| 1. |
- Beer, Christian, et al.
(författare)
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Vertical pattern of organic matter decomposability in cryoturbated permafrost-affected soils
- 2022
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Ingår i: Environmental Research Letters. - : IOP Publishing. - 1748-9326. ; 17:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Permafrost thaw will release additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere resulting in a positive feedback to climate change. However, the mineralization dynamics of organic matter (OM) stored in permafrost-affected soils remain unclear. We used physical soil fractionation, radiocarbon measurements, incubation experiments, and a dynamic decomposition model to identify distinct vertical pattern in OM decomposability. The observed differences reflect the type of OM input to the subsoil, either by cryoturbation or otherwise, e.g. by advective water-borne transport of dissolved OM. In non-cryoturbated subsoil horizons, most OM is stabilized at mineral surfaces or by occlusion in aggregates. In contrast, pockets of OM-rich cryoturbated soil contain sufficient free particulate OM for microbial decomposition. After thaw, OM turnover is as fast as in the upper active layer. Since cryoturbated soils store ca. 450 Pg carbon, identifying differences in decomposability according to such translocation processes has large implications for the future global carbon cycle and climate, and directs further process model development.
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| 2. |
- Palmtag, Juri, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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A high spatial resolution soil carbon and nitrogen dataset for the northern permafrost region based on circumpolar land cover upscaling
- 2022
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Ingår i: Earth System Science Data. - : Copernicus Publications. - 1866-3508 .- 1866-3516. ; 14:9, s. 4095-4110
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Soils in the northern high latitudes are a key component in the global carbon cycle; the northern permafrost region covers 22% of the Northern Hemisphere land surface area and holds almost twice as much carbon as the atmosphere. Permafrost soil organic matter stocks represent an enormous long-term carbon sink which is in risk of switching to a net source in the future. Detailed knowledge about the quantity and the mechanisms controlling organic carbon storage is of utmost importance for our understanding of potential impacts of and feedbacks on climate change. Here we present a geospatial dataset of physical and chemical soil properties calculated from 651 soil pedons encompassing more than 6500 samples from 16 different study areas across the northern permafrost region. The aim of our dataset is to provide a basis to describe spatial patterns in soil properties, including quantifying carbon and nitrogen stocks. There is a particular need for spatially distributed datasets of soil properties, including vertical and horizontal distribution patterns, for modeling at local, regional, or global scales. This paper presents this dataset, describes in detail soil sampling; laboratory analysis, and derived soil geochemical parameters; calculations; and data clustering. Moreover, we use this dataset to estimate soil organic carbon and total nitrogen storage estimates in soils in the northern circumpolar permafrost region (17.9 x 106 km2) using the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Climate Change Initiative (CCI) global land cover dataset at 300m pixel resolution. We estimate organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks on a circumpolar scale (excluding Tibet) for the 0-100 and 0-300 cm soil depth to be 380 and 813 Pg for carbon, and 21 and 55 Pg for nitrogen, respectively. Our organic carbon estimates agree with previous studies, with most recent estimates of 1000 Pg (170 to C186 Pg) to 300 cm depth. Two separate datasets are freely available on the Bolin Centre Database repository (https://doi.org/10.17043/palmtag-2022-pedon-1, Palmtag et al., 2022a; and https://doi.org/10.17043/palmtag-2022-spatial-1, Palmtag et al., 2002b).
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| 3. |
- Ogneva, Olga, et al.
