Rapid CO 2 Release From Eroding Permafrost in Seawater
Permafrost is thawing extensively due to climate warming. When permafrost thaws, previously frozen organic carbon (OC) is converted into carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) or methane, leading to further warming. This process is included in models as gradual deepening of the seasonal non-frozen layer. Yet, model...
Published in: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2019
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/5b85740e-5900-4ff8-b3f5-c6660bd1b1ce https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL084303 https://hdl.handle.net/1871.1/5b85740e-5900-4ff8-b3f5-c6660bd1b1ce http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85074801663&partnerID=8YFLogxK http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85074801663&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
Summary: | Permafrost is thawing extensively due to climate warming. When permafrost thaws, previously frozen organic carbon (OC) is converted into carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) or methane, leading to further warming. This process is included in models as gradual deepening of the seasonal non-frozen layer. Yet, models neglect abrupt OC mobilization along rapidly eroding Arctic coastlines. We mimicked erosion in an experiment by incubating permafrost with seawater for an average Arctic open-water season. We found that CO 2 production from permafrost OC is as efficient in seawater as without. For each gram (dry weight) of eroding permafrost, up to 4.3 ± 1.0 mg CO 2 will be released and 6.2 ± 1.2% of initial OC mineralized at 4 °C. Our results indicate that potentially large amounts of CO 2 are produced along eroding permafrost coastlines, onshore and within nearshore waters. We conclude that coastal erosion could play an important role in carbon cycling and the climate system. |
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