Description: Organic carbon (OC) stored in Arctic permafrost represents one of Earth’s largest and most vulnerable terrestrial carbon pools. Amplified climate warming across the Arctic results in widespread permafrost thaw. Permafrost deposits exposed at river cliffs and coasts are particularly susceptible to thawing processes. Accelerating erosion of terrestrial permafrost along shorelines leads to increased transfer of organic matter (OM) to nearshore waters. However, the amount of terrestrial permafrost carbon and nitrogen as well as the OM quality in these deposits are still poorly quantified. Here, we characterise the sources and the quality of OM supplied to the Lena River at a rapidly eroding permafrost river shoreline cliff in the eastern part of the delta (Sobo-Sise Island). Our multi-proxy approach captures bulk elemental, molecular geochemical and carbon isotopic analyses of late Pleistocene Yedoma permafrost and Holocene cover deposits, discontinuously spanning the last ~52 ka. We show that the ancient permafrost exposed in the Sobo-Sise cliff has a high organic carbon content (mean of about 5 wt%).We found that the OM quality, which we define as the intrinsic potential to further transformation, decomposition, and mineralization, is also high as inferred by the lipid biomarker inventory. The oldest sediments stem from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 interstadial deposits (dated to 52 to 28 cal kyr BP) and is overlaid by Last Glacial MIS 2 (dated to 28 to 15 cal ka BP) and Holocene MIS 1 (dated to 7–0 cal ka BP) deposits. The relatively high average chain length (ACL) index of n-alkanes along the cliff profile indicates a predominant contribution of vascular plants to the OM composition. The elevated ratio of iso and anteiso-branched FAs relative to long chain (C ≥ 20) n-FAs in the interstadial MIS 3 and the interglacial MIS 1 deposits, suggests stronger microbial activity and consequently higher input of bacterial biomass during these climatically warmer periods. The overall high carbon preference index (CPI) and higher plant fatty acid (HPFA) values as well as high C / N ratios point to a good quality of the preserved OM and thus to a high potential of the OM for decomposition upon thaw. A decrease of HPFA values downwards along the profile probably indicates a relatively stronger OM decomposition in the oldest (MIS 3) deposits of the cliff.

Description: Organic carbon (OC) stored in Arctic permafrost represents one of Earth's largest and most vulnerable terrestrial carbon pools. Amplified climate warming across the Arctic results in widespread permafrost thaw. Permafrost deposits exposed at river cliffs and coasts are particularly susceptible to thawing processes. Accelerating erosion of terrestrial permafrost along shorelines leads to increased transfer of organic matter (OM) to nearshore waters. However, the amount of terrestrial permafrost carbon and nitrogen as well as the OM quality in these deposits are still poorly quantified. Here, we characterise the sources and the quality of OM supplied to the Lena River at a rapidly eroding permafrost river shoreline cliff in the eastern part of the delta (Sobo-Sise Island). Our multi-proxy approach captures bulk elemental, molecular geochemical and carbon isotopic analyses of late Pleistocene Yedoma permafrost and Holocene cover deposits, discontinuously spanning the last ~52 ka. We show that the ancient permafrost exposed in the Sobo-Sise cliff has a high organic carbon content (mean of about 5 wt%).We found that the OM quality, which we define as the intrinsic potential to further transformation, decomposition, and mineralization, is also high as inferred by the lipid biomarker inventory. The oldest sediments stem from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 interstadial deposits (dated to 52 to 28 cal kyr BP) and is overlaid by Last Glacial MIS 2 (dated to 28 to 15 cal ka BP) and Holocene MIS 1 (dated to 7–0 cal ka BP) deposits. The relatively high average chain length (ACL) index of n-alkanes along the cliff profile indicates a predominant contribution of vascular plants to the OM composition. The elevated ratio of iso and anteiso-branched FAs relative to long chain (C ≥ 20) n-FAs in the interstadial MIS 3 and the interglacial MIS 1 deposits, suggests stronger microbial activity and consequently higher input of bacterial biomass during these climatically warmer periods. The overall high carbon preference index (CPI) and higher plant fatty acid (HPFA) values as well as high C / N ratios point to a good quality of the preserved OM and thus to a high potential of the OM for decomposition upon thaw. A decrease of HPFA values downwards along the profile probably indicates a relatively stronger OM decomposition in the oldest (MIS 3) deposits of the cliff.

