Title | Characterization of Siberian Arctic coastal sediments: Implications for terrestrial organic carbon export |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2004 |
Authors | Guo, LD, Semiletov, I, Gustafsson, O, Ingri, J, Andersson, P, Dudarev, O, White, D |
Journal | Global Biogeochemical Cycles |
Volume | 18 |
Issue | 1 |
Date Published | Mar 10 |
ISBN Number | 0886-6236 |
Keywords | arctic ocean, BLACK CARBON, climate, CO2, continental-shelf, flux, isotopic composition, lena river, MATTER, ocean, organic carbon, quantification, Sediment |
Abstract | Surface sediments were collected during the 2000 TransArctic Expedition along the Siberian Arctic coastline, including the Ob, Yenisey, Khatanga, Lena, and Indigirka estuaries. Sediments were characterized for elemental composition (total organic carbon, TOC, black carbon, BC, and total N, as well as major and trace elements), isotopic signature (delta(13)C, delta(15)N, Delta(14)C, epsilon(Nd), Sr-87/Sr-86), and organic molecular composition to better understand river export variations over the large spatial scale of the Siberian Arctic. On average, 79 +/- 9% of the total C in sediments was organic while 21 +/- 9% was inorganic. BC made up 9 +/- 4% of the TOC pool, with a general increasing trend from west to east along the Siberian coast. The combined Nd- and Sr-isotopes (epsilon(Nd) and Sr-87/Sr-86) were used to define two distinct sediment sources between east and west Siberian regions with the Khatanga River as a boundary. Data from pyrolysis-GC/MS of the sedimentary organic carbon (SOC) indicated an increase in the freshness of the organic matter from west to east on the Siberian Arctic coast, with increasing relative abundance of furfurals (polysaccharides) with respect to nitriles. Values for the delta(13)C of SOC ranged from -27.1% (mostly terrigenous) to -23.8%, while delta(15)N increased from east to west (3.1 to 5.2%) with a significant correlation with C/N ratio. Values for the Delta(14)C of SOC ranged from -805 to -279%, with a consistent trend increasing from the east (Indigirka River) to the west (Ob River). These D 14 C values corresponded to a 14 C age of 2570 +/- 30 yBP in the Ob estuary and 13,050 +/- 50 yBP in the Indigirka estuary. Most importantly, D 14 C values were significantly correlated with the ratio of BC/TOC (R-2 = 0.91, n = 6), consistent with the distribution pattern of increasing permafrost zone from the west to the east along the Siberian coast. Together, our results suggest that older OC was derived from the release of recalcitrant BC during permafrost thawing and riverbank and coastal erosion, likely enhanced by ongoing environmental changes in the northern ecosystem. |
URL | http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=WOS&DestLinkType=FullRecord;UT=WOS:000220432900001 |
DOI | 10.1029/2003GB002087 |