(författare)
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Particulate organic matter in the Lena River and its delta : from thepermafrost catchment to the Arctic Ocean
- 2023
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Ingår i: Biogeosciences. - 1726-4170 .- 1726-4189. ; 20:7, s. 1423-1441
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rapid Arctic warming accelerates permafrost thaw, causing an additional release of terrestrial organic matter (OM) into rivers and, ultimately, after transport via deltas and estuaries, to the Arctic Ocean nearshore. The majority of our understanding of nearshore OM dynamics and fate has been developed from freshwater rivers despite the likely impact of highly dynamic estuarine and deltaic environments on the transformation, storage, and age of OM delivered to coastal waters. Here, we studied particulate organic carbon (POC) dynamics in the Lena River delta and compared them with POC dynamics in the Lena River main stem along a similar to 1600 km long transect from Yakutsk, downstream to the delta. We measured POC, total suspended matter (TSM), and carbon isotopes (delta C-13 and Delta C-14) in POC to compare riverine and deltaic OM composition and changes in OM source and fate during transport offshore. We found that TSM and POC concentrations decreased by 70% during transit from the main stem to the delta and Arctic Ocean. We found deltaic POC to be strongly depleted in C-13 relative to fluvial POC. Dual-carbon (Delta C-14 and delta C-13) isotope mixing model analyses indicated a significant phytoplankton contribution to deltaic POC (similar to 68 +/- 6 %) and suggested an additional input of permafrost-derived OM into deltaic waters (similar to 18 +/- 4% of deltaic POC originates from Pleistocene deposits vs. similar to 5 +/- 4% in the river main stem). Despite the lower concentration of POC in the delta than in the main stem (0.41 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.79 +/- 0.30 mg L-1, respectively), the amount of POC derived from Yedoma deposits in deltaic waters was almost twice as large as the amount of POC of Yedoma origin in the main stem (0.07 +/- 0.02 and 0.04 +/- 0.02 mg L-1, respectively). We assert that estuarine and deltaic processes require consideration in order to correctly understand OM dynamics throughout Arctic nearshore coastal zones and how these processes may evolve under future climate-driven change.
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| 4. |
- Palmtag, Juri, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Controls on the storage of organic carbon in permafrost soil in northern Siberia
- 2016
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Ingår i: European Journal of Soil Science. - : Wiley. - 1351-0754 .- 1365-2389. ; 67:4, s. 478-491
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This research examined soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and aboveground phytomass carbon(PhC) stocks in two areas of the Taymyr Peninsula, northern Siberia.We combined field sampling, chemical and14C radiocarbon dating analyses with land cover classifications for landscape-level assessments. The estimatedmean for the 0–100-cm depth SOC stocks was 14.8 and 20.8 kgCm−2 in Ary-Mas and Logata, respectively. Thecorresponding values for TN were 1.0 and 1.3 kgNm−2. On average, about 2% only (range 0–12%) of the totalecosystem C is stored in PhC. In both study areas about 34% of the SOC at 0–100 cm is stored in cryoturbatedpockets, which have formed since at least the early Holocene. The larger carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio of thiscryoturbated material indicates that it consists of relatively undecomposed soil organic matter (SOM). Thereare substantial differences in SOC stocks and SOM properties within and between the two study areas, whichemphasizes the need to consider both geomorphology and soil texture in the assessment of landscape-level andregional SOC stocks.Highlights• This research addresses landscape-scale and regional variation in SOC stocks.• Landform and soil texture are taken into account in the analysis.• The contribution of phytomass to total ecosystem C stored is limited.• Large SOC stocks are susceptible to decomposition following permafrost thaw.
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| 5. |
- Palmtag, Juri, 1980-
(författare)
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Grain size controls on cryoturbation and soil organic carbon density in permafrost-affected soils
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This meta-analysis aims to describe the relationship between grain size distributions and soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in mineral subsoil and carbon (C)-enriched cryoturbated pockets in five areas of continuous permafrost that differ in glaciation history and soil parent materials. Our results show a positive relationship between fine-grained (colloid to medium silt) fractions and SOC storage. Finer textured soils had a significantly higher SOC storage in mineral subsoil samples (not C-enriched through cryoturbation) than coarser textured soils. However, the process of C-enrichment through cryoturbation was most pronounced in soils with coarser grain sizes in the range of coarse silt and very fine sand. Even though fine-grained textures provide a better physical and biochemical protection for soil organic matter, their strong cohesion reduces the mixing of soil horizons and the effectiveness of cryoturbation. A higher % coarse silt to % clay ratio in samples was a good predictor of C-enrichment through cryoturbation across soil samples, soil profiles and study areas.
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| 6. |
- Palmtag, Juri, 1980-
(författare)
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Improved landscape partitioning and estimates of deep storage of soil organic carbon in the Zackenberg area (NE Greenland) using geomorphological landforms
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This study aims to improve the previous soil organic carbon (SOC) storage estimates for the Zackenberg area (NE Greenland) that were based on a land cover classification (LCC) approach, by using geomorphological upscaling. In addition, novel SOC estimates for deeper deposits (to 300 cm depth) are presented. We hypothesize that landforms will better represent the long-term slope and depositional processes that result in deep SOC burial in this type of mountain permafrost environments. The updated mean SOC storage for the 0–100 cm soil depth is 4.8 kg C m−2, which is 42% lower than the previous estimate of 8.3 kg C m−2 based on land cover upscaling. We ascribe the difference to a previous areal overestimate of SOC-rich vegetated land cover classes. The landform-based approach more correctly constrains the depositional areas in alluvial fans and deltas with high SOC storage. These are also areas of deep carbon storage with an additional 2.4 kg C m−2 in the 100–300 cm depth interval. This research emphasizes the need to consider geomorphology when assessing SOC pools in mountain permafrost landscapes.
