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Title: Effects of simulated spring thaw of permafrost from mineral cryosol on CO 2 emissions and atmospheric CH 4 uptake

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JG003004· OSTI ID:1402222
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [1];  [1]
  1. Department of Geosciences Princeton University Princeton New Jersey USA
  2. The Center for Environmental Biotechnology University of Tennessee, Knoxville Knoxville Tennessee USA
  3. Vale Living with Lakes Centre Laurentian University of Sudbury Sudbury Ontario Canada
  4. Department of Chemistry North Central College Naperville Illinois USA
  5. Department of Natural Resource Sciences McGill University Ste. Anne de Bellevue Quebec Canada
  6. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Princeton University Princeton New Jersey USA
  7. Picarro, Inc. Santa Clara California USA
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Abstract Previous studies investigating organic‐rich tundra have reported that increasing biodegradation of Arctic tundra soil organic carbon (SOC) under warming climate regimes will cause increasing CO 2 and CH 4 emissions. Organic‐poor, mineral cryosols, which comprise 87% of Arctic tundra, are not as well characterized. This study examined biogeochemical processes of 1 m long intact mineral cryosol cores (1–6% SOC) collected in the Canadian high Arctic. Vertical profiles of gaseous and aqueous chemistry and microbial composition were related to surface CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes during a simulated spring/summer thaw under light versus dark and in situ versus water saturated treatments. CO 2 fluxes attained 0.8 ± 0.4 mmol CO 2  m −2  h −1 for in situ treatments, of which 85 ± 11% was produced by aerobic SOC oxidation, consistent with field observations and metagenomic analyses indicating aerobic heterotrophs were the dominant phylotypes. The Q 10 values of CO 2 emissions ranged from 2 to 4 over the course of thawing. CH 4 degassing occurred during initial thaw; however, all cores were CH 4 sinks at atmospheric concentration CH 4 . Atmospheric CH 4 uptake rates ranged from −126 ± 77 to −207 ± 7 nmol CH 4  m −2  h −1 with CH 4 consumed between 0 and 35 cm depth. Metagenomic and gas chemistry analyses revealed that high‐affinity Type II methanotrophic sequence abundance and activity were highest between 0 and 35 cm depth. Microbial sulfate reduction dominated the anaerobic processes, outcompeting methanogenesis for H 2 and acetate. Fluxes, microbial community composition, and biogeochemical rates indicate that mineral cryosols of Axel Heiberg Island act as net CO 2 sources and atmospheric CH 4 sinks during summertime thaw under both in situ and water saturated states.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
1402222
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences Vol. 120 Journal Issue: 9; ISSN 2169-8953
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 21 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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