Open AccessSpatial and temporal distribution of soil organic carbon in nonsorted striped patterned ground of the High Arctic
Author(s) -
Horwath Jennifer L.,
Sletten Ronald S.,
Hagedorn Birgit,
Hallet Bernard
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: biogeosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2007jg000511
Subject(s) - permafrost , radiocarbon dating , geology , arctic , thermokarst , soil carbon , total organic carbon , soil water , trench , carbon fibers , soil horizon , active layer , geomorphology , physical geography , soil science , paleontology , oceanography , environmental chemistry , geography , chemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , layer (electronics) , composite number , composite material , thin film transistor
The role of periglacial processes on soil carbon distribution is examined at a High Arctic site in northwest Greenland. A 16‐m trench dug across a series of nonsorted stripes at Thule Air Base revealed sand‐rich wedges underlying striped, vegetated troughs, and organic‐rich soil horizons buried at depth. The site has sparse prostrate vegetation and is estimated to contain 9.4 kg/m 2 of soil organic carbon (SOC) in the active layer. The distribution of carbon is variable with nearly half (49%) stored in the sand wedges, which only account for 10% of the trench area. Additionally, 62% of the total SOC was found below 25 cm, highlighting the significant role of cryoturbation and physical redistribution of carbon in permafrost‐affected soils. Carbon in the active sand‐rich wedges dates from modern at the surface (65 ± 35 radiocarbon years) to 2695 ± 40 radiocarbon years at depth, and carbon turnover time appears to be ∼450 years. Buried organic horizons found at 50–70 cm depth have radiocarbon ages of 27,480–31,900 BP. A conceptual model is proposed in which the active sand wedges have developed in an approximately 30 ka surface containing buried soils preserved in permafrost or under a cold‐based glacier. As the ice retreated and soils warmed, soil development and active cryoturbation resumed forming nonsorted stripes in the modern surface.