2 research outputs found
Seasonal patterns in greenhouse gas emissions from lakes and ponds in a High Arctic polygonal landscape
International audienceAbstract Lakes and ponds can be hotspots for CO 2 and CH 4 emissions, but Arctic studies remain scarce. Here we present diffusive and ebullition fluxes collected over several years from 30 ponds and 4 lakes formed on an organicârich polygonal tundra landscape. Water body morphology strongly affects the mixing regimeâand thus the seasonal patterns in gas emissionsâwith iceâout and autumnal turnover periods identified as hot moments in most cases. The studied thermokarst lake maintained relatively high ebullition rates of millenniaâold CH 4 (up to 3405 14 C YBP). Larger and deeper kettle lakes maintained low fluxes of both gases (century to millenniumâold), slowly turning into a CO 2 sink over the summer. During winter, lakes accumulated CO 2 , which was emitted during the iceâout period. Coalescent polygonal ponds, influenced by photosynthesizing benthic mats, were continuous CO 2 sinks, yet important CH 4 emitters (modern carbon). The highest fluxes were recorded from iceâwedge trough ponds (up to 96âmmol CO 2 equivalent m â2 d â1 ). However, despite clear signs of permafrost carbon inputs via active shore erosion, these sheltered ponds emitted modern to centuryâold greenhouse gases. As the iceâfree period lengthens, scenarios of warmer and wetter conditions could favor both the production of CO 2 and CH 4 from thawing permafrost carbon, and CH 4 production from recently fixed carbon through an atmospheric CO 2 âtoâCH 4 shunt at sites in which primary production is stimulated. This must be carefully considered at the landscape scale, recognizing that older carbon stocks can be mineralized efficiently in specific locations, such as in thermokarst lakes