von Deimling, Sebastian Westermann, Evgenii S. Zakharov, and Moritz Langer
Biogeosciences, 18, 343–365, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-343-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-343-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Boreal forests in eastern Siberia are an essential component of global climate patterns. We use a physically based model and field measurements to study the interactions between forests, permanently frozen ground and the atmosphere. We find that forests exert a strong control on the thermal state of permafrost through changing snow cover dynamics and altering the surface energy balance, through absorbing most of the incoming solar radiation and suppressing below-canopy turbulent fluxes.
Lei Cai, Hanna Lee, Kjetil Schanke Aas, and Sebastian Westermann
The Cryosphere, 14, 4611–4626, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4611-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4611-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
A sub-grid representation of excess ground ice in the Community Land Model (CLM) is developed as novel progress in modeling permafrost thaw and its impacts under the warming climate. The modeled permafrost degradation with sub-grid excess ice follows the pathway that continuous permafrost transforms into discontinuous permafrost before it disappears, including surface subsidence and talik formation, which are highly permafrost-relevant landscape changes excluded from most land models.
François Clayer, Yves Gélinas, André Tessier, and Charles Gobeil
Biogeosciences, 17, 4571–4589, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4571-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4571-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Here, we quantified the sediment production of methane and carbon dioxide in lake sediments to better characterize the nature of the organic matter at the origin of these two greenhouse gases. We demonstrate that the production of these gases is not adequately represented in models for deep lake sediments. We thus propose to improve the representation of organic matter degradation reactions in current models for improving predictions of greenhouse gas cycling in aquatic sediments.
Cited articles
Åberg, J. and Wallin, M. B.: Evaluating a fast headspace method for measuring DIC and subsequent calculation of pCO2 in freshwater systems, Inland Waters, 4, 157–166, https://doi.org/10.5268/IW-4.2.694, 2014.
Abnizova, A., Siemens, J., Langer, M., and Boike, J.: Small ponds with major impact: The relevance of ponds and lakes in permafrost landscapes to carbon dioxide emissions, Global Biogeochem. Cy., 26, GB2041, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GB004237, 2012.
Alewell, C., Giesler, R., Klaminder, J., Leifeld, J., and Rollog, M.: Stable carbon isotopes as indicators for environmental change in palsa peats, Biogeosciences, 8, 1769–1778, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-8-1769-2011, 2011.
Allesson, L., Valiente, N., Dorsch, P., Andersen, T., Eiler, A., and Hessen, D. O.: Drivers and variability of CO2 : O2 saturation along a gradient from boreal to Arctic lakes, Sci. Rep., 12, 18989, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23705-9, 2022.
Arsenault, J., Talbot, J., Brown, L. E., Holden, J., Martinez-Cruz, K., Sepulveda-Juaregui, A., Swindles, G. T., Wauthy, M., and Lapierre, J.: Biogeochemical distinctiveness of peatland ponds, thermokarst waterbodies, and lakes, Geophys. Res. Lett., 49, e2021GL097492, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097492, 2022.
Bansal, S., Post van der Burg, M., Fern, R. R., Jones, J. W., Lo, R., McKenna, O. P., Tangen, B. A., Zhang, Z., and Gleason, R. A.: Large increases in methane emissions expected from North America's largest wetland complex, Sci. Adv., 9, eade1112, https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ade1112, 2023.
Bastviken, D., Cole, J., Pace, M., and Tranvik, L.: Methane emissions from lakes: Dependence of lake characteristics, two regional assessments, and a global estimate, Global Biogeochem. Cy., 18, GB4009, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GB002238, 2004.
Bastviken, D., Sundgren, I., Natchimuthu, S., Reyier, H., and Gålfalk, M.: Cost-efficient approaches to measure carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes and concentrations in terrestrial and aquatic environments using mini loggers, Biogeosciences, 12, 3849–3859, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-3849-2015, 2015.
Borge, A. F., Westermann, S., Solheim, I., and Etzelmüller, B.: Strong degradation of palsas and peat plateaus in northern Norway during the last 60 years, The Cryosphere, 11, 1–16, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1-2017, 2017.
