| 1. |
- Abbott, Benjamin W., et al.
(författare)
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Biomass offsets little or none of permafrost carbon release from soils, streams, and wildfire : an expert assessment
- 2016
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Ingår i: Environmental Research Letters. - : IOP Publishing. - 1748-9326. ; 11:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As the permafrost region warms, its large organic carbon pool will be increasingly vulnerable to decomposition, combustion, and hydrologic export. Models predict that some portion of this release will be offset by increased production of Arctic and boreal biomass; however, the lack of robust estimates of net carbon balance increases the risk of further overshooting international emissions targets. Precise empirical or model-based assessments of the critical factors driving carbon balance are unlikely in the near future, so to address this gap, we present estimates from 98 permafrost-region experts of the response of biomass, wildfire, and hydrologic carbon flux to climate change. Results suggest that contrary to model projections, total permafrost-region biomass could decrease due to water stress and disturbance, factors that are not adequately incorporated in current models. Assessments indicate that end-of-the-century organic carbon release from Arctic rivers and collapsing coastlines could increase by 75% while carbon loss via burning could increase four-fold. Experts identified water balance, shifts in vegetation community, and permafrost degradation as the key sources of uncertainty in predicting future system response. In combination with previous findings, results suggest the permafrost region will become a carbon source to the atmosphere by 2100 regardless of warming scenario but that 65%-85% of permafrost carbon release can still be avoided if human emissions are actively reduced.
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| 2. |
- Sannel, A. Britta K., 1968-
(författare)
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Holocene dynamics in subarctic peat plateaus of west-central Canada : Vegetation succession, peat accumulation and permafrost history
- 2007
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Dynamics in vegetation, permafrost and peat and net carbon accumulation rates throughout the Holocene have been studied in two subarctic peat plateaus of west-central Canada through plant macrofossil analysis, geochemical analyses and AMS radiocarbon dating. Peatland formation at the studied sites began around 6600-5900 cal yr BP as a result of paludification of upland forests. Permafrost aggradation probably occurred 5600-4500 cal yr BP when Sphagnum fuscum became established and rootlet layers started to appear. Alternating layers of Sphagnum fuscum and rootlet peat throughout most of the peat profiles are indicating relatively dry surface conditions, suggesting that permafrost conditions have remained stable since the peat plateau stages were initiated. Local fires have occurred in the peatlands, but most fires did not cause degradation of the permafrost. However, lower peat and net carbon accumulation rates are recorded from rootlet layers containing charcoal. The long-term peat and net carbon accumulation rates for both studied peat profiles are 0,30-0,31 mm/yr and 12,5-12,7 gC/m2yr. Accumulation rates are variable depending on peat plateau stage. Peat accumulation rates are in general 4-5 times higher in S. fuscum than in rootlet stages, and net carbon accumulation rates are 3-4 times higher. Therefore even though Sphagnum peat makes up a majority of the peat profile depth, rootlet peat stages can represent most of the time since the peatland was initiated. The gross stratigraphy and plant macrofossil analyses show that there have been no wet phases, indicating permafrost collapse, since the peat plateau stages were initiated. This suggests that subarctic peat plateaus with alternating Sphagnum fuscum and rootlet peat layers have been acting as long-term net carbon sinks, accumulating carbon which has been incorporated into the permafrost, throughout most of the Holocene. High and stable carbon/nitrogen ratios throughout most of the profiles suggest that decomposition has not occurred in the perennially frozen peat. Since the peat plateaus are characterized by no decay in the permafrost and dry surface conditions, methane emissions are negligible from these ecosystems. In a future warmer climate carbon that has been stored under permafrost conditions can be remobilized. The warming may cause drier surface conditions resulting in increased emissions of carbon dioxide or, alternatively, permafrost collapse resulting in wetter surface conditions and increased methane emissions.
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| 3. |
- Sannel, A. Britta K., et al.
(författare)
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Permafrost Warming in a Subarctic Peatland - Which Meteorological Controls are Most Important?