Description: Organic carbon (OC) stored in Arctic permafrost represents one of Earth’s largest and most vulnerable terrestrial carbon pools. Amplified climate warming across the Arctic results in widespread permafrost thaw. Permafrost deposits exposed at river cliffs and coasts are particularly susceptible to thawing processes. Accelerating erosion of terrestrial permafrost along shorelines leads to increased transfer of organic matter (OM) to nearshore waters. However, the amount of terrestrial permafrost carbon and nitrogen as well as the OM quality in these deposits are still poorly quantified. Here, we characterise the sources and the quality of OM supplied to the Lena River at a rapidly eroding permafrost river shoreline cliff in the eastern part of the delta (Sobo-Sise Island). Our multi-proxy approach captures bulk elemental, molecular geochemical and carbon isotopic analyses of late Pleistocene Yedoma permafrost and Holocene cover deposits, discontinuously spanning the last ~52 ka. We show that the ancient permafrost exposed in the Sobo-Sise cliff has a high organic carbon content (mean of about 5 wt%).We found that the OM quality, which we define as the intrinsic potential to further transformation, decomposition, and mineralization, is also high as inferred by the lipid biomarker inventory. The oldest sediments stem from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 interstadial deposits (dated to 52 to 28 cal kyr BP) and is overlaid by Last Glacial MIS 2 (dated to 28 to 15 cal ka BP) and Holocene MIS 1 (dated to 7–0 cal ka BP) deposits. The relatively high average chain length (ACL) index of n-alkanes along the cliff profile indicates a predominant contribution of vascular plants to the OM composition. The elevated ratio of iso and anteiso-branched FAs relative to long chain (C ≥ 20) n-FAs in the interstadial MIS 3 and the interglacial MIS 1 deposits, suggests stronger microbial activity and consequently higher input of bacterial biomass during these climatically warmer periods. The overall high carbon preference index (CPI) and higher plant fatty acid (HPFA) values as well as high C / N ratios point to a good quality of the preserved OM and thus to a high potential of the OM for decomposition upon thaw. A decrease of HPFA values downwards along the profile probably indicates a relatively stronger OM decomposition in the oldest (MIS 3) deposits of the cliff.

Description: This data set includes spatial high-resolution bathymetry data sets for the Lena Delta and Kolyma Gulf regions. Based on large-scale current and historical nautical maps, depth points and isobaths lines were manually digitized and served as input data for the bathymetry models. The models were calculated with the topo to raster tool in ArcGIS TM version 10.6 into a 50 m (TTR50) and a 200 m (TTR200) grid cell bathymetry for both regions. The models were validated with depth data derived from ship cruises in 2019 (Fuchs et al., submitted, Palmtag et al., 2021, Palmtag and Mann, 2021) and water depth data available on PANGAEA (e.g. Hölemann et al., 2020). Beside the bathymetry models for the Lena Delta and Kolyma Gulf regions which are available in GeoTiff format, this data set contains the complete input data for the models, which includes the depth point data, the isobaths lines, and the water area extent in shapefile format for both regions.

