Spatial and Seasonal Variations of C, Nutrient, and Metal Concentration in Thermokarst Lakes of Western Siberia Across a Permafrost Gradient

Abstract

Thermokarst lakes and ponds formed due to thawing of frozen peat in high-latitude lowlands are very dynamic and environmentally important aquatic systems that play a key role in controlling C emission to atmosphere and organic carbon (OC), nutrient, and metal lateral export to rivers and streams. However, despite the importance of thermokarst lakes in assessing biogeochemical functioning of permafrost peatlands in response to climate warming and permafrost thaw, spatial (lake size, permafrost zone) and temporal (seasonal) variations in thermokarst lake hydrochemistry remain very poorly studied. Here, we used unprecedented spatial coverage (isolated, sporadic, discontinuous, and continuous permafrost zone of the western Siberia Lowland) of 67 lakes ranging in size from 102 to 105 m2 for sampling during three main hydrological periods of the year: spring flood, summer baseflow, and autumn time before ice-on. We demonstrate a systematic, all-season decrease in the concentration of dissolved OC (DOC) and an increase in SO4, N-NO3, and some metal (Mn, Co, Cu, Mo, Sr, U, Sb) concentration with an increase in lake surface area, depending on the type of the permafrost zone. These features are interpreted as a combination of (i) OC and organically bound metal leaching from peat at the lake shore, via abrasion and delivery of these compounds by suprapermafrost flow, and (ii) deep groundwater feeding of large lakes (especially visible in the continuous permafrost zone). Analyses of lake water chemical composition across the permafrost gradient allowed a first-order empirical prediction of lake hydrochemical changes in the case of climate warming and permafrost thaw, employing a substituting space for time scenario. The permafrost boundary shift northward may decrease the concentrations and pools of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), Li, B, Mg, K, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ni, Cu, As, Rb, Mo, Sr, Y, Zr, rare Earth elements (REEs), Th, and U by a factor of 2–5 in the continuous permafrost zone, but increase the concentrations of CH4, DOC, NH4, Cd, Sb, and Pb by a factor of 2–3. In contrast, the shift of the sporadic to isolated zone may produce a 2–5-fold decrease in CH4, DOC, NH4, Al, P, Ti, Cr, Ni, Ga, Zr, Nb, Cs, REEs, Hf, Th, and U. The exact magnitude of this response will, however, be strongly seasonally dependent, with the largest effects observable during baseflow seasons.

Pilot Studies of the Unique Highland Palsa Mire in Western Sayan (Tuva Republic, Russian Federation)

“…Consequently, the waters in Tuva region contain some low values of CO 2 . The lowest values (169.0 and 521.5 µmol•L −1 ) were found in the waters of thermokarst lakes; these values have been somewhat higher than that in the waters of thermokarst lakes in Western Siberia [62]. Moreover, the value of CO 2 in the smallest lake with the largest total number of bacteria is much higher.…”

“…ria [62]. Moreover, the value of CO2 in the smallest lake with the largest total number of bacteria is much higher.…”

“…Moreover, the value of CO2 in the smallest lake with the largest total number of bacteria is much higher. Overall, the gas composition is normally dependent on the area of thermokarst lakes [62]. The highest values of CO2 were found in the waters of small river Adyr-Khem, and that could be resulted from accumulation of runoff from the entire wetland region.…”

“…Рhysico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of lake and river waters. The data of Volkova et al[22] ** The data of Manasypov et al[62].…”

Major-Ion Chemistry and Quality of Water in Rivers of Northern West Siberia

“…The world is currently living through notable climate change evident in many regions, including the high latitudes and specifically the Kara Sea drainage basin [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. The near-surface air temperatures in the northern territories are increasing faster than in the middle and tropic latitudes.…”