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Organic matter composition and greenhouse gas production of thawing subsea permafrost in the Laptev Sea

Author

Listed:
  • Birgit Wild

    (Stockholm University
    Stockholm University)

  • Natalia Shakhova

    (Far-East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
    Tomsk State University)

  • Oleg Dudarev

    (Far-East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
    Tomsk State University)

  • Alexey Ruban

    (Tomsk State University
    Tomsk Polytechnic University)

  • Denis Kosmach

    (Far-East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
    Tomsk State University)

  • Vladimir Tumskoy

    (Tomsk State University
    Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences)

  • Tommaso Tesi

    (National Research Council)

  • Hanna Grimm

    (Stockholm University
    University of Tuebingen)

  • Inna Nybom

    (Stockholm University)

  • Felipe Matsubara

    (Stockholm University
    Stockholm University)

  • Helena Alexanderson

    (Lund University)

  • Martin Jakobsson

    (Stockholm University
    Stockholm University)

  • Alexey Mazurov

    (Tomsk Polytechnic University)

  • Igor Semiletov

    (Far-East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
    Tomsk State University
    Higher School of Economics)

  • Örjan Gustafsson

    (Stockholm University
    Stockholm University)

Abstract

Subsea permafrost represents a large carbon pool that might be or become a significant greenhouse gas source. Scarcity of observational data causes large uncertainties. We here use five 21-56 m long subsea permafrost cores from the Laptev Sea to constrain organic carbon (OC) storage and sources, degradation state and potential greenhouse gas production upon thaw. Grain sizes, optically-stimulated luminescence and biomarkers suggest deposition of aeolian silt and fluvial sand over 160 000 years, with dominant fluvial/alluvial deposition of forest- and tundra-derived organic matter. We estimate an annual thaw rate of 1.3 ± 0.6 kg OC m−2 in subsea permafrost in the area, nine-fold exceeding organic carbon thaw rates for terrestrial permafrost. During 20-month incubations, CH4 and CO2 production averaged 1.7 nmol and 2.4 µmol g−1 OC d−1, providing a baseline to assess the contribution of subsea permafrost to the high CH4 fluxes and strong ocean acidification observed in the region.

Suggested Citation

  • Birgit Wild & Natalia Shakhova & Oleg Dudarev & Alexey Ruban & Denis Kosmach & Vladimir Tumskoy & Tommaso Tesi & Hanna Grimm & Inna Nybom & Felipe Matsubara & Helena Alexanderson & Martin Jakobsson & , 2022. "Organic matter composition and greenhouse gas production of thawing subsea permafrost in the Laptev Sea," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-32696-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32696-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael Angelopoulos & Pier P. Overduin & Frederieke Miesner & Mikhail N. Grigoriev & Alexander A. Vasiliev, 2020. "Recent advances in the study of Arctic submarine permafrost," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 442-453, July.
    2. Natalia Shakhova & Igor Semiletov & Orjan Gustafsson & Valentin Sergienko & Leopold Lobkovsky & Oleg Dudarev & Vladimir Tumskoy & Michael Grigoriev & Alexey Mazurov & Anatoly Salyuk & Roman Ananiev & , 2017. "Current rates and mechanisms of subsea permafrost degradation in the East Siberian Arctic Shelf," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, August.
    3. Nikolai N. Romanovskii & Hans‐W. Hubberten, 2001. "Results of permafrost modelling of the lowlands and shelf of the Laptev Sea Region, Russia," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(2), pages 191-202, April.
    4. Christian Knoblauch & Christian Beer & Susanne Liebner & Mikhail N. Grigoriev & Eva-Maria Pfeiffer, 2018. "Methane production as key to the greenhouse gas budget of thawing permafrost," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(4), pages 309-312, April.
    5. J. E. Vonk & L. Sánchez-García & B. E. van Dongen & V. Alling & D. Kosmach & A. Charkin & I. P. Semiletov & O. V. Dudarev & N. Shakhova & P. Roos & T. I. Eglinton & A. Andersson & Ö. Gustafsson, 2012. "Activation of old carbon by erosion of coastal and subsea permafrost in Arctic Siberia," Nature, Nature, vol. 489(7414), pages 137-140, September.
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