Stubbins, A., Mann, P. J., Powers, L., Bittar, T. B., Dittmar, T., McIntyre, C. P. , Eglinton, T. I., Zimov, N. and Spencer, R. G.M. (2017) Low photolability of yedoma permafrost dissolved organic carbon. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 122(1), pp. 200-211. (doi: 10.1002/2016JG003688)
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Abstract
Vast stores of arctic permafrost carbon that have remained frozen for millennia are thawing, releasing ancient dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to arctic inland waters. Once in arctic waters, DOC can be converted to CO2 and emitted to the atmosphere, accelerating climate change. Sunlight-driven photoreactions oxidize DOC, converting a portion to CO2 and leaving behind a photomodified pool of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Samples from the Kolyma River, its tributaries, and streams draining thawing yedoma permafrost were collected. Irradiation experiments and radiocarbon dating were employed to assess the photolability of ancient permafrost-DOC in natural and laboratory generated samples containing a mix of modern and ancient DOC. Photolabile DOC was always modern, with no measurable photochemical loss of ancient permafrost-DOC. However, optical and ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometric measurements revealed that both modern river DOM and ancient permafrost-DOM were photomodified during the irradiations, converting aromatic compounds to less conjugated compounds. These findings suggest that although sunlight-driven photoreactions do not directly mineralize permafrost-DOC, photomodification of permafrost-DOM chemistry may influence its fate and ecological functions in aquatic systems.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Mcintyre, Dr Cameron |
| Authors: | Stubbins, A., Mann, P. J., Powers, L., Bittar, T. B., Dittmar, T., McIntyre, C. P., Eglinton, T. I., Zimov, N., and Spencer, R. G.M. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre |
| Journal Name: | Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences |
| Publisher: | American Geophysical Union |
| ISSN: | 2169-8953 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2169-8961 |
| Published Online: | 25 January 2017 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2017 The Authors American Geophysical Union |
| First Published: | First published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 122(1):200-211 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher |
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