- 2016
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Ingår i: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes. - : Wiley. - 1045-6740 .- 1099-1530. ; 27:2, s. 177-188
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Because climate change can affect the carbon balance and hydrology in permafrost peatlands, a better understanding of their sensitivity to changes in temperature and precipitation is needed. In Tavvavuoma, northernmost Sweden, meteorological parameters and ground thermal properties have been monitored in a peat plateau from 2006 to 2013. During this time period, the air temperature record shows no warming trend, and the late-season thaw depth has been relatively stable at around 55-60cm. Meanwhile, the mean annual ground temperature at 1m depth has increased by 0.06 degrees C/yr and at 2-5m depth the permafrost is currently warmer than -0.3 degrees C. Statistical analyses suggest that interannual changes in thaw depth and ground temperatures are affected by different meteorological factors. Summer air temperatures and annual thawing degree-days control thaw depth (p0.05), whereas winter precipitation/snow depth affects ground temperatures (p0.1). The permafrost in this peat plateau is likely relict and not in equilibrium with current climatic conditions. Since the early 20(th) century, there has been a regional increase in air temperature and snow depth. If the ongoing permafrost warming in Tavvavuoma is a result of these long-term trends, short-term variability in meteorological parameters can still have an impact on the rate of permafrost degradation, but unless pronounced climate cooling occurs, thawing of the peat plateau is inevitable.
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| 4. |
- Sannel, A. Britta K., 1968-
(författare)
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Temporal and spatial dynamics in subarctic peat plateaus and thermokarst lakes
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Permafrost peatlands are widespread at high northern latitudes and are important soil organic carbon reservoirs. A future warming in these areas, as suggested by global climate models, can cause thawing and increased ground subsidence (thermokarst), resulting in changes in surface hydrology and ecosystem functioning. The aim of this thesis is to increase our knowledge of temporal and spatial dynamics in subarctic peat plateaus with interspersed thermokarst lakes in order to better understand how these ecosystems respond to climate change. Detailed plant macrofossil and carbon/nitrogen ratio analyses of two peat plateaus located in the continuous and northern discontinuous permafrost zones in west-central Canada show that permafrost conditions have been stable since permafrost developed around 5600–4500 cal yr BP. Peat plateaus act as carbon sinks over time. The lack of wet phases since the plateaus formed, despite several local fires, suggests that this type of peatlands have been negligible as methane sources throughout most of their history, representing a negative net radiative forcing on climate. Thermokarst lakes are common features in peat plateaus across the northern permafrost region. A time-series analysis of aerial photographs and high resolution satellite images in three peat plateau/thermokarst lake complexes along a climatic and permafrost gradient shows that where the mean annual air temperature (MAAT) is below -5ºC and ground temperatures are -2ºC or colder, only minor changes in thermokarst lake extent have occurred from the mid 1970s until the mid 2000s. During the same time interval extensive lake drainage and new lake formation has taken place where the MAAT is ca -3ºC and the ground temperature is close to 0ºC. In a future progressively warmer and wetter climate, permafrost degradation can cause significant impacts on landscape pattern and greenhouse gas exchange also in the vast peat plateaus presently experiencing stable permafrost conditions.
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| 5. |
- Stimmler, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Pan-Arctic soil element bioavailability estimations
- 2023
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Ingår i: Earth System Science Data. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1866-3508 .- 1866-3516. ; 15:3, s. 1059-1075
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Arctic soils store large amounts of organic carbon and other elements, such as amorphous silicon, silicon, calcium, iron, aluminum, and phosphorous. Global warming is projected to be most pronounced in the Arctic, leading to thawing permafrost which, in turn, changes the soil element availability. To project how biogeochemical cycling in Arctic ecosystems will be affected by climate change, there is a need for data on element availability. Here, we analyzed the amorphous silicon (ASi) content as a solid fraction of the soils as well as Mehlich III extractions for the bioavailability of silicon (Si), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), phosphorus (P), and aluminum (Al) from 574 soil samples from the circumpolar Arctic region. We show large differences in the ASi fraction and in Si, Ca, Fe, Al, and P availability among different lithologies and Arctic regions. We summarize these data in pan-Arctic maps of the ASi fraction and available Si, Ca, Fe, P, and Al concentrations, focusing on the top 100 cm of Arctic soil. Furthermore, we provide element availability values for the organic and mineral layers of the seasonally thawing active layer as well as for the uppermost permafrost layer. Our spatially explicit data on differences in the availability of elements between the different lithological classes and regions now and in the future will improve Arctic Earth system models for estimating current and future carbon and nutrient feedbacks under climate change (, Schaller and Goeckede, 2022).
