Degrading permafrost river catchments and their impact on Arctic Ocean nearshore processes

Arctic warming is causing ancient perennially frozen ground (permafrost) to thaw, resulting in ground collapse, and reshaping of landscapes. This threatens Arctic peoples'' infrastructure, cultural sites, and land-based natural resources. Terrestrial permafrost thaw and ongoing intensification of hydrological cycles also enhance the amount and alter the type of organic carbon (OC) delivered from land to Arctic nearshore environments. These changes may affect coastal processes, food web dynamics and marine resources on which many traditional ways of life rely. Here, we examine how future projected increases in runoff and permafrost thaw from two permafrost-dominated Siberian watersheds—the Kolyma and Lena, may alter carbon turnover rates and OC distributions through river networks. We demonstrate that the unique composition of terrestrial permafrost-derived OC can cause significant increases to aquatic carbon degradation rates (20 to 60% faster rates with 1% permafrost OC). We compile results on aquatic OC degradation and examine how strengthening Arctic hydrological cycles may increase the connectivity between terrestrial landscapes and receiving nearshore ecosystems, with potential ramifications for coastal carbon budgets and ecosystem structure. To address the future challenges Arctic coastal communities will face, we argue that it will become essential to consider how nearshore ecosystems will respond to changing coastal inputs and identify how these may affect the resiliency and availability of essential food resources.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01666-z.     

Long Term NH3 Flux Measurements above Grasslands in The Netherlands

Ammonia concentration gradients were measuredabove a grassland in an agricultural region fromJuly 1998 to July 2000 at the locationSchagerbrug in the Netherlands. They were used tocalculate the surface-atmosphere exchange ofammonia by means of the aerodynamic gradienttechnique. Measurements of the ammonia exchangewere also performed at a grass field that is partof a major wetland reserve in the centre of theNetherlands (Oostvaardersplassen), during theperiod June 1994–September 1995. At Schagerbrug,low net emissions or small depositions weremeasured during the winter months, and a netemission up to 5 kg NH₃ ha^-1 month^-1 in summer. The net annual emission was 26 kgN ha^-1, with manure application contributingabout 50% of this emission. AtOostvaardersplassen mainly deposition occurred,but large emissions were measured in autumn. Themeasured exchange fluxes are compared to modelevaluations that incorporate plant physiologicaldata, such as apoplastic NH₄ ⁺concentrations and pH. Results show a goodagreement between field observations and modelsimulations, although some improvements arenecessary during nighttime periods. Themeasurements are conducted within the GRAMINAEproject, a second tranche project of EC TERI.     

Accumulation and metal fluxes in the central Venice Lagoon during the last century

Samples from 18 short sediment cores were analyzed for major and trace metals (Al, Fe, Ca, K, Mg, Mn, Si, Ti, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr), ²¹⁰Pb, ¹³⁷Cs, total organic carbon, grain size, and mineralogical composition to find the record of major environmental changes, either natural or anthropogenic, and to establish their chronologies. Some sediments are characterized by nearly constant composition over time, but others clearly show signs of an increasing marine influence, as an increase of the carbonate contents, after the opening of the Malamocco-Marghera Canal in 1969. These changes sometimes obscure the real pattern of pollutants and tracers, which is revealed by normalization against Al. Zn is the most important contaminant, with concentration factors up to 9.3 times the background level, and the most contaminated sediments are those within a few kilometers from the industrial district of Porto Marghera. ²¹⁰Pb activity-depth profiles were used to calculate apparent accumulation rates that provide a basis for the assessment of metal fluxes. The sediments of several sites show a significant increase in anthropogenic metal contamination starting from the second decade of last century, with maximum inputs from 1930 to 1970. The decrease of heavy metal concentrations observed in surficial sediments of some sampling sites could be related to a recent reduction of pollutant inputs.     

Inertial oscillations and particle flux interactions in a marine protected area in Gulf of Naples

The area between the island of Capri and Punta Campanella was investigated from June to November 2003. Punta Campanella separates the Gulf of Naples from the Gulf of Salerno and has been declared a marine protected area in 1997. The study area has a particular interesting topography, due to the presence of a sill situated at a depth of 80 m. Samples were collected by instruments carried on a mooring array (sediment trap, current meters, and temperature sensors) and by CTD cast (along transects perpendicular to the coast). We observed most important fluctuations in the temperature spectra (corresponding to the inertial oscillations period), in August. The total mass flux was 585.67 mg m^-2 d^-1 in the summer, while in early autumn the flux exhibited values one order of magnitude higher than in summer (1539.97 mg m^-2 d^-1). The main focus of this study was to understand the influence of the internal waves on the particle flux. During the autumn, in the particle flux collected, there is a strong resuspension component, and the observation that the enhanced inertial oscillations and increased sedimentation occur at the same time allows us to presume that the inertial oscillations could be one of the reasons for the resuspension process during the sampling period.     

Evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions from wetland and agriculture ecosystems in Sanjiang Plain

Carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) are important greenhouse gases (GHGs). The objective of this study is to quantify the aggregate GHG (CH₄, N₂O and CO₂) emissions and estimate economic losses of three ecosystems (marsh, paddy field and upland) in the Sanjiang Plain, excluding the Muling-Xiangkai Plain, south of Wanda Mountain. The results indicate the economic losses from GHG emissions of marshes were from 6.40 to 7.75?×?10⁹ CNY (Chinese Yuan), those of paddy fields were from 1.41 to 3.20?×?10⁹ CNY; and from uplands were from 0.26 to 0.49?×?10⁹ CNY. Using linear trend analysis, the economic losses through GHG emissions of marshes fell between 1982 and 2005, but those from paddy fields and uplands increased. In our study, the sequence in magnitude of the economic losses from GHG emissions was: marshes > paddy fields > uplands. In fact, the economic value of GHG emissions was negative because of these adverse impacts on the environment. This article could provide a reference for calculation of GHG exchange. The results suggest that improvement of fertiliser use efficiency for more precise agricultural management and returning straw to cropland could mitigate GHG emissions and would help to achieve sustainable development.     

The Importance of Leaching from Litter Collected in Litterfall Traps

Litterfall (LF) is usually collected by means of opentraps. However, this litter will be subject toleaching by the throughfall which passes through theaccumulated litter in the traps. The nutrients lostduring this leaching are not taken into account in thecalculation of LF nutrient fluxes. We report theresults from a 2-month (August–September) studycarried out in 8 northern coniferous forest stands toassess the possible importance of leaching from litterin LF traps. Compared to throughfall (TF), thelitterfall leachate (LFL_gross), which includes athroughfall component, had significantly (p < 0.05)higher concentrations and fluxes of Ca, Mg, Na and S.The average net LFL (i.e., LFL_net = LFL_gross-TF) fluxes were 21 (Ca), 7 (Mg), 57 (K), 10 (Na), 10 (N), and 19 (S) mg m^-2 mo^-1. LFL_net accounted for 42%, 37% and 50% of the LFL_gross flux, and for 91%, 51% and 49% of the total litterfall flux (i.e.,LF + LFL_net) of Na, S and K, respectively. ForCa, Mg and N, the LFL_net flux accounted for 64%,58% and 29% of the LFL_gross flux, and for< 14% of the total litterfall flux. Compared to TF,LF was the dominant return pathway for Ca, Mg and N tothe forest floor regardless of whether LFL_net wasincluded or not. However, for K and S, takingLFL_net into account determined whether TF or LFwas the dominant pathway. TF remained the dominantpathway for Na even when LFL_net was included.     

秦岭油松林不同坡位土壤CO2、CH4、N2O通量研究

在秦岭南坡火地塘林区天然次生油松林内选取上、中、下3个坡位,采用静态箱-气相色谱法对土壤CO_2、CH_4、N_2O通量进行了1年的监测.结果表明,坡位间土壤质地和水分的差别是引起不同坡位CO_2与N_2O通量差异的主要原因:下坡位土质为壤土,水分适宜,CO_2平均排放量为(156.49±9.72)mg·m~(-2)·h~(-1),CH_4平均吸收量为(77.43±14.27)μg·m~(-2)·h~(-1),都处于3个坡位间最高水平;中坡位土质为粉砂壤土,土壤粒径小,透气性差,CO_2排放量和CH_4吸收量均为3个坡位间的最小值,N_2O平均排放量为(9.57±0.66)μg·m~(-2)·h~(-1),为3个坡位间的最高值,且显著高于上坡位土壤N_2O通量(p0.01);上坡位土质为砂壤土,土壤孔隙度大且地表植被少,N_2O平均排放量为(5.59±0.74)μg·m~(-2)·h~(-1),为3个坡位间的最小值.总体来说,油松林土壤是CO_2、N_2O的排放源,是CH_4的吸收汇.3个坡位CO_2年通量具有明显的季节规律,表现为倒"S"形变化,且与土壤温度显著正相关(p0.01).受冻融循环的影响,N_2O主要在非生长季大量排放;生长季末期,受降雨事件影响,油松林中坡位出现N_2O吸收峰值.生长季上、下坡位CH_4吸收峰值的出现同样伴随着降雨事件的发生,非生长季,中坡位因土壤水分过高而出现短暂的CH_4排放现象.不同坡位土壤温室气体的全球增温潜势(Global Warming Potential,GWP)从大到小依次是上坡位、下坡位和中坡位.     