Boudreau, B. P. and Ruddick, B. R.: On a reactive continuum representation of organic matter diagenesis, Am. J. Sci., 291, 507–538, 1991.
Campeau, A. and Del Giorgio, P. A.: Patterns in CH4 and CO2 concentrations across boreal rivers: Major drivers and implications for fluvial greenhouse emissions under climate change scenarios, Glob. Change Biol., 20, 1075–1088, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12479, 2014.
Catalán, N., Marcé, R., Kothawala, D. N., and Tranvik, L. J.: Organic carbon decomposition rates controlled by water retention time across inland waters, Nat. Geosci., 9, 501–504, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2720, 2016.
Clayer, F., Gobeil, C., and Tessier, A.: Rates and pathways of sedimentary organic matter mineralization in two basins of a boreal lake: Emphasis on methanogenesis and methanotrophy, Limnol. Oceanogr., 61, S131–S149, https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.10323, 2016.
Crevecoeur, S., Vincent, W. F., Comte, J., Matveev, A., and Lovejoy, C.: Diversity and potential activity of methanotrophs in high methane-emitting permafrost thaw ponds, PLoS ONE, 12, e0188223, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0188223, 2017.
de Wit, H. A., Austnes, K., Hylen, G., and Dalsgaard, L.: A Carbon Balance of Norway: Terrestrial and Aquatic Carbon Fluxes, Biogeochemistry, 123, 317–342, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-014-0060-5, 2015.
Duvert, C., Butman, D. E., Marx, A., Ribolzi, O., and Hutley, L. B.: CO2 Evasion Along Streams Driven by Groundwater Inputs and Geomorphic Controls, Nat. Geosci., 11, 813–818, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0245-y, 2018.
Elder, C. D., Thompson, D. R., Thorpe, A. K., Chandanpurkar, H. A., Hanke, P. J., Hasson, N., James, S. R., Minsley, B. J., Pastick, N. J., Olefeldt, D., Walter Anthony, K. M., and Miller, C. E.: Characterizing Methane Emission Hotspots From Thawing Permafrost, Global Biogeochem. Cy., 35, e2020GB006922, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GB006922, 2021.
Frey, K. E. and McClelland, J. W.: Impacts of permafrost degradation on arctic river biogeochemistry, Hydrol. Process., 23, 169–182, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7196, 2009.
Frey, K. E., McClelland, J. W., Holmes, R. M., and Smith, L. C.: Impacts of Climate Warming and Permafrost Thaw on the Riverine Transport of Nitrogen and Phosphorus to the Kara Sea, J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeo., 112, G04S58, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JG000369, 2007.
Gisnås, K., Etzelmüller, B., Lussana, C., Hjort, J., Sannel, A. B. K., Isaksen, K., Westermann, S., Kuhry, P., Christiansen, H. H., Frampton, A., and Åkerman, J.: Permafrost Map for Norway, Sweden, and Finland, Permafr. Periglac. Process., 28, 359–378, https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.1922, 2017.
Gundersen, C. B., Velasco, M. T., Velle, G., Rogora, M., Hawley, K. L., Fölster, J., Nygren, I., Vogt, R. D., Kolado, A., Pasztaleniec, A., and Bryntesen, T.: ICP Waters Programme Manual, NIVA-rapport, https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3178113 (last access: 20 March 2025), 2025.
Heiskanen, L., Tuovinen, J.-P., Vekuri, H., Räsänen, A., Virtanen, T., Juutinen, S., Lohila, A., Mikola, J., and Aurela, M.: Meteorological responses of carbon dioxide and methane fluxes in the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of a subarctic landscape, Biogeosciences, 20, 545–572, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-545-2023, 2023.
Holgerson, M. A. and Raymond, P. A.: Large contribution to inland water CO2 and CH4 emissions from very small ponds, Nat. Geosci., 9, 222–226, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2654, 2016.
Holmes, M. E., Crill, P. M., Burnett, W. C., McCalley, C. K., Wilson, R. M., Frolking, S., Chang, K. Y., Riley, W. J., Varner, R. K., Hodgkins, S. B., McNichol, A. P., Saleska, S. R., Rich, V. I., and Chanton, J. P.: Carbon Accumulation, Flux, and Fate in Stordalen Mire, a Permafrost Peatland in Transition, Global Biogeochem. Cy., 36, e2021GB007113, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GB007113, 2022.
