Dissolved organic matter quality in thermokarst lake water and sediments across a permafrost gradient, Western Siberia

Abstract

Thermokarst (thaw) lakes of permafrost peatlands are among the most important sentinels of climate change and sizable contributors of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in high latitudes. These lakes are humic, often acidic and exhibit fast growing/drainage depending on the local environmental and permafrost thaw. In contrast to good knowledge of the thermokarst lake water hydrochemistry and GHG fluxes, the sediments pore waters remain virtually unknown, despite the fact that these are hot spots of biogeochemical processes including GHG generation. Towards better understating of dissolved organic matter (DOM) quality at the lake water – sediment interface and in the sediments pore waters, here we studied concentration and optical (UV, visual) properties of DOM of 11 thermokarst lakes located in four permafrost zones of Western Siberia Lowland. We found systematic evaluation of DOM concentration, SUVA and various optical parameters along the vertical profile of lake sediments. The lake size and hence, the stage of lake development, had generally weak control on DOM quality.The permafrost zone exhibited clear impact on DOM porewater concentration, optical characteristics, aromaticity and weight average molecular weight (WAMW). The lowest quality of DOM, reflected in highest SUVA and WAMW, corresponding to the dominance of terrestrial sources, was observed at the southern boundary of the permafrost, in the sporadic/discontinuous zone. This suggests active mobilization of organic matter leachates from the interstitial peat and soil porewaters to the lake, presumably via subsurface or suprapermafrost influx. Applying a substitute space for time scenario for future evolution of OM characteristics in thermokarst lake sediments of Western Siberia, we foresee a decrease of DOM quality, molecular weight and potential bioavailability in lakes of continuous permafrost zone, and an increase in these parameters in the sporadic/discontinuous permafrost zone.