巢湖西部河口区沉积物氮磷分布特征与原位扩散通量估算

选取巢湖西部重污染入湖河口区,研究表层沉积物氮磷污染特征,并运用Fick定律估算沉积物-水界面氮磷原位扩散通量.结果表明:南淝河、派河、十五里河河口表层沉积物总氮平均含量达到2208.17 mg·kg~(-1),氮形态以有机氮为主,占比达到90%以上.表层沉积物总磷平均含量为704.59 mg·kg~(-1),其中铁铝结合磷、活性有机磷和钙镁结合磷分别占比27%、28%和18%.河口区水体氨氮浓度从上覆水到孔隙水中总体呈上升趋势,沉积物表层(0~5 cm)孔隙水中氨氮平均浓度为25.42 mg·L~(-1),是上覆水中的7倍.沉积物孔隙水中硝氮与正磷酸盐浓度在垂向上随深度的增加呈先上升后降低的趋势,在沉积物-水界面附近达到浓度最高值.3个河口沉积物孔隙水中氮磷营养盐均向上覆水扩散,其中氨氮扩散通量分别为25.87、74.85与18.08 mg·m~(-2)·d~(-1).硝氮与正磷酸盐扩散通量较低,范围分别在1.38~2.78和0.011~0.024 mg·m~(-2)·d~(-1)之间.总体上看,巢湖西部河流入湖河口区表层沉积物氮污染严重,且存在较高的氮磷营养盐释放风险,应是巢湖富营养化控制过程中重点关注的区域.     

水热条件对不同坡位兴安落叶松林土壤CH4通量的影响

兴安落叶松林是我国北方最大的针叶林,在我国具有重要的碳汇地位,对我国以及全球的气候变化具有重要影响。由于独特的高寒高湿和多年冻土的特殊生态环境,兴安落叶松林土壤中 CH4的吸收与释放的规律与众不同。因此,开展对土壤 CH4动态及其与环境关系的研究,对揭示兴安落叶松林碳汇能力的形成、碳释放动态以及兴安落叶松林对气候变化的作用具有重要的理论和实践意义。作者于2011年5月到9月间在内蒙古根河国家生态站,在不同坡位的4种典型兴安落叶松林群落中布设样地,采用静态箱-红外气体分析仪收集气体并分析CH4通量的变化,同时测定不同深度的土壤温度,测定土壤含水率。借助SAS方差分析、相关性分析等统计方法,对兴安落叶松林土壤CH4通量的季节变化进行研究,同时分析土壤温度及含水率对 CH4通量的影响。结果表明,CH4的季节动态变化规律：坡顶 CH4通量为春季释放,夏季吸收,秋季释放,吸收大于释放,通量的平均值为-68.12μg·m^-2·h^-1;坡上部CH4通量为春夏秋3季均吸收,通量的平均值为-342.49μg·m^-2·h^-1;坡下部CH4通量为春季释放,夏季吸收,秋季释放,释放大于吸收,通量的平均值为67.8μg·m^-2·h^-1;坡脚CH4通量为春夏秋3季均释放,通量的平均值为263μg·m^-2·h^-1。总的来说,在生长季兴安落叶松林土壤甲烷通量吸收大于释放,说明地处寒温带的大兴安岭是CH4的汇。观测期间CH4通量与温度及土壤含水率均有一定的相关性,二者从不同角度影响CH4通量的变化,而随着坡位的变化土壤水热条件也随之改变,这同样是影响CH4通量的一个重要因素。     

南京轿子山生活垃圾填埋场温室气体释放的变化规律

垃圾填埋场是全球温室气体释放的重要来源. 在南京轿子山生活垃圾填埋场3个具有不同填埋龄(4~13 a)、覆土深度(30~100 cm)和有无填埋气收集系统的平台,采用静态箱气相色谱法对填埋场CH₄和N₂O的释放规律进行了研究. 结果表明:填埋龄与覆土深度对填埋场CH₄和N₂O的释放影响显著,与其他2个平台相比,填埋龄(10~15 a)长、覆土深度(80~100 cm)大且无填埋气收集系统的平台1的CH₄和N₂O四季及昼夜释放通量均相对较小,相差为2个数量级;虽然3个平台温室气体释放通量的昼夜和季节性变化规律并不一致,但在春季均出现最小值,CH₄和N₂O的最小释放通量分别约为30和186.49 μg/(m2·h). 夏季、秋冬季交替及冬春季交替时期,CH₄和N₂O的释放通量均出现峰值,晚上的释放量约占全天释放总量的70%左右. 垃圾填埋场是高度异质性体系,相关性分析表明,CH₄释放通量与覆土温度、覆土含水率无显著相关性,而N₂O释放通量却与这2个指标呈显著相关. CH₄释放通量季节和昼夜性变化较稳定,变异系数范围分别为13%~405%和43%~429%. N₂O释放通量的季节性和昼夜性变异水平较高,变异系数范围分别为15%~1 005%和17%~1 552%,因此有必要进行全时段监测.