Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Emissions from thaw ponds largely offset the carbon sink of northern permafrost wetlands

Kuhn, McKenzie ; Lundin, Erik J. ; Giesler, Reiner ; Johansson, Margareta LU and Karlsson, Jan LU (2018) In Scientific Reports 8(1).
Abstract

Northern regions have received considerable attention not only because the effects of climate change are amplified at high latitudes but also because this region holds vast amounts of carbon (C) stored in permafrost. These carbon stocks are vulnerable to warming temperatures and increased permafrost thaw and the breakdown and release of soil C in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). The majority of research has focused on quantifying and upscaling the effects of thaw on CO2 and CH4 emissions from terrestrial systems. However, small ponds formed in permafrost wetlands following thawing have been recognized as hotspots for C emissions. Here, we examined the importance of small... (More)

Northern regions have received considerable attention not only because the effects of climate change are amplified at high latitudes but also because this region holds vast amounts of carbon (C) stored in permafrost. These carbon stocks are vulnerable to warming temperatures and increased permafrost thaw and the breakdown and release of soil C in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). The majority of research has focused on quantifying and upscaling the effects of thaw on CO2 and CH4 emissions from terrestrial systems. However, small ponds formed in permafrost wetlands following thawing have been recognized as hotspots for C emissions. Here, we examined the importance of small ponds for C fluxes in two permafrost wetland ecosystems in northern Sweden. Detailed flux estimates of thaw ponds during the growing season show that ponds emit, on average (±SD), 279 ± 415 and 7 ± 11 mmol C m-2 d-1 of CO2 and CH4, respectively. Importantly, addition of pond emissions to the total C budget of the wetland decreases the C sink by ~39%. Our results emphasize the need for integrated research linking C cycling on land and in water in order to make correct assessments of contemporary C balances.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scientific Reports
volume
8
issue
1
article number
9535
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:29934641
  • scopus:85048978382
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/s41598-018-27770-x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7efbbeca-9ebd-47b6-8064-57c752ca3664
date added to LUP
2018-07-04 08:42:11
date last changed
2024-04-15 08:51:11
@article{7efbbeca-9ebd-47b6-8064-57c752ca3664,
  abstract     = {{<p>Northern regions have received considerable attention not only because the effects of climate change are amplified at high latitudes but also because this region holds vast amounts of carbon (C) stored in permafrost. These carbon stocks are vulnerable to warming temperatures and increased permafrost thaw and the breakdown and release of soil C in the form of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and methane (CH<sub>4</sub>). The majority of research has focused on quantifying and upscaling the effects of thaw on CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub> emissions from terrestrial systems. However, small ponds formed in permafrost wetlands following thawing have been recognized as hotspots for C emissions. Here, we examined the importance of small ponds for C fluxes in two permafrost wetland ecosystems in northern Sweden. Detailed flux estimates of thaw ponds during the growing season show that ponds emit, on average (±SD), 279 ± 415 and 7 ± 11 mmol C m<sup>-2</sup> d<sup>-1</sup> of CO<sub>2</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub>, respectively. Importantly, addition of pond emissions to the total C budget of the wetland decreases the C sink by ~39%. Our results emphasize the need for integrated research linking C cycling on land and in water in order to make correct assessments of contemporary C balances.</p>}},
  author       = {{Kuhn, McKenzie and Lundin, Erik J. and Giesler, Reiner and Johansson, Margareta and Karlsson, Jan}},
  issn         = {{2045-2322}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Scientific Reports}},
  title        = {{Emissions from thaw ponds largely offset the carbon sink of northern permafrost wetlands}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-27770-x}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41598-018-27770-x}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}