Description: Rapid climate warming in the Arctic region intensifies permafrost thaw, increases active layer depth in summer and enhances riverbank and coastal erosion. This causes the release of organic matter (OM) into streams and rivers and result in discharge of terrestrial OM into the Arctic Ocean. The focus of our study, particulate OM (POM) consists of a complex mixture of compounds from different sources with different chemical/physical resistance towards decomposition and mineralization. Particulate organic carbon (POC) transported by the Lena River represents a quantitatively important carbon pool exported to the Laptev Sea, but its quantity, quality, transport and transformation features are still not fully understood. With this study, we determined the sources (e.g., permafrost, soil, peat, phytoplankton, vegetation, etc.), quality and age of organic carbon transported by Arctic rivers to understand the effects of climate change on the river watersheds as well as on the Arctic coastal nearshore zone. Our study is embedded into the project ‘Changing Arctic Carbon cycle in the cOastal Ocean Nearshore (CACOON)’, which aims to investigate composition, seasonal effect, and changes during the transport and further fate of organic matter discharged by the Lena River to the Laptev sea (see Strauss et al 2021, this abstract book). To assess these data, we have had an intensive fieldwork in the Russian Arctic in summer 2019. Samples were collected across a ~1500 km transect from the Yakutsk through the centre of the Lena Delta to the Nearshore zone, covering the fresh-salt water transition. We analysed water samples from one to three different water depths to capture stratification in the water column. In a next step, the water was filtered at Samoylov Research Station through precombusted GF/F filters (25 mm diameter). Filters with POM were stored frozen in precombusted glass petri dishes. Later, the filters were analysed at AWI Bremerhaven for total suspended matter, total POC concentration, stable (δ13C) and radiocarbon (Δ14C) isotopes. We found significant qualitative and quantitative differences between the OM composition in the Lena River main channel and its delta. Further, we found suspended matter and POC concentrations decreased during the transit from the river to the Arctic Ocean. We demonstrate that deltaic POC is depleted in 13C relative to fluvial POC, and that its 14C signature suggests a modern composition indicating phytoplankton origin. This observation likely reflects the difference in hydrological conditions between the delta and the river main channel, caused by lower flow velocity and average water depth.

Description: Massive Arctic rivers are feeding ≈11% of the global river discharge into the Arctic Ocean, while the ocean stores only ≈1% of the global ocean volume. The ongoing rapid climate warming has led to pronounced changes in precipitation, active layer thickening, increased air and soil temperatures, increased riverbank and coastal erosion rates, extensive permafrost thaw and increasing freshwater discharge to the Arctic Ocean. Since most studies have focused on rivers or oceans itself and mainly during the late summer, near-shore coastal regions are understudied and crucial in determining the amount of carbon transported and/or released into the Arctic Ocean. Here, we investigated river-derived carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions from seven repeated transects of the Kolyma River and nearshore (120 km between Cherskiy and Ambarchik) over the entire open water season between June and September 2019. We estimated the cumulative gross delivery of river-derived CH4 and CO2 to the coastal ocean to be around 0.0008 Tg CH4 (800 000 kg) and 0.2 Tg CO2 (200 000 000 kg). Measurements reveal that more than 50% of the cumulative gross delivery is happening during the fresh period, making the season dynamics extremely important.

Description: The Arctic ocean receives 11% of the global river discharge and the Arctic rivers drain large permafrost rich catchments. Where these rivers outflow into the marginal shelf seas of the Arctic ocean the terrestrial dissolved organic matter (tDOM) which they transport has an important role to play in the coastal ecosystem. This tDom is derived from inland permafrost and as it thaws under future climate scenarios there are expected to be changes to both the composition and quantity of riverine tDOM. At the same time there will be changes to the seasonality and magnitude of river discharge, due to increased precipitation and earlier snow melt, and to the light availability, due to reduced seasonal sea ice. To understand the possible impact of these changes on the coastal ecosystem it is important to understand the present role of permafrost derived tDOM and the possible changes to the nearshore circulation. We model the hydrodynamics of the extensive shallow shelf of the Laptev sea, into which drains the Lena river – the 13th largest in the world by discharge. The output from the hydrodynamic model is used to drive the ecosystem model ERSEM which has been adapted to explicitly include a permafrost tDOM input. This coupled model system allows us to investigate both the role of present day tDOM in an Arctic coastal ecosystem and to hypothesise on the impact of increases in future. In particular we attempt to quantify the efficacy of the microbial carbon pump under different tDOM inputs.