Hugelius, G., Strauss, J., Zubrzycki, S., Harden, J. W., Schuur, E. A. G., Ping, C. L., Schirrmeister, L., Grosse, G., Michaelson, G. J., Koven, C. D., O'Donnell, J. A., Elberling, B., Mishra, U., Camill, P., Yu, Z., Palmtag, J., and Kuhry, P.: Estimated stocks of circumpolar permafrost carbon with quantified uncertainty ranges and identified data gaps, Biogeosciences, 11, 6573–6593, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-6573-2014, 2014.
Hugelius, G., Loisel, J., Chadburn, S., Jackson, R. B., Jones, M., Macdonald, G., Marushchak, M., Olefeldt, D., Packalen, M., Siewert, M. B., Treat, C., Turetsky, M., Voigt, C., and Yu, Z.: Large stocks of peatland carbon and nitrogen are vulnerable to permafrost thaw, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 117, 20438–20446, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1916387117, 2020.
in 't Zandt, M. H., Liebner, S., and Welte, C. U.: Roles of Thermokarst Lakes in a Warming World, Trends Microbiol., 28, 769–779, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2020.04.002, 2020.
Kankaala, P., Huotari, J., Tulonen, T., and Ojala, A.: Lake-size dependent physical forcing drives carbon dioxide and methane effluxes from lakes in a boreal landscape, Limnol. Oceanogr., 58, 1915–1930, https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.2013.58.6.1915, 2013.
Kjær, S. T., Westermann, S., Nedkvitne, N., and Dörsch, P.: Carbon degradation and mobilisation potentials of thawing permafrost peatlands in northern Norway inferred from laboratory incubations, Biogeosciences, 21, 4723–4737, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4723-2024, 2024.
Kjellman, S. E., Axelsson, P. E., Etzelmüller, B., Westermann, S., and Sannel, A. B. K.: Holocene development of subarctic permafrost peatlands in Finnmark, northern Norway, Holocene, 28, 1855–1869, https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683618798126, 2018.
Knutson, J., Clayer, F., Dörsch, P., Westermann, S., and de Wit, H.: Dataset for “Water chemistry and greenhouse gas concentrations in waterbodies of a thawing permafrost peatland complex in northern Norway” Knutson et al., HydroShare [data set], https://doi.org/10.4211/hs.41faf3d6c3f245259ea820740291789c, 2025.
Krutskikh, N., Ryazantsev, P., Ignashov, P., and Kabonen, A.: The Spatial Analysis of Vegetation Cover and Permafrost Degradation for a Subarctic Palsa Mire Based on UAS Photogrammetry and GPR Data in the Kola Peninsula, Remote Sens., 15, 1896, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15071896, 2023.
Krüger, J. P., Conen, F., Leifeld, J., and Alewell, C.: Palsa Uplift Identified by Stable Isotope Depth Profiles and Relation of δ15N to C
Kuhn, M., Lundin, E. J., Giesler, R., Johansson, M., and Karlsson, J.: Emissions from thaw ponds largely offset the carbon sink of northern permafrost wetlands, Sci. Rep., 8, 9535, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-27770-x, 2018.
Laurion, I., Massicotte, P., Mazoyer, F., Negandhi, K., and Mladenov, N.: Weak mineralization despite strong processing of dissolved organic matter in Eastern Arctic tundra ponds, Limnol. Oceanogr., 66, S47–S63, https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11634, 2020.
Lehmann, N., Lantuit, H., Böttcher, M. E., and Hartmann, J.: Alkalinity Generation from Carbonate Weathering in a Silicate-Dominated Headwater Catchment at Iskorasfjellet, Northern Norway, Biogeosciences, 20, 3459–3478, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3459-2023, 2023.
Leppiniemi, O., Karjalainen, O., Aalto, J., Luoto, M., and Hjort, J.: Environmental spaces for palsas and peat plateaus are disappearing at a circumpolar scale, The Cryosphere, 17, 3157–3176, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3157-2023, 2023.