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| 7. |
- Palmtag, Juri, 1980-
(författare)
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Landscape partitioning and burial processes of soil organic carbon in contrasting areas of continuous permafrost
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Recent studies have shown that permafrost soils in the northern circumpolar region store almost twice as much carbon as the atmosphere. Since soil organic carbon (SOC) pools have large regional and landscape-level variability, detailed SOC inventories from across the northern permafrost region are needed to assess potential remobilization of SOC with permafrost degradation and to quantify the permafrost carbon-climate feedback on global warming.This thesis provides high-resolution data on SOC storage in five study areas located in undersampled regions of the continuous permafrost zone (Zackenberg in NE Greenland; Shalaurovo and Cherskiy in NE Siberia; Ary-Mas and Logata in Taymyr Peninsula). The emphasis throughout the five different study areas is put on SOC partitioning within the landscape and soil horizon levels as well as on soil forming processes under periglacial conditions. Our results indicate large differences in mean SOC 0–100 cm storage among study areas, ranging from 4.8 to 30.0 kg C m-2, highlighting the need to consider numerous factors as topography, geomorphology, land cover, soil texture, soil moisture, etc. in the assessment of landscape-level and regional SOC stock estimates.In the high arctic mountainous area of Zackenberg, the mean SOC storage is low due to the high proportion of bare grounds. The geomorphology based upscaling resulted in a c. 40% lower estimate compared to a land cover based upscaling (4.8 vs 8.3 kg C m-2, respectively). A landform approach provides a better tool for identifying hotspots of SOC burial in the landscape, which in this area corresponds to alluvial fan deposits in the foothills of the mountains. SOC burial by cryoturbation was much more limited and largely restricted to soils in the lower central valley. In the lowland permafrost study areas of Russia the mean SOC 0–100 cm storage ranged from 14.8 to 30.0 kg C m-2. Cryoturbation is the main burial process of SOC, storing on average c. 30% of the total landscape SOC 0–100 cm in deeper C-enriched pockets in all study areas. In Taymyr Peninsula, the mean SOC storage between the Ary-Mas and Logata study areas differed by c. 40% (14.8 vs 20.8 kg C m-2, respectively). We ascribe this mainly to the finer soil texture in the latter study area. Grain size analyses show that cryoturbation is most prominent in silt loam soils with high coarse silt to very fine sand fractions. However, in profiles and samples not affected by C-enrichment, C concentrations and densities were higher in silt loam soils with higher clay to medium silt fractions.
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| 8. |
- Palmtag, Juri, et al.
(författare)
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Soil organic carbon storage in continuous permafrost terrain; two case studies from NE Greenlandand NE Siberia
- 2011
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The northern circumpolar permafrost region occupies about 16% of the global soil areaand holds approximately 50% of the global belowground soil organic carbon (SOC). We describe thequantity and quality of soil organic matter (SOM) in two areas of continuous permafrost in NE Greenland andNE Siberia. The main emphasis lies on the role of cryoturbation and Pleistocene loess-like deposits(yedoma) for SOC storage. This study is based on field work in three different study sites: Zackenberg(Greenland) and Shalaurovo and Chersky (Siberia), as well as laboratory analysis and radiocarbon dating.The estimated mean SOC storage in the upper meter of soil for Zackenberg is 10.5 kg C m-2 with 16% incryoturbated soil pockets. In Shalaurovo, the mean SOC storage is 29.0 kg C m-2 and in Chersky 21.7 kg Cm-2 with more than 30% stored in cryoturbated soil pockets. The study also presents new analyses for deepyedoma deposits(down to 5 m depth). Data from these sites show that the dry bulk densities are muchlower (due to excess ground ice) than those previously reported in the literature, leading to lower estimatesof SOC storage in these deposits.
