Anthropogenic aerosols as a source of ancient dissolved organic matter in glaciers

Stubbins, Aron; Hood, Eran; Raymond, Peter A.; Aiken, George R.; Sleighter, Rachel L.; Hernes, Peter J.; Butman, David; Hatcher, Patrick G.; Striegl, Robert G.; Schuster, Paul F.; Abdulla, Hussain; Vermilyea, A.; Scott, Durelle T.; Spencer, Robert G. M.

doi:10.1038/ngeo1403

Cited by 210 publications

(235 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Hydrophobic acid isolates from reverse osmosis of SR NOM II collected in 2012 have a higher average molecular weight, and 13 C NMR studies revealed more aromatic functional groups than for SR NOM I (Kreller et al, 2015;Nwosu and Cook, 2014). This suggests that this site may have been influenced by aerosol anthropogenic input (Stubbins et al, 2012b;Spencer et al, 2014).…”

Section: Spe-doc and Bc Cyclingmentioning

confidence: 93%

Solid phase extraction method for the study of black carbon cycling in dissolved organic carbon using radiocarbon

2015

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a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f oRadiocarbon analysis is a powerful tool for understanding the cycling of individual components within carbon pools, such as black carbon (BC) in dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Radiocarbon (Δ 14 C) measurements of BC in DOC provide insight into one source of aged, recalcitrant DOC. We report a modified solid phase extraction (SPE) method to concentrate 43 ± 6% of DOC (SPE-DOC) from seawater. We used the Benzene Polycarboxylic Acid (BPCA) method to isolate BC from SPE-DOC (SPE-BC) for subsequent 14 C analysis. We report SPE-BC Δ 14 C values, SPE-BC concentrations, and the relative BPCA distributions from Milli-Q water process blanks, two riverine reference standards, as well as a coastal and an open ocean surface water sample. The composition of BC is less aromatic in the ocean samples than those in the river standards. We find higher BC Δ 14 C values in the river standards (+148 to −462‰) than BC in the ocean samples (−592 to −712‰), suggesting that BC ages within oceanic DOC. We report that BC is 4.2 ± 1.0% of SPE-DOC in the open ocean surface sample, or 1.4 ± 0.1 μM C. This work provides the methodological basis by which global BC concentrations, compositions (e.g. relative abundances of BPCA marker compounds) and Δ 14C values can be assessed.

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Section: Spe-doc and Bc Cyclingmentioning

confidence: 93%

Solid phase extraction method for the study of black carbon cycling in dissolved organic carbon using radiocarbon

2015

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“…Also, glacierderived dissolved organic matter represents a highly bioavailable source of carbon to downstream ecosystems (Hood et al, 2009). The sources of this organic matter can include the remnants of terrestrial organic matter overrun by glaciers (Bardgett et al, 2007;Hood et al, 2009;Bhatia et al, 2010), in situ microbial processes (Pautler et al, 2011) and deposition of anthropogenic aerosol (Stubbins et al, 2012). If the organic material is released during glacial melt (which is accelerating due to climate change), it may alter the carbon cycle of surrounding aquatic environments, potentially by stimulating microbial activity.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Organics in environmental ices: sources, chemistry, and impacts

et al. 2012

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Abstract. The physical, chemical, and biological processes involving organics in ice in the environment impact a number of atmospheric and biogeochemical cycles. Organic material in snow or ice may be biological in origin, deposited from aerosols or atmospheric gases, or formed chemically in situ. In this manuscript, we review the current state of knowledge regarding the sources, properties, and chemistry of organic materials in environmental ices. Several outstanding questions remain to be resolved and fundamental data gathered before an accurate model of transformations and transport of organic species in the cryosphere will be possible. For example, more information is needed regarding the quantitative impacts of chemical and biological processes, ice morphology, and snow formation on the fate of organic material in cold regions. Interdisciplinary work at the interfaces of chemistry, physics and biology is needed in order to fully characterize the nature and evolution of organics in the cryosphere and predict the effects of climate change on the Earth's carbon cycle.

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“…The aged DOC in larger basins may therefore have been respired before the DOC reached the sampling point. If the source of the aged DOC is truly combustion-derived, highly aromatic OC, however, it would likely persist in the aquatic system, as was observed by Stubbins et al (2012). The source of aged DOC in the Fraser, in contrast, appears to be related to more than just the presence of glaciers.…”

Section: Carbon Composition Evidence Of Sources and Biogeochemical Inmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…Combustion-derived aerosols are a major source of ancient OC in surface waters and soils globally . DOC in streams draining coastal and mountainous glaciers of western North America in particular have been shown to contain a significant aged component, most likely from aerosols derived from fossil fuel combustion Stubbins et al, 2012). Though less directly impacted by air masses originating from east Asia (the predominant source for aerosols to the North American west coast), mountain glaciers of the Fraser River may be affected by deposition of such pre-aged anthropogenic OC.…”

Section: Carbon Composition Evidence Of Sources and Biogeochemical Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal dynamics of biogeochemical processes in the Fraser River, Canada : a coupled organic-inorganic perspective

Voß¹

2014

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The great geologic and climatic diversity of the Fraser River basin in southwestern Canada render it an excellent location for understanding biogeochemical cycling of sediments and terrigenous organic carbon in a relatively pristine, large, temperate watershed. Sediments delivered by all tributaries have the potential to reach the ocean due to a lack of main stem lakes or impoundments, a unique feature for a river of its size. This study documents the concentrations of a suite of dissolved and particulate organic and inorganic constituents, which elucidate spatial and temporal variations in chemical weathering (including carbonate weathering in certain areas) as well as organic carbon mobilization, export, and biogeochemical transformation. Radiogenic strontium isotopes are employed as a tracer of sediment provenance based on the wide variation in bedrock age and lithology in the Fraser basin. The influence of sediments derived from the headwaters is detectable at the river mouth, however more downstream sediment sources predominate, particularly during high discharge conditions. Bulk radiocarbon analyses are used to quantify terrestrial storage timescales of organic carbon and distinguish between petrogenic and biospheric organic carbon, which is critical to assessing the role of rivers in long-term atmospheric CO 2 consumption. The estimated terrestrial residence time of biospheric organic carbon in the Fraser basin is 650 years, which is relatively short compared to other larger rivers (Amazon, Ganges-Brahmaputra) in which this assessment has been performed, and is likely related to the limited floodplain storage capacity and non-steadystate post-glacial erosion state of the Fraser River. A large portion of the dissolved inorganic carbon load of the Fraser River (>80%) is estimated to derive from remineralization of dissolved organic carbon, particularly during the annual spring freshet when organic carbon concentrations increase rapidly. This thesis establishes a baseline for carbon cycling in a largely unperturbed modern mid-latitude river system and establishes a framework for future process studies on the mechanisms of organic carbon turnover and organic matter-mineral associations in river systems.

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Anthropogenic aerosols as a source of ancient dissolved organic matter in glaciers

Cited by 210 publications

References 30 publications

Solid phase extraction method for the study of black carbon cycling in dissolved organic carbon using radiocarbon

Solid phase extraction method for the study of black carbon cycling in dissolved organic carbon using radiocarbon

Organics in environmental ices: sources, chemistry, and impacts

Spatial and temporal dynamics of biogeochemical processes in the Fraser River, Canada : a coupled organic-inorganic perspective

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