Lundin, E. J., Giesler, R., Persson, A., Thompson, M. S., and Karlsson, J.: Integrating carbon emissions from lakes and streams in a subarctic catchment, J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeo., 118, 1200–1207, https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrg.20092, 2013.
Martin, L. C. P., Nitzbon, J., Aas, K. S., Etzelmüller, B., Kristiansen, H., and Westermann, S.: Stability Conditions of Peat Plateaus and Palsas in Northern Norway, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 124, 705–719, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JF004945, 2019.
Martin, L. C. P., Nitzbon, J., Scheer, J., Aas, K. S., Eiken, T., Langer, M., Filhol, S., Etzelmüller, B., and Westermann, S.: Lateral thermokarst patterns in permafrost peat plateaus in northern Norway, The Cryosphere, 15, 3423–3442, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3423-2021, 2021.
Matveev, A., Laurion, I., and Vincent, W. F.: Methane and carbon dioxide emissions from thermokarst lakes on mineral soils, Arct. Sci., 4, 584–604, https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2017-0047, 2018.
Meredith, M., Sommerkorn, M., Cassotta, S., Derksen, C., Ekaykin, A., Hollowed, A., Kofinas, G., Mackintosh, A., Melbourne-Thomas, J., Muelbert, M. M. C., Ottersen, G., Pritchard, H., and Schuur, E. A. G.: Polar Regions, in: IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, United States National Marine Fisheries Service, United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/27411 (last access: 27 February 2025), 2019.
Mostovaya, A., Hawkes, J. A., Dittmar, T., and Tranvik, L. J.: Molecular Determinants of Dissolved Organic Matter Reactivity in Lake Water, Front. Earth Sci., 5, 106, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2017.00106, 2017.
Muster, S., Roth, K., Langer, M., Lange, S., Cresto Aleina, F., Bartsch, A., Morgenstern, A., Grosse, G., Jones, B., Sannel, A. B. K., Sjöberg, Y., Günther, F., Andresen, C., Veremeeva, A., Lindgren, P. R., Bouchard, F., Lara, M. J., Fortier, D., Charbonneau, S., Virtanen, T. A., Hugelius, G., Palmtag, J., Siewert, M. B., Riley, W. J., Koven, C. D., and Boike, J.: PeRL: A Circum-Arctic Permafrost Region Pond and Lake Database, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 9, 317–348, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-9-317-2017, 2017.
Muster, S., Riley, W. J., Roth, K., Langer, M., Cresto Aleina, F., Koven, C. D., Lange, S., Bartsch, A., Grosse, G., Wilson, C. J., Jones, B. M., and Boike, J.: Size Distributions of Arctic Waterbodies Reveal Consistent Relations in Their Statistical Moments in Space and Time, Front. Earth Sci., 7, 5, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00005, 2019.
Norgeibilder: Flybilder, http://norgeibilder.no, last access: 21 December 2024.
Olefeldt, D., Heffernan, L., Jones, M. C., Sannel, A. B. K., Treat, C. C., and Turetsky, M. R.: Permafrost Thaw in Northern Peatlands: Rapid Changes in Ecosystem and Landscape Functions, in: Ecosystem Collapse and Climate Change, edited by: Canadell, J. G. and Jackson, R. B., Ecological Studies, Vol 241, Springer, Cham, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71330-0_3, 2021.
Olefeldt, D. and Roulet, N. T.: Permafrost Conditions in Peatlands Regulate Magnitude, Timing, and Chemical Composition of Catchment Dissolved Organic Carbon Export, Glob. Change Biol., 20, 3122–3136, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12607, 2014.
Payette, S., Delwaide, A., Caccianiga, M., and Beauchemin, M.: Accelerated Thawing of Subarctic Peatland Permafrost over the Last 50 Years, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L18208, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL020358, 2004.
Pirk, N., Aalstad, K., Mannerfelt, E. S., Clayer, F., de Wit, H., Christiansen, C. T., Althuizen, I., Lee, H., and Westermann, S.: Disaggregating the Carbon Exchange of Degrading Permafrost Peatlands Using Bayesian Deep Learning, Geophys. Res. Lett., 51, e2024GL109283, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109283, 2024.
