The Impact of Freeze‐Thaw History on Soil Carbon Response to Experimental Freeze‐Thaw Cycles

Rooney, Erin C.; Bailey, Vanessa L.; Patel, Kaizad F.; Possinger, Angela R.; Gallo, Adrian C.; Bergmann, Maya; SanClements, Michael; Lybrand, Rebecca A.

doi:10.1029/2022JG006889

The Impact of Freeze‐Thaw History on Soil Carbon Response to Experimental Freeze‐Thaw Cycles

Journal Article · Fri May 20 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JG006889· OSTI ID:1869038

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Department of Crop and Soil Science Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA, Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland WA USA
Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland WA USA
Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA USA
Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
Department of Crop and Soil Science Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
Battelle, National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Boulder CO USA
Department of Crop and Soil Science Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA, Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources University of California‐Davis Davis CA USA

Abstract

Freeze‐thaw is a disturbance process in cold regions where permafrost soils are becoming vulnerable to temperature fluctuations above 0°C. Freeze‐thaw alters soil physical and biogeochemical properties with implications for carbon persistence and emissions in Arctic landscapes. We examined whether different freeze‐thaw histories in two soil systems led to contrasting biogeochemical responses under a laboratory‐controlled freeze‐thaw incubation. We investigated controls on carbon composition through Fourier‐transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT‐ICR‐MS) to identify nominal carbon oxidation states and relative abundances of aliphatic‐type carbon molecules in both surface and subsurface soils. Soil cores (∼60 cm‐depth) were sampled from two sites in Alaskan permafrost landscapes with different in situ freeze‐thaw characteristics: Healy (>40 freeze‐thaw cycles annually) and Toolik (<15 freeze‐thaw cycles annually). FT‐ICR‐MS was coupled with in situ temperature data and soil properties (i.e., soil texture, mineralogy) to assess (a) differences in soil organic matter composition associated with previous freeze‐thaw history and (b) sensitivity to experimental freeze‐thaw in the extracted cores. Control (freeze‐only) samples showed greater carbon oxidation in Healy soils compared with Toolik, even in lower mineral horizons where freeze‐thaw history was comparable across both sites. Healy showed the most loss of carbon compounds following experimental freeze‐thaw in the lower mineral depths, including a decrease in aliphatics. Toolik soils responded more slowly to freeze‐thaw as shown by intermediary carbon oxidation distributed across multiple carbon compound classes. Variations in the response of permafrost carbon chemistry to freeze‐thaw is an important factor for predicting changes in soil function as permafrost thaws in high northern latitudes.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: NONE; AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1869038

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1870055

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 127; ISSN 2169-8953

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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