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| 9. |
- Palmtag, Juri, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Storage, Landscape Distribution, and Burial History of Soil Organic Matter in Contrasting Areas of Continuous Permafrost
- 2015
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Ingår i: Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine research. - 1523-0430 .- 1938-4246. ; 47:1, s. 71-88
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study describes and compares soil organic matter (SOM) quantity and characteristics in two areas of continuous permafrost, a mountainous region in NE Greenland (Zackenberg study site) and a lowland region in NE Siberia (Cherskiy and Shalaurovo study sites). Our assessments are based on stratified-random landscape-level inventories of soil profiles down to 1 m depth, with physico-chemical, elemental, and radiocarbon-dating analyses. The estimated mean soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in the upper meter of soils in the NE Greenland site is 8.3 ± 1.8 kg C m-2 compared to 20.3 ± 2.2 kg C m-2 and 30.0 ± 2.0 kg C m-2 in the NE Siberian sites (95% confidence intervals). The lower SOC storage in the High Arctic site in NE Greenland can be largely explained by the fact that 59% of the study area is located at higher elevation with mostly barren ground and thus very low SOC contents. In addition, SOC-rich fens and bogs occupy a much smaller proportion of the landscape in NE Greenland (∼3%) than in NE Siberia (∼20%). The contribution of deeper buried C-enriched material in the mineral soil horizons to the total SOC storage is lower in the NE Greenland site (∼13%) compared to the NE Siberian sites (∼24%–30%). Buried SOM seems generally more decomposed in NE Greenland than in NE Siberia, which we relate to different burial mechanisms prevailing in these regions.
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| 10. |
- Palmtag, Juri, 1980-
(författare)
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Storage, landscape partitioning and lability of soil organic matter in permafrost terrain
- 2015
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Recent estimates indicate that soils in the northern circumpolar permafrost region store substantial amounts of soil organic carbon (SOC). This reservoir has accumulated over 10-100.000 years and is often preserved in a relatively undecomposed state because frozen and often water-logged conditions prevented microbial degradation. Under a projected future climate change caused by rising greenhouse gases, permafrost thaw and rapid decomposition of vulnerable soil organic matter (SOM) could provide a positive feedback on global warming by releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide and/or methane into the atmosphere.SOC pools have large regional and landscape-level variability depending on topographic, ecoclimatic and edaphic factors. As a consequence, large scale maps and even regional data sets describing SOC storage should be taken with caution since they are highly simplified. The purpose of this thesis is to improve our knowledge on quantity and quality of SOM in different areas of continuous permafrost and provide regional high quality data from hitherto under-sampled regions for future assessment of the potential remobilization of SOC under global warming. A special focus is put on SOC partitioning within the landscape and soil horizon levels as well as on soil forming processes under periglacial conditions. Throughout the five different study areas presented in this thesis the landscape mean SOC storage ranges between 8 and 30 kg C m-2, while site differences are in the order of 0 to 80 kg C m-2. Paper I presents new SOC data from contrasting areas in continuous permafrost: a mountainous High Arctic site in Zackenberg (NE Greenland) and lowland sites in Shalaurovo and Cherskiy lower Kolyma (NE Siberia). The main difference is that about 60% of the Zackenberg area is higher elevation terrain with mostly barren ground and very low SOC content, resulting in a much lower landscape-level mean SOC storage compared to the Siberian sites. In addition, Paper II shows that even when comparing two lowland sites located only 150 km apart in Taymyr Peninsula (N Siberia) the mean SOC storage differs with 40% between the areas. This emphasizes that even in lowlands on a regional scale not only different landforms and land cover but also microrelief, soil moisture and especially parent material play a very important role for obtaining more accurate SOC storage estimates.Throughout this thesis a special emphasis is put on understanding the role of cryoturbation for SOC storage. Signs of cryoturbation were observed at all sites and 14C dates show that this process is occurring since at least the early Holocene. On average, 30% of all SOC in the top meter of soil is located in buried C-enriched pockets. The only exception is Zackenberg, with only 12%, where slope processes were the dominant mechanism for burying C-enriched material into deeper layers.We use the weight ratio of Carbon/Nitrogen (C/N) to gain information about SOM decomposability. Generally, all sites show the same trend that the C/N ratio decreases with soil depth. Top organic soil and peat samples have always the highest C/N ratios, suggesting little decomposed SOM. Except for the Zackenberg site, the buried C-enriched pockets have significantly higher C/N ratios than the adjacent mineral subsoil samples. We assume that this C-enriched material was exposed over longer time periods to aerobic decomposition and was therefore relatively well decomposed before it was buried by reactivated slope processes.
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