Polishchuk, Y. M., Bogdanov, A. N., Muratov, I. N., Polishchuk, V. Y., Lim, A., Manasypov, R. M., Shirokova, L. S., and Pokrovsky, O. S.: Minor Contribution of Small Thaw Ponds to the Pools of Carbon and Methane in the Inland Waters of the Permafrost-Affected Part of the Western Siberian Lowland, Environ. Res. Lett., 13, 045002, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aab046, 2018.
R Core Team: R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria, https://www.R-project.org/ (last access: 27 May 2025), 2021.
Raymond, P. A., Hartmann, J., Lauerwald, R., Sobek, S., McDonald, C., Hoover, M., Butman, D., Striegl, R., Mayorga, E., Humborg, C., Kortelainen, P., Dürr, H., Meybeck, M., Ciais, P., and Guth, P.: Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Inland Waters, Nature, 503, 355–359, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12760, 2013.
Sannel, A. B. K. and Kuhry, P.: Warming-Induced Destabilization of Peat Plateau/Thermokarst Lake Complexes, J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeo., 116, G03035, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JG001635, 2011.
Schelker, J., Singer, G. A., Ulseth, A. J., Hengsberger, S., and Battin, T. J.: CO2 Evasion from a Steep, High Gradient Stream Network: Importance of Seasonal and Diurnal Variation in Aquatic pCO2 and Gas Transfer, Limnol. Oceanogr., 61, 1826–1838, https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.10339, 2016.
Schuur, E. A. G., Bockheim, J., Canadell, J. G., Euskirchen, E., Field, C. B., Goryachkin, S. V., Hagemann, S., Kuhry, P., Lafleur, P. M., Lee, H., Mazhitova, G., Nelson, F. E., Rinke, A., Romanovsky, V. E., Shiklomanov, N., Tarnocai, C., Venevsky, S., Vogel, J. G., and Zimov, S. A.: Vulnerability of Permafrost Carbon to Climate Change: Implications for the Global Carbon Cycle, Bioscience, 58, 701–714, https://doi.org/10.1641/B580807, 2008.
Schuur, E. A. G., McGuire, A. D., Schädel, C., Grosse, G., Harden, J. W., Hayes, D. J., Hugelius, G., Koven, C. D., Kuhry, P., Lawrence, D. M., Natali, S. M., Olefeldt, D., Romanovsky, V. E., Schaefer, K., Turetsky, M. R., Treat, C. C., and Vonk, J. E.: Climate Change and the Permafrost Carbon Feedback, Nature, 520, 171–179, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14338, 2015.
Schuur, E. A., Abbott, B. W., Commane, R., Ernakovich, J., Euskirchen, E., Hugelius, G., Grosse, G., Jones, M., Koven, C., Leshyk, V., and Lawrence, D.: Permafrost and climate change: Carbon cycle feedbacks from the warming Arctic, Annu. Rev. Environ. Res., 47, 343–371, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-012220-011847, 2022.
Segers, R.: Methane Production and Methane Consumption: A Review of Processes Underlying Wetland Methane Fluxes, Biogeochemistry, 41, 23–51, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005929032764, 1998.
SeNorge: Norges vassdragsog energidirektorat, Norsk, https://www.senorge.no/ (last access: 22 November 2024), 2023.
Shirokova, L. S., Pokrovsky, O. S., Kirpotin, S. N., Desmukh, C., Pokrovsky, B. G., Audry, S., and Viers, J.: Biogeochemistry of organic carbon, CO2, CH4, and trace elements in thermokarst water bodies in discontinuous permafrost zones of Western Siberia, Biogeochemistry, 113, 573–593, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-012-9790-4, 2012.
Shirokova, L. S., Chupakov, A. V., Zabelina, S. A., Neverova, N. V., Payandi-Rolland, D., Causserand, C., Karlsson, J., and Pokrovsky, O. S.: Humic surface waters of frozen peat bogs (permafrost zone) are highly resistant to bio- and photodegradation, Biogeosciences, 16, 2511–2526, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-2511-2019, 2019.
