Eroding Permafrost Coastlines Release Biodegradable Dissolved Organic Carbon to the Arctic Ocean

Bristol, Emily M.; Behnke, Megan I.; Spencer, Robert G. M.; McKenna, Amy; Jones, Benjamin M.; Bull, Diana L.; McClelland, James W.

doi:10.1029/2024JG008233

Title: Eroding Permafrost Coastlines Release Biodegradable Dissolved Organic Carbon to the Arctic Ocean

Journal Article · 27 July 2024 · Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JG008233 · OSTI ID:2407123

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Department of Marine Science The University of Texas at Austin Port Aransas TX USA, Now at U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Coastal &, Marine Science Center Santa Cruz CA USA
Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science Florida State University Tallahassee FL USA, Now at Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center University of Alaska Southeast Juneau AK USA
Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science Florida State University Tallahassee FL USA
Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science Florida State University Tallahassee FL USA, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences Colorodo State University Fort Collins CO USA
Institute of Northern Engineering University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks AK USA
Climate Systems Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque NM USA
Department of Marine Science The University of Texas at Austin Port Aransas TX USA, The Ecosystems Center Marine Biological Laboratory Woods Hole MA USA

Abstract Coastal erosion mobilizes large quantities of organic matter (OM) to the Arctic Ocean where it may fuel greenhouse gas emissions and marine production. While the biodegradability of permafrost‐derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC) has been extensively studied in inland soils and freshwaters, few studies have examined dissolved OM (DOM) leached from eroding coastal permafrost in seawater. To address this knowledge gap, we sampled three horizons from bluff exposures near Drew Point, Alaska: seasonally thawed active layer soils, permafrost containing Holocene terrestrial and/or lacustrine OM, and permafrost containing late‐Pleistocene marine‐derived OM. Samples were leached in seawater to compare DOC yields, DOM composition (chromophoric DOM, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry), and biodegradable DOC (BDOC). Holocene terrestrial permafrost leached the most DOC compared to active layer soils and Pleistocene marine permafrost. However, DOC from Pleistocene marine permafrost was the most biodegradable (33 ± 6% over 90 days), followed by DOC from active layer soils (23 ± 5%) and Holocene terrestrial permafrost (14 ± 3%). Permafrost leachates contained relatively more aliphatic and peptide‐like formulae, whereas active layer leachates contained relatively more aromatic formulae. BDOC was positively correlated with nitrogen‐containing and aliphatic formulae, and negatively correlated with polyphenolic and condensed aromatic formulae. Using estimates of eroding OM, we scale our results to estimate DOC and BDOC inputs to the Alaska Beaufort Sea. While DOC inputs from coastal erosion are relatively small compared to rivers, our results suggest that erosion may be an important source of BDOC to the Beaufort Sea when river inputs are low.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003525

OSTI ID:: 2407123

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 129; ISSN 2169-8953

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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