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| 6. |
- Walker, Tony R., et al.
(författare)
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Multiple indicators of human impacts on the environment in the Pechora Basin, north-eastern European Russia
- 2009
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Ingår i: Ecological Indicators. - : Elsevier BV. - 1470-160X .- 1872-7034. ; 9:4, s. 765-779
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Pechora Region (PR) has extensive natural resources supporting forestry, oil and gas industries. The objective of this integrated study was to identify if local and long range pollution and biodiversity impacts were detectable on a regional scale using multi-indicators by selecting paired sites, close to industrial/forestry activities and in 'reference' areas (remote from any industrial centers, settlements or commercial activities). Chemistry of lichens, topsoil, lake water and sediments, plus diversity of lichens, birds and aquatic indicators along with landscape analysis were measured at eight sites in the PR to assess local impacts of oil/gas and forestry operations. Furthermore, an analysis of water and sediment chemistry was made at river stations and sites within the Pechora Delta. Local areas around industrial towns of Vorkuta and Usinsk showed increased pollution and decreased biodiversity. Among remote areas, subtle changes in pollution and biodiversity were detected close to oil/gas operations on the Kolva and Ortina Rivers, indicating early signs of environmental impact. Delta analyses showed limited impacts and most other sites remained unmodified reflecting low ecological impacts. Changes in forest landscape structure over large areas were apparently too small to cause significant negative impacts on bird diversity. This was the first attempt showing how multi-indicators can be used over broad spatial scales to assess environmental impacts in the PR.
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| 7. |
- Alfredsson, Hanna, et al.
(författare)
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Amorphous silica pools in permafrost soils of the Central Canadian Arctic and the potential impact of climate change
- 2015
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Ingår i: Biogeochemistry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0168-2563 .- 1573-515X. ; 124:1-3, s. 441-459
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigated the distribution, storage and landscape partitioning of soil amorphous silica (ASi) in a central Canadian region dominated by tundra and peatlands to provide a first estimate of the amount of ASi stored in Arctic permafrost ecosystems. We hypothesize that, similar to soil organic matter, Arctic soils store large amounts of ASi which may be affected by projected climate changes and associated changes in permafrost regimes. Average soil ASi storage (top 1 m) ranged between 9600 and 83,500 kg SiO2 ha(-1) among different land-cover types. Lichen tundra contained the lowest amounts of ASi while no significant differences were found in ASi storage among other land-cover types. Clear differences were observed between ASi storage allocated into the top organic versus the mineral horizon of soils. Bog peatlands, fen peatlands and wet shrub tundra stored between 7090 and 45,400 kg SiO2 ha(-1) in the top organic horizon, while the corresponding storage in lichen tundra, moist shrub- and dry shrub tundra only amounted to 1500-1760 kg SiO2 ha(-1). Diatoms and phytoliths are important components of ASi storage in the top organic horizon of peatlands and shrub tundra systems, while it appears to be a negligible component of ASi storage in the mineral horizon of shrub tundra classes. ASi concentrations decrease with depth in the soil profile for fen peatlands and all shrub tundra classes, suggesting recycling of ASi, whereas bog peatlands appeared to act as sinks retaining stored ASi on millennial time scales. Our results provide a conceptual framework to assess the potential effects of climate change impacts on terrestrial Si cycling in the Arctic. We believe that ASi stored in peatlands are particularly sensitive to climate change, because a larger fraction of the ASi pool is stored in perennially frozen ground compared to shrub tundra systems. A likely outcome of climate warming and permafrost thaw could be mobilization of previously frozen ASi, altered soil storage of biogenically derived ASi and an increased Si flux to the Arctic Ocean.
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| 8. |
- Alfredsson, H., et al.
