Effects of simulated spring thaw of permafrost from mineral cryosol on CO₂ emissions and atmospheric CH₄ uptake

Abstract

Abstract Previous studies investigating organic‐rich tundra have reported that increasing biodegradation of Arctic tundra soil organic carbon (SOC) under warming climate regimes will cause increasing CO 2 and CH 4 emissions. Organic‐poor, mineral cryosols, which comprise 87% of Arctic tundra, are not as well characterized. This study examined biogeochemical processes of 1 m long intact mineral cryosol cores (1–6% SOC) collected in the Canadian high Arctic. Vertical profiles of gaseous and aqueous chemistry and microbial composition were related to surface CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes during a simulated spring/summer thaw under light versus dark and in situ versus water saturated treatments. CO 2 fluxes attained 0.8 ± 0.4 mmol CO 2 m −2 h −1 for in situ treatments, of which 85 ± 11% was produced by aerobic SOC oxidation, consistent with field observations and metagenomic analyses indicating aerobic heterotrophs were the dominant phylotypes. The Q 10 values of CO 2 emissions ranged from 2 to 4 over the course of thawing. CH 4 degassing occurred during initial thaw; however, all cores were CH 4 sinks at atmospheric concentration CH 4 . Atmospheric CH 4 uptake rates ranged from −126 ± 77 to −207 ± 7 nmol CH 4 m −2 h −1 with CH 4 consumed between 0 and 35 cm depth. Metagenomic and gas chemistry analyses revealed that high‐affinity Type II methanotrophic sequence abundance and activity were highest between 0 and 35 cm depth. Microbial sulfate reduction dominated the anaerobic processes, outcompeting methanogenesis for H 2 and acetate. Fluxes, microbial community composition, and biogeochemical rates indicate that mineral cryosols of Axel Heiberg Island act as net CO 2 sources and atmospheric CH 4 sinks during summertime thaw under both in situ and water saturated states.