Divergent changes in particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon upon permafrost thaw

Futing Liu, Shuqi Qin, Kai Fang, Leiyi Chen, Yunfeng Peng, Pete Smith and Yuanhe Yang ()
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Futing Liu: Chinese Academy of Forestry
Shuqi Qin: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Kai Fang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Leiyi Chen: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yunfeng Peng: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Pete Smith: University of Aberdeen
Yuanhe Yang: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Permafrost thaw can stimulate microbial decomposition and induce soil carbon (C) loss, potentially triggering a positive C-climate feedback. However, earlier observations have concentrated on bulk soil C dynamics upon permafrost thaw, with limited evidence involving soil C fractions. Here, we explore how the functionally distinct fractions, including particulate and mineral-associated organic C (POC and MAOC) as well as iron-bound organic C (OC-Fe), respond to permafrost thaw using systematic measurements derived from one permafrost thaw sequence and five additional thermokarst-impacted sites on the Tibetan Plateau. We find that topsoil POC content substantially decreases, while MAOC content remains stable and OC-Fe accumulates due to the enriched Fe oxides after permafrost thaw. Moreover, the proportion of MAOC and OC-Fe increases along the thaw sequence and at most of the thermokarst-impacted sites. The relatively enriched stable soil C fractions would alleviate microbial decomposition and weaken its feedback to climate warming over long-term thermokarst development.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32681-7

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