(författare)
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Estimated storage of amorphous silica in soils of the circum-Arctic tundra region
- 2016
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Ingår i: Global Biogeochemical Cycles. - 0886-6236 .- 1944-9224. ; 30:3, s. 479-500
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigated the vertical distribution, storage, landscape partitioning, and spatial variability of soil amorphous silica (ASi) at four different sites underlain by continuous permafrost and representative of mountainous and lowland tundra, in the circum-Arctic region. Based on a larger set of data, we present the first estimate of the ASi soil reservoir (0-1 m depth) in circum-Arctic tundra terrain. At all sites, the vertical distribution of ASi concentrations followed the pattern of either (1) declining concentrations with depth (most common) or (2) increasing/maximum concentrations with depth. Our results suggest that a set of processes, including biological control, solifluction and other slope processes, cryoturbation, and formation of inorganic precipitates influence vertical distributions of ASi in permafrost terrain, with the capacity to retain stored ASi on millennial timescales. At the four study sites, areal ASi storage (0-1 m) is generally higher in graminoid tundra compared to wetlands. Our circum-Arctic upscaling estimates, based on both vegetation and soil classification separately, suggest a storage amounting to 219 ± 28 and 274 ± 33 Tmol Si, respectively, of which at least 30% is stored in permafrost. This estimate would account for about 3% of the global soil ASi storage while occupying an equal portion of the global land area. This result does not support the hypothesis that the circum-Arctic tundra soil ASi reservoir contains relatively higher amounts of ASi than other biomes globally as demonstrated for carbon. Nevertheless, climate warming has the potential to significantly alter ASi storage and terrestrial Si cycling in the Arctic.
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| 9. |
- Andersson, Rina Argelia, et al.
(författare)
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Elemental and isotopic carbon and itrogen records of organic matter accumulation in a Holocene permafrots peat sequence in the East European Russian Arctic
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A peat deposit from the East European Russian Arctic, spanning nearly 10,000 years, was investigated to reconstruct past environmental conditions and to study soil organic matter (SOM) degradation using analyses of bulk elemental and stable isotopic compositions and plant macrofossil remains. The peat accumulated initially in a wet fen that transformed into a peat plateau bog following aggradation of permafrost in the late Holocene (~2,500 cal a BP). Total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (N) concentrations are different in the bog peat compared to the fen peat, with lower values in the moss-dominated bog peat layers. Lower concentrations of total hydrogen (H) are associated with degraded vascular plant residues. The atomic ratios of bulk elemental parameters indicate better preservation of organic matter in peat deposits dominated by bryophytes relative to vascular plants. The presence of permafrost in the peat plateau stage and water-saturated conditions at the bottom of the fen stage appear to be associated with better preservation of organic plant material. δ15N values suggest N isotopic fractionation was driven primarily by microbial decomposition while differences in δ13C values appear to be associated mainly with changes in plant assemblages rather than diagenesis. Positive shifts in both δ15N and δ13C values coincide with a local change to drier conditions as a result of the onset of permafrost and frost heave of the peat surface. This pattern suggests that permafrost aggradation not only resulted in changes in vegetation but also aerated the underlying fen peat, which enhanced microbial denitrification, causing the observed 15N-enrichment.
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| 10. |
- Andersson, Rina Argelia, et al.
(författare)
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Elemental and isotopic carbon and nitrogen records of organic matter accumulation in a Holocene permafrost peat sequence in the East European Russian Arctic
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Quaternary Science. - : Wiley. - 0267-8179 .- 1099-1417. ; 27:6, s. 545-552
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A peat deposit from the East European Russian Arctic, spanning nearly 10 000 years, was investigated to study soil organic matter degradation using analyses of bulk elemental and stable isotopic compositions and plant macrofossil remains. The peat accumulated initially in a wet fen that was transformed into a peat plateau bog following aggradation of permafrost in the late Holocene (similar to 2500 cal a BP). Total organic carbon and total nitrogen (N) concentrations are higher in the fen peat than in the moss-dominated bog peat layers. Layers in the sequence that have lower concentrations of total hydrogen (H) are associated with degraded vascular plant residues. C/N and H/C atomic ratios indicate better preservation of organic matter in peat material dominated by bryophytes as opposed to vascular plants. The presence of permafrost in the peat plateau stage and water-saturated conditions at the bottom of the fen stage appear to lead to better preservation of organic plant material. delta 15N values suggest N isotopic fractionation was driven primarily by microbial decomposition whereas differences in delta 13C values appear to reflect mainly changes in plant assemblages. Positive shifts in both delta 15N and delta 13C values coincide with a local change to drier conditions as a result of the onset of permafrost and frost heave of the peat surface. This pattern suggests that permafrost aggradation not only resulted in changes in vegetation but also aerated the underlying fen peat, which enhanced microbial denitrification, causing the observed 15N-enrichment.
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