Spring snowmelt in the arctic and boreal regions represents the most significant event in the hydrological year. We measured concentrations and fluxes of different carbon species in 2 small contrasting (control v drained) forested peatland catchments in E. Finland between April and June
2008 and compared these to long-term annual fluxes.
Measurements were made using a combination of
continuous sensors (CO2, temperature, pH, discharge)
and routine spot sampling (DOC, POC, DIC, CO2, CH4, N2O). The highest concentrations of CO2 and CH4 in streamwater were observed under low flow conditions before the spring flood event,reflecting accumulation and downstream release of gaseous C at the end of the winter period. Over the
length of the study mean CH4 concentrations were
10x higher in the drained site. The snowmelt event
was associated with a dilution of DOC and CO2,
with the drained catchment showing a much flashier hydrological response compared to the control site,
and post-event, a slower recovery in DOC and CO2
concentrations. Fluxes of all carbon species during
the snowmelt event were significant and represented
37–45% of the annual flux. This highlights the
challenge of quantifying aquatic C fluxes in areas
with large temporal variability and suggests that
inability to ‘‘capture’’ the spring snowmelt event
may lead to under-estimation of C fluxes in northern
regions
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