Sim, T. G., Swindles, G. T., Morris, P. J., Baird, A. J., Cooper, C. L., Gallego-Sala, A. V., Charman, D. J., Roland, T. P., Borken, W., Mullan, D. J., Aquino-López, M. A., and Gałka, M.: Divergent responses of permafrost peatlands to recent climate change, Environ. Res. Lett., 16, 035003, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abe00b, 2021.
Sollid, J. L., Andersen, S., Hamre, N., Kjeldsen, O., Salvigsen, O., Sturød, S., Tveitå, T., and Wilhelmsen, A.: Deglaciation of Finnmark, North Norway, Norsk Geografisk Tidsskr., 27, 233–325, https://doi.org/10.1080/00291957308551960, 1973.
Strauss, J., Fuchs, M., Hugelius, G., Miesner, F., Nitze, I., Opfergelt, S., Schuur, E., Treat, C., Turetsky, M., Yang, Y., and Grosse, G.: Organic matter storage and vulnerability in the permafrost domain, in: Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science, edited by: Elias, S., 3rd Edn., Elsevier, 399–410, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99931-1.00164-1, 2025.
Stumm, W. and Morgan, J. J.: Aquatic Chemistry: Chemical Equilibria and Rates in Natural Waters, 3rd Edn., Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1040 pp., ISBN 978-0-471-51185-4, 1995.
Swindles, G. T., Morris, P. J., Mullan, D., Watson, E. J., Turner, T. E., Roland, T. P., Amesbury, M. J., Kokfelt, U., Schoning, K., Pratte, S., Gallego-Sala, A., Charman, D. J., Sanderson, N., Garneau, M., Carrivick, J. L., Woulds, C., Holden, J., Parry, L., and Galloway, J. M.: The long-term fate of permafrost peatlands under rapid climate warming, Sci. Rep., 5, 17951, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep17951, 2015.
Thrane, J.-E., de Wit, H., Blakseth, T. A., Skancke, L. B., and Garmo, Ø. A.: Correcting for bias in freshwater total nitrogen concentrations obtained with a modified standard (NS4743) 35 method, NIVA-rapport, ISBN 978-82-577-7273-4, 2020.
Turetsky, M. R., Abbott, B. W., Jones, M. C., Anthony, K. W., Olefeldt, D., Schuur, E. A. G., Grosse, G., Kuhry, P., Hugelius, G., Koven, C., Lawrence, D. M., Gibson, C., Sannel, A. B. K., and McGuire, A. D.: Carbon release through abrupt permafrost thaw, Nat. Geosci., 13, 138–143, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-019-0526-0, 2020.
Valiente, N., Eiler, A., Allesson, L., Andersen, T., Clayer, F., Crapart, C., Dörsch, P., Fontaine, L., Heuschele, J., Vogt, R. D., Wei, J., de Wit, H. A., and Hessen, D. O.: Catchment properties as predictors of greenhouse gas concentrations across a gradient of boreal lakes, Front. Environ. Sci., 10, 880619, https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.880619, 2022.
Verdonen, M., Störmer, A., Lotsari, E., Korpelainen, P., Burkhard, B., Colpaert, A., and Kumpula, T.: Permafrost degradation at two monitored palsa mires in north-west Finland, The Cryosphere, 17, 1803–1819, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1803-2023, 2023.
Vigneron, A., Cruaud, P., Bhiry, N., Lovejoy, C., and Vincent, W. F.: Microbial community structure and methane cycling potential along a thermokarst pond-peatland continuum, Microorganisms, 7, 1–16, https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7110486, 2019.
Vonk, J. E., Tank, S. E., Bowden, W. B., Laurion, I., Vincent, W. F., Alekseychik, P., Amyot, M., Billet, M. F., Canário, J., Cory, R. M., Deshpande, B. N., Helbig, M., Jammet, M., Karlsson, J., Larouche, J., MacMillan, G., Rautio, M., Walter Anthony, K. M., and Wickland, K. P.: Reviews and syntheses: Effects of permafrost thaw on Arctic aquatic ecosystems, Biogeosciences, 12, 7129–7167, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-7129-2015, 2015.
