Geochemical Features of Ground Ice from the Faddeevsky Peninsula Eastern Coast (Kotelny Island, East Siberian Arctic) as a Key to Understand Paleoenvironmental Conditions of Its Formation

Anfisa Pismeniuk (), Petr Semenov, Alexandra Veremeeva, Wei He, Anna Kozachek, Sergei Malyshev, Elizaveta Shatrova, Anastasiia Lodochnikova and Irina Streletskaya
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Anfisa Pismeniuk: Department of Cryolitology and Glaciology, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
Petr Semenov: All-Russia Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources of the World Ocean (VNIIOkeangeologia), 190121 Saint Petersburg, Russia
Alexandra Veremeeva: Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
Wei He: School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geoscience Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Anna Kozachek: Climate and Environmental Research Laboratory, Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, 199397 Saint Petersburg, Russia
Sergei Malyshev: All-Russia Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources of the World Ocean (VNIIOkeangeologia), 190121 Saint Petersburg, Russia
Elizaveta Shatrova: All-Russia Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources of the World Ocean (VNIIOkeangeologia), 190121 Saint Petersburg, Russia
Anastasiia Lodochnikova: All-Russia Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources of the World Ocean (VNIIOkeangeologia), 190121 Saint Petersburg, Russia
Irina Streletskaya: Department of Cryolitology and Glaciology, Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-23

Abstract: Understanding paleoenvironmental conditions of the permafrost formation allows us to estimate the permafrost carbon pool and its behavior upon thawing in a changing climate. In order to classify different types of ground ice and to reconstruct paleoenvironments, we examined geochemical data of ice wedges (IWs), tabular ground ice (TGI), and lens ice from the eastern coast of the Faddeevsky Peninsula (East Siberian Arctic). We analyzed isotope and ion composition, molecular composition of the gas phase, bulk biogeochemical parameters and dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition in ground ice samples. IWs formed in the Late Pleistocene under the coldest winter conditions and in the Holocene in proximity to the sea. The Holocene IWs have the highest mean d-excess (11–13‰) and a heavier isotope composition by an average of 6‰ compared with the Late Pleistocene IWs. We observe predominance of sea-salt fractions in ion composition of the Holocene IWs, while the Late Pleistocene IW shows enrichment in non-sea-salt component of SO 4 2− (nssSO 4 2− ), which is probably associated with mineral leaching of deposits. Higher dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content in the Late Pleistocene IW (to 17.7 mg/L) may indicate more favorable vegetation conditions or lower degree of organic matter mineralization compared to Holocene IWs and TGI. CH 4 concentrations were relatively low with a maximum value of 2.27 μmol/L. DOM composition, supposed to record the paleoenvironment of the freezing process, was for the first time tried as a biomarker for paleoenvironmental reconstructions of ground ice formation. Parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis of EEM (Excitation-Emission matrix) of fluorescent DOM decomposes four components: P1–P3, which are related to allochthonous humic-like constituents, and P4, which is relevant to autochthonous fraction associated with microbial activity. The distribution of fluorescent DOM tracked the variability in both paleoclimate conditions of the IW formation (discriminating the Holocene and the Late Pleistocene IWs) and types of ground ice (IW and TGI), which demonstrates the potential of the used approach.

Keywords: ground ice; ice wedges; paleoclimate; stable isotope; dissolved organic matter; methane; Faddeevsky; East Siberian Arctic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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