Fluvial discharge and coastal erosion of the permafrost-dominated East Siberian Arctic delivers large quantities of terrigenous organic carbon (Terr-OC) to marine waters. The composition and fate of the remobilized Terr-OC needs to be better constrained as it impacts the potential for a climate-carbon feedback. In the present study, the bulk isotope (delta C-13 and Delta C-14) and macromolecular (lignin-derived phenols) composition of the cross-shelf exported organic carbon (OC) in different marine pools is evaluated. For this purpose, as part of the SWERUS-C3 expedition (July-September 2014), sediment organic carbon (SOC) as well as water column (from surface and near-bottom seawater) dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) samples were collected along the outer shelves of the Kara Sea, Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea. The results show that the Lena River and the DOC may have a preferential role in the transport of Terr-OC to the outer shelf. DOC concentrations (740-3600 mu g L-1) were 1 order of magnitude higher than POC (20-360 mu g L-1), with higher concentrations towards the Lena River plume. The delta C-13 signatures in the three carbon pools varied from -23.9 +/- 1.9 parts per thousand in the SOC, 26.1 +/- 1.2 parts per thousand in the DOC and 27.1 +/- 1.9 parts per thousand in the POC. The Delta C-14 values ranged between 395 +/- 83 (SOC), 226 +/- 92 (DOC) and 113 +/- 122 parts per thousand(POC). These stable and radiocarbon isotopes were also different between the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea. Both DOC and POC showed a depleted and younger trend off the Lena River plume. Further, the Pacific inflow and the sea-ice coverage, which works as a barrier preventing the input of "young" DOC and POC, seem to have a strong influence in these carbon pools, presenting older and more enriched delta C-13 signatures under the sea-ice extent. Lignin phenols exhibited higher OC-normalized concentrations in the SOC (0.10-2.34 mg g(-1) OC) and DOC (0.08-2.40 mg g(-1) OC) than in the POC (0.03-1.14 mg g(-1) OC). The good relationship between lignin and Delta C-14 signatures in the DOC suggests that a significant fraction of the outer-shelf DOC comes from " young" Terr-OC. By contrast, the slightly negative correlation between lignin phenols and Delta C-14 signatures in POC, with higher lignin concentrations in older POC from near-bottom waters, may reflect the off-shelf transport of OC from remobilized permafrost in the nepheloid layer. Syringyl/vanillyl and cinnamyl/vannillyl phenol ratios presented distinct clustering between DOC, POC and SOC, implying that those pools may be carrying different Terr-OC of partially different origin. Moreover, 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid to vanillyl phenol ratios and p-coumaric acid to ferulic acid ratios, used as a diagenetic indicators, enhanced in POC and SOC, suggesting more degradation within these pools. Overall, the key contrast between enhanced lignin yields both in the youngest DOC and the oldest POC samples reflects a significant decoupling of terrestrial OC sources and pathways.
Contrasting composition of terrigenous organic matter in the dissolved, particulate and sedimentary organic carbon pools on the outer East Siberian Arctic Shelf
Tesi T;
2016
Abstract
Fluvial discharge and coastal erosion of the permafrost-dominated East Siberian Arctic delivers large quantities of terrigenous organic carbon (Terr-OC) to marine waters. The composition and fate of the remobilized Terr-OC needs to be better constrained as it impacts the potential for a climate-carbon feedback. In the present study, the bulk isotope (delta C-13 and Delta C-14) and macromolecular (lignin-derived phenols) composition of the cross-shelf exported organic carbon (OC) in different marine pools is evaluated. For this purpose, as part of the SWERUS-C3 expedition (July-September 2014), sediment organic carbon (SOC) as well as water column (from surface and near-bottom seawater) dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) samples were collected along the outer shelves of the Kara Sea, Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea. The results show that the Lena River and the DOC may have a preferential role in the transport of Terr-OC to the outer shelf. DOC concentrations (740-3600 mu g L-1) were 1 order of magnitude higher than POC (20-360 mu g L-1), with higher concentrations towards the Lena River plume. The delta C-13 signatures in the three carbon pools varied from -23.9 +/- 1.9 parts per thousand in the SOC, 26.1 +/- 1.2 parts per thousand in the DOC and 27.1 +/- 1.9 parts per thousand in the POC. The Delta C-14 values ranged between 395 +/- 83 (SOC), 226 +/- 92 (DOC) and 113 +/- 122 parts per thousand(POC). These stable and radiocarbon isotopes were also different between the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea. Both DOC and POC showed a depleted and younger trend off the Lena River plume. Further, the Pacific inflow and the sea-ice coverage, which works as a barrier preventing the input of "young" DOC and POC, seem to have a strong influence in these carbon pools, presenting older and more enriched delta C-13 signatures under the sea-ice extent. Lignin phenols exhibited higher OC-normalized concentrations in the SOC (0.10-2.34 mg g(-1) OC) and DOC (0.08-2.40 mg g(-1) OC) than in the POC (0.03-1.14 mg g(-1) OC). The good relationship between lignin and Delta C-14 signatures in the DOC suggests that a significant fraction of the outer-shelf DOC comes from " young" Terr-OC. By contrast, the slightly negative correlation between lignin phenols and Delta C-14 signatures in POC, with higher lignin concentrations in older POC from near-bottom waters, may reflect the off-shelf transport of OC from remobilized permafrost in the nepheloid layer. Syringyl/vanillyl and cinnamyl/vannillyl phenol ratios presented distinct clustering between DOC, POC and SOC, implying that those pools may be carrying different Terr-OC of partially different origin. Moreover, 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid to vanillyl phenol ratios and p-coumaric acid to ferulic acid ratios, used as a diagenetic indicators, enhanced in POC and SOC, suggesting more degradation within these pools. Overall, the key contrast between enhanced lignin yields both in the youngest DOC and the oldest POC samples reflects a significant decoupling of terrestrial OC sources and pathways.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