Vähätalo, A. V., Aarnos, H., and Mäntyniemi, S.: Biodegradability continuum and biodegradation kinetics of natural organic matter described by the beta distribution, Biogeochemistry, 100, 227–240, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-010-9419-4, 2010.
Wallin, M. B., Campeau, A., Audet, J., Bastviken, D., Bishop, K., Kokic, J., Laudon, H., Lundin, E., Löfgren, S., Natchimuthu, S., Sobek, S., Teutschbein, C., Weyhenmeyer, G. A., and Grabs, T.: Carbon dioxide and methane emissions of Swedish low-order streams: A national estimate and lessons learnt from more than a decade of observations, Limnol. Oceanogr. Lett., 3, 156–167, https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10061, 2018.
Walter, K. M., Zimov, S. A., Chanton, J. P., Verbyla, D., and Chapin, F. S.: Methane bubbling from Siberian thaw lakes as a positive feedback to climate warming, Nature, 443, 71–75, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05040, 2006.
Walter, K. M., Chanton, J. P., Chapin, F. S. III, Schuur, E. A. G., and Zimov, S. A.: Methane production and bubble emissions from arctic lakes: Isotopic implications for source pathways and ages, J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeo., 113, G03001, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JG000569, 2008.
Ward, C. P. and Cory, R. M.: Chemical composition of dissolved organic matter draining permafrost soils, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 167, 63–79, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2015.07.001, 2015.
Westrich, J. T. and Berner, R. A.: The role of sedimentary organic matter in bacterial sulfate reduction: The G model tested, Limnol. Oceanogr., 29, 236–249, https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1984.29.2.0236, 1984.
Wickham, H.: ggplot2: Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis, Springer-Verlag New York, ISBN 978-3-319-24277-4, https://ggplot2.tidyverse.org (last access: 29 April 2025), 2016.
Wik, M., Varner, R. K., Anthony, K. W., MacIntyre, S., and Bastviken, D.: Climate-sensitive northern lakes and ponds are critical components of methane release, Nat. Geosci., 9, 99–105, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2578, 2016.
Wilhelm, E., Battino, R., and Wilcock, R. J.: Low-pressure solubility of gases in liquid water, Chem. Rev., 77, 219–262, https://doi.org/10.1021/cr60306a003, 1977.
Winterdahl, M., Wallin, M. B., Karlsen, R. H., Laudon, H., Öquist, M., and Lyon, S. W.: Decoupling of carbon dioxide and dissolved organic carbon in boreal headwater streams, J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeo., 121, 2630–2651, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JG003420, 2016.
Yang, H., Andersen, T., Dörsch, P., Tominaga, K., Thrane, J.-E., and Hessen, D. O.: Greenhouse gas metabolism in Nordic boreal lakes, Biogeochemistry, 126, 211–225, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-015-0154-8, 2015.
Zimov, S. A., Davydov, S. P., Zimova, G. M., Davydova, A. I., Schuur, E. A. G., Dutta, K., and Chapin, F. S. III: Permafrost carbon: Stock and decomposability of a globally significant carbon pool, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L20502, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006GL027484, 2006.
Zolkos, S. and Tank, S. E.: Experimental evidence that permafrost thaw history and mineral composition shape abiotic carbon cycling in thermokarst-affected stream networks, Front. Earth Sci., 8, 1–11, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00152, 2020.
Zolkos, S., Tank, S. E., Striegl, R. G., and Kokelj, S. V.: Thermokarst effects on carbon dioxide and methane fluxes in streams on the Peel Plateau (NWT, Canada), J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeo., 124, 1781–1798, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JG005038, 2019.
Short summary
Thawing permafrost at Iškoras in northern Norway is transforming peat plateaus into thermokarst ponds and wetlands. These small ponds show striking oversaturation of dissolved greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), partly owing to organic matter processing. Streams nearby emit CO2, driven by turbulence. As permafrost disappears, carbon dynamics will change, potentially increasing emissions of CH4. This study highlights the need to integrate these changes into climate models.
Thawing permafrost at Iškoras in northern Norway is transforming peat plateaus into thermokarst...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint