Article
Environmental Sciences
Fenix Garcia-Tigreros, Clayton D. Elder, Martin R. Kurek, Benjamin L. Miller, Xiaomei Xu, Kimberly P. Wickland, Claudia Czimczik, Mark M. Dornblaser, Robert G. Striegl, Ethan D. Kyzivat, Laurence C. Smith, Robert G. M. Spencer, Charles E. Miller, David E. Butman
Summary: Northern high-latitude lakes are important for carbon processing and emission of permafrost-derived carbon. The fate and emission pathways of permafrost carbon in these lakes remain uncertain. This study used radiocarbon dating to identify the sources of carbon in nine lakes in Alaska and found that permafrost-derived carbon contributes to the dissolved carbon in some lakes, but the overall transport of permafrost carbon in the lakes is small.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Qiannan Yang, Ziping Liu, Edith Bai
Summary: This study investigated the long-term carbon and nitrogen dynamics in a temperate peatland in Northeast China. The results showed that the peatland changed from a fen to a bog due to tephra and climate change. The study indicated that decomposition processes play a more crucial role in carbon and nitrogen sequestration than vegetation production in peatlands.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. P. Waldrop, J. McFarland, K. L. Manies, M. C. Leewis, S. J. Blazewicz, M. C. Jones, R. B. Neumann, J. K. Keller, L. Cohen, E. S. Euskirchen, C. Edgar, M. R. Turetsky, W. L. Cable
Summary: The study shows that after permafrost thaw, younger collapse-scar bogs exhibit higher methane production potential and greater summer in situ respiration rates. Winter is a critical period for carbon flux to the atmosphere, where differences in thermokarst age result in varying surface fluxes.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Yuzhong Yang, Qingbai Wu, Fengjing Liu, Huijun Jin
Summary: This study characterized the hydrological transitions and water balance of thermokarst lakes in the Source Area of Yellow River on a large scale using stable isotope method, revealing significant spatial and seasonal deviations in hydrological processes. The seasonal water balance of thermokarst lakes in the region is combatively controlled by air temperature, precipitation regimes, and permafrost degradation. Future hydrological trajectories of these lakes are expected to change under climatic warming and permafrost degradation.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Evan J. Wilcox, Brent B. Wolfe, Philip Marsh
Summary: Thermokarst lake water balances in the Arctic are vulnerable to climate change due to increasing air temperature and shifting precipitation patterns. A study in the tundra uplands of Canada found that lake and watershed properties play a role in mediating lakes' response to climate change. Through isotope analysis of 25 lakes, the study identified four distinct water balance phases and established a relationship between watershed area to lake area ratio (WA =LA) and the ratio of evaporation to inflow (E=I). The observed E=I ratios were relatively low and narrow, indicating that the lakes are not vulnerable to desiccation.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Olga V. Churakova (Sidorova), Trevor J. Porter, Mikhail S. Zharkov, Marina Fonti, Valentin V. Barinov, Anna Taynik, Alexander Kirdyanov, Anastasya A. Knorre, Martin Wegmann, Tatyana Trushkina, Nataly N. Koshurnikova, Eugene A. Vaganov, Vladimir S. Myglan, Rolf T. W. Siegwolf, Matthias Saurer
Summary: This study analyzed stable isotopes in tree rings from Canada and found that summer air temperature plays a crucial role in determining tree ring isotope variability. The study also identified the effects of precipitation, relative humidity, vapor pressure deficit, and sunshine duration on tree ring isotopes. By combining multiple stable isotopes in tree ring studies, a comprehensive description of climate variability in boreal regions can be achieved.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Oleg S. Pokrovsky, Rinat M. Manasypov, Oksana A. Pavlova, Liudmila S. Shirokova, Sergey N. Vorobyev
Summary: This study quantified the phytoplankton characteristics of 27 thermokarst lakes in the Western Siberia Lowland, revealing that biodiversity was highest in lakes with continuous permafrost and relatively stable across seasons; the biomass and cell number of phytoplankton showed correlations with Dissolved Organic Carbon, phosphate, and some metal micro-nutrients.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
J. J. Gibson, P. Eby, S. J. Birks, C. Twitchell, C. Gray, J. Kariyeva
Summary: This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the water balance of wetlands in Alberta, Canada, including the oil sands region. By incorporating climate reanalysis, watershed data, and isotopic data, the study reveals systematic variations in evaporation losses, runoff, groundwater inflow, and wetland discharge across different subregions. The findings provide valuable insights for water resource management and ecological conservation in the region.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
K. M. Walter Anthony, P. Lindgren, P. Hanke, M. Engram, P. Anthony, R. P. Daanen, A. Bondurant, A. K. Liljedahl, J. Lenz, G. Grosse, B. M. Jones, L. Brosius, S. R. James, B. J. Minsley, N. J. Pastick, J. Munk, J. P. Chanton, C. E. Miller, F. J. Meyer
Summary: Thermokarst lakes in interior Alaska play a significant role in accelerating permafrost thaw and releasing carbon dioxide and methane, thus contributing to climate warming. The spatiotemporal dynamics of hotspot-seep CH4 emissions provide valuable insights into the impact of abrupt permafrost thaw on climate feedback.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jie Hu, Luyao Kang, Ziliang Li, Xuehui Feng, Caifan Liang, Zan Wu, Wei Zhou, Xuning Liu, Yuanhe Yang, Leiyi Chen
Summary: The mechanisms of photochemical and biological degradation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in thermokarst lakes are not well understood. This study used advanced techniques to show that photo-produced aromatic compounds, rather than aliphatic compounds, stimulate the microbial degradation of DOC. These findings highlight the importance of aromatic compounds in regulating the sunlight effects on DOC biodegradation in thermokarst lakes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lorna I. Harris, David Olefeldt, Nicolas Pelletier, Christian Blodau, Klaus-Holger Knorr, Julie Talbot, Liam Heffernan, Merritt Turetsky
Summary: Rapid permafrost thaw in western Canada is causing net carbon loss and new carbon accumulation in peatlands. Although there are no significant changes to the quality and stability of deep peat following thaw, the exact mechanisms of carbon loss are still uncertain.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
J. J. Gibson, S. J. Birks, F. Castrillon-Munoz, M. House, D. Vitt, X. Fan
Summary: A water and vegetation sampling program was conducted at McClelland Wetland in northeastern Alberta, Canada to study the current and past hydrology, revealing long-term groundwater source areas and contemporary permafrost thaw zones. Isotopic tracers, vegetation surveys, and flark orientation were used to characterize water sources, pathways, and evaporation, providing insights into historical peatland changes and spatial-temporal evolution.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yang Su, Youhua Ran, Guoqing Zhang, Xin Li
Summary: This study utilized remote sensing data to analyze the changes in lake surface area in permafrost regions. The results show an overall increase in lake area, but also indicate that seasonal lake area can both increase and decrease. These changes are most pronounced in low-lying areas, high-density lake regions, and warm permafrost regions, suggesting the significance of thawing or disappearance of permafrost in driving lake changes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhigang Wang, Xiaoyan Li, Yuanhong Deng, Xin Liu, Yangyang Zhang
Summary: This study used stable isotope techniques to investigate saline lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and found significant spatial variability in their stable isotopes due to the source of water vapor, recharge patterns, and local evaporation conditions. The average water vapor recycling ratio of saline lakes on the QTP was 20.16%, with some lakes exceeding 30%. Saline lakes lose 26% of their water through evaporation, with 26% experiencing high evaporation losses of over 40% of the total inflow. Precipitation and altitude were identified as the main factors controlling the water vapor recycling ratio and evaporation loss, respectively, with significant differences found between saline lakes above and below 4500 m elevation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Taro Nakai, Tetsuya Hiyama, Ayumi Kotani, Yoshihiro Iijima, Takeshi Ohta, Trofim C. Maximov
Summary: A simple stochastic representation of spatial variability in thaw depth was proposed in this study. Thaw depth distribution in two larch-type forests in eastern Siberia, Spasskaya Pad and Elgeeii, exhibited different spatial, seasonal, and interannual variability. The year-to-year variation in active-layer thickness was minimal in Spasskaya Pad compared to Elgeeii. The gamma distribution was found to adequately represent the spatial variability in thaw depth at both sites. A simple model using the gamma distribution was developed to illustrate the spatial variability in thaw depth at any thawing stage based on a given mean thaw depth.
PERMAFROST AND PERIGLACIAL PROCESSES
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
John G. Manchuk, Jean S. Birks, Cynthia N. McClain, Guy Bayegnak, John J. Gibson, Clayton V. Deutsch
Summary: Groundwater monitoring in the Athabasca region of Alberta, Canada, uses data from over 5000 wells to develop stable values for detecting changes in geochemistry over time and identifying candidate wells for continued observations. The study evaluates temporal anomalies, quantifies temporal variance, and assesses entropy of time series to determine wells near active industry lease boundaries that require further monitoring. Visual plots based on stable values provide valuable insights for regional mapping and detecting future changes.
NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Ecology
A. U. Anish, K. R. Baiju, Praveen Kurian Thomas, Milan Anns, P. B. Rajkumar, Sreeraj Babu
Summary: By compiling data from GIS-enabled morphometric studies on rivers, a better understanding of the lithologic, tectonic, and climatic controls on river development in Kerala state is gained, with prospects to create an updated digital Drainage Network Atlas.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
John J. Gibson, Sandra Jean Birks, Michael C. Moncur, Amy Vallarino, Caren Kusel, Mikaela Cherry
Summary: Hydrology and geochemistry studies were conducted in the Athabasca Oil Sands region to assess the potential for nitrogen transport between adjacent terrain units. Results indicate that nitrogen exchange has minor or negligible influence on critical loads across the regional landscape.
Article
Water Resources
J. J. Gibson, T. Holmes, T. A. Stadnyk, S. J. Birks, P. Eby, A. Pietroniro
Summary: The study conducted a comprehensive analysis of stable isotopic composition in gauged watersheds across Canada and presented a watershed-based assessment of vapour and runoff partitioning. The research applied an isotope-based methodology to estimate evaporation/inflow and transpiration/evapotranspiration, revealing systematic variations in water loss mechanisms across different hydrometric regions of Canada. A new water loss classification was introduced to categorize the dominant water loss mechanisms in different watersheds.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
Nelson A. Zabel, Amanda M. Soliguin, Johan A. Wiklund, S. Jean Birks, John J. Gibson, Xiaoying Fan, Brent B. Wolfe, Roland Hall
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive paleolimnological study on McClelland Lake to determine the natural ranges of variation (NRVs) in hydroecological variables before potential mining. The study identified five distinctive intervals of hydroecological conditions during the past ~325 years and proposed quantitative definitions of NRVs for the lake. The results provide insights for effective environmental monitoring in the region.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
J. J. Gibson, S. J. Birks, F. Castrillon-Munoz, M. House, D. Vitt, X. Fan
Summary: A water and vegetation sampling program was conducted at McClelland Wetland in northeastern Alberta, Canada to study the current and past hydrology, revealing long-term groundwater source areas and contemporary permafrost thaw zones. Isotopic tracers, vegetation surveys, and flark orientation were used to characterize water sources, pathways, and evaporation, providing insights into historical peatland changes and spatial-temporal evolution.
Article
Water Resources
Jean Birks, John Manchuk, Yi Yi, Cynthia N. McClain, Michael C. Moncur, John J. Gibson, Clayton V. Deutsch, Emily B. Taylor, Guy Bayegnak
Summary: This study compiled and analyzed groundwater quality data from the Alberta Oil Sands Region (AOSR) in Canada, aiming to provide regional water quality information for groundwater monitoring and land use planning. The study identified variations in baseline water quality conditions among different hydrostratigraphic units (HSUs), and found that some parameters exceeded interim trigger values considered by government regulators. The study also detected significant temporal changes in water quality in certain areas during the 2000s.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
J. J. Gibson, P. Eby, S. J. Birks, C. Twitchell, C. Gray, J. Kariyeva
Summary: This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the water balance of wetlands in Alberta, Canada, including the oil sands region. By incorporating climate reanalysis, watershed data, and isotopic data, the study reveals systematic variations in evaporation losses, runoff, groundwater inflow, and wetland discharge across different subregions. The findings provide valuable insights for water resource management and ecological conservation in the region.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
F. J. Castrillon-Munoz, J. J. Gibson, S. J. Birks
Summary: This study focuses on boreal lakes in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR), Alberta, Canada. The study examines the hydrochemistry of 50 lakes that are considered to be acid sensitive and have been monitored by the Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program (RAMP) for the past two decades. The findings suggest that carbonate dissolution and organic matter uptake are the main processes controlling the increase in pH in these lakes. The study also provides insights into the influence of permafrost thaw and climate on the CO2 saturation and pH of the lakes.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Janie Masse-Dufresne, Florent Barbecot, Paul Baudron, John Gibson
Summary: Isotope mass balance models have shown significant development in assessing hydrological processes, emphasizing the importance of groundwater and surface water inputs in lakes, and providing insights for water quality variations and management strategies.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
J. J. Gibson, P. Eby, T. A. Stadnyk, T. Holmes, S. J. Birks, A. Pietroniro
Summary: This study measured oxygen-18 and deuterium in streamflow samples collected from 331 gauging stations across Canada, providing a large dataset that can be used for water resource management and planning, such as tracing streamflow source, water balance, and early detection of climate change.