Cross-regional prediction of long-term trajectory of stream water DOC response to climate change

• Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
• Main Authors: Laudon, Hjalmar, Buttle, J., Carey, S. K., McDonnell, J., McGuire, Kevin J., Seibert, J., Shanley, James B., Soulsby, C., Tetzlaff, D.
• Other Authors: Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Water Resources Research Center
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Amer Geophysical Union 2012
• Subjects: Geosciences; Multidisciplinary; Geology; DISSOLVED ORGANIC-CARBON; CATCHMENT-SCALE; FOREST ECOSYSTEMS; NORTHERN SWEDEN; RESIDENCE TIME; BOREAL STREAMS; SOIL; RUNOFF; MATTER; EXPORT; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10919/74262; https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL053033

There is no scientific consensus about how dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in surface waters is regulated. Here we combine recent literature data from 49 catchments with detailed stream and catchment process information from nine well established research catchments at mid- to high latitudes to examine the question of how climate controls stream water DOC. We show for the first time thatmean annual temperature (MAT) in the range from -3 to +10 degrees C has a strong control over the regional stream water DOC concentration in catchments, with highest concentrations in areas ranging between 0 and +3 degrees C MAT. Although relatively large deviations from thismodel occur for individual streams, catchment topography appears to explain much of this divergence. These findings suggest that the long-term trajectory of stream water DOC response to climate change may be more predictable than previously thought. Published version