Thermokarst dynamics and soil organic matter characteristics controlling initial carbon release from permafrost soils in the Siberian Yedoma region

This study relates soil organic matter (SOM) characteristics to initial soil incubation carbon release from upper permafrost samples in Yedoma region soils of northeastern Siberia, Russia. Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content, carbon to nitrogen ratios (C:N), δ13C and δ15N values show clear trends th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sedimentary Geology
Main Authors: Weiss, Niels, Blok, Daan, Elberling, Bo, Hugelius, Gustaf, Jørgensen, Christian Juncher, Siewert, Matthias, Kuhry, Peter
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/thermokarst-dynamics-and-soil-organic-matter-characteristics-controlling-initial-carbon-release-from-permafrost-soils-in-the-siberian-yedoma-region(fc615255-de84-461f-bc1f-29c71f8c2783).html
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2015.12.004
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Summary:This study relates soil organic matter (SOM) characteristics to initial soil incubation carbon release from upper permafrost samples in Yedoma region soils of northeastern Siberia, Russia. Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content, carbon to nitrogen ratios (C:N), δ13C and δ15N values show clear trends that correspond with SOM age and degree of decomposition. Incubation results indicate that older and more decomposed soil material shows higher C respiration rates per unit incubated C than younger and less decomposed samples with higher C content. This is important as undecomposed material is often assumed to be more reactive upon thawing. Large stocks of SOM and their potential decomposability, in combination with complex landscape dynamics that include one or more events of Holocene thaw in most of the landscape, are of consequence for potential greenhouse gas release from permafrost soils in the Yedoma region.