Description: No other region has warmed as rapidly in the past decades as the Arctic. Funded by the British Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Changing Arctic Carbon cycle in the Coastal Ocean Near-shore (CACOON) project investigates how this warming influences Arctic coastal-marine ecosystems. Arctic rivers annually carry around 13% of the globally transported dissolved organic carbon (despite the Arctic Ocean making up only approx. 1% of the Earth's ocean volume). Arctic shelf waters are therefore dominated by terrestrial organic carbon pools, so that shelf ecosystems are intimately linked to freshwater supplies. Arctic ecosystems also contain permafrost organic carbon that may be released with warming. Climate change already thaws permafrost, reduces sea ice and increases riverine discharge, triggering important feedbacks. The importance of the near-shore region, consisting of several tightly connected ecosystems that include rivers, deltas, and the shelf, is however often overlooked. Year-round studies are scarce but needed to predict the impact of shifting seasonality, fresher water, changing nutrient supply and greater proportions of permafrost-derived organic carbon on coastal waters. The aims of the CACOON project are to quantify the effect of changing freshwater export and permafrost thaw on the type and fate of river-borne organic matter (OM) delivered to the Arctic shore and resulting changes on ecosystem functioning in the coastal Arctic Ocean. We are achieving this through a combined observational, experimental, and modelling approach. We conduct laboratory experiments to parameterise the susceptibility of terrigenous organic carbon to abiotic and biotic transformation and losses, then use the results from these to deliver a marine ecosystem model capable of representing major biogeochemical cycles. We apply this model to assess how future changes to freshwater runoff and carbon fluxes alter the ecosystems. To reach these aims, we conducted 4 field campaigns in 2019 in the Lena (see https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/53575/) and Kolyma Delta region. In the Lena Delta, during spring we were using a mobile camp on sledges to collect water samples, ice cores, surface sediments, gas samples as well as CTD profiles. A permafrost cliff (Sobo-Sise) was sampled to analyse terrestrial endmembers of organic matter entering the deltaic and eventually marine system following erosion and transport. During the summer campaign we retrieved samples along a 200 km transect from the centre of the Delta to the Laptev Sea covering the fresh-salt water transition. The aim of Kolyma field sampling was to capture the open water season from the ice breakup to re-freezing and sample the Kolyma River and the near shore area. The lab work on these samples is currently ongoing with first papers lead by CACOON or with project contributions being published already (available here: https://www.researchgate.net/project/CACOON-Changing-Arctic-Carbon-cycle-in-the-coastal-ocean-near-shore).

Description: No other region has warmed as much or as rapidly in the past decades as the Arctic. A new project, CACOON, will investigate how the ecosystems are influenced by this warming. Funded by the British Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), CACOON will also help to better predict changes to the Arctic coastal-marine environment. Arctic rivers annually carry around 13% of all dissolved organic carbon transported globally from land to ocean, despite the Arctic Ocean making up only approximately 1% of the Earth’s ocean volume. Arctic shelf waters are therefore dominated by terrestrial carbon pools, so that shelf ecosystems are intimately linked to freshwater supplies. Arctic ecosystems also contain perennially frozen carbon that may be released by further warming. Climate change already thaws permafrost, reduces sea-ice and increases riverine discharge over much of the pan-Arctic, triggering important feedbacks. The importance of the near-shore region, consisting of several tightly connected ecosystems that include rivers, deltas, estuaries and the continental shelf, is however often overlooked. We need year-round studies to be able to predict the impact of shifting seasonality, fresher water, changing nutrient supply and greater proportions of permafrost-derived carbon on coastal waters CACOON addresses this knowledge gap by investigating the near-shore regions of the two major Arctic rivers, the Lena and Kolyma, which together drain 19% of the pan-Arctic watershed area. CACOON will quantify the effect of changing freshwater export and terrestrial permafrost thaw on the type and fate of river-borne organic matter delivered to Arctic coastal waters, and the resultant changes to ecosystem functioning in the coastal Arctic Ocean. We will achieve this though a combined observational, experimental and modelling study. We will conduct laboratory experiments to parameterize the susceptibility of terrigenous carbon to abiotic and biotic transformation and losses, then use the results from these to deliver a marine ecosystem model of the major biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nutrients and organic matter cycling in these regions.