Trapped Under Ice: Spatial and Seasonal Dynamics of Dissolved Organic Matter Composition in Tundra Lakes

Arctic lakes store, modify, and transport large quantities of carbon from terrestrial environments to the atmosphere; however, the spatial and temporal relationships between quantity and composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) have not been well characterized across broad arctic regions. Moreover, most arctic lake DOM compositions have been examined during the ice-free summer, whereas DOM cycling between the ice-covered winter months and summer have not been addressed. To resolve these spatial and seasonal uncertainties in DOM cycling, we sampled a series of arctic lakes from the North Slope of Alaska across a latitudinal gradient in the winter and summer over 3 years. Samples were analyzed for dissolved organic carbon concentration and DOM composition was characterized using optical and fluorescence properties combined with molecular-level analysis using Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Tundra lake DOM properties including aromaticity and molecular stoichiometries were similar to other northern high-latitude lakes, but optical parameters related to aromaticity and molecular weight were greater in major arctic rivers and in coastal lakes in the North Slope region. DOM composition was highly seasonal, with ice exclusion concentrating microbially processed DOM in the winter water columns, potentially influencing DOM cycling the following summer. However, the greatest variations in DOM composition were related to lake depth and likely other physical features including morphology and bathymetry. As the Arctic warms, we expect changes in hydrology and ice cover to enhance under-ice microbial DOM processing, early summer photodegradation, and ultimately carbon fluxes to the atmosphere after ice-out.

Automated summary

Arctic lakes play an important role in storing and transporting carbon, but the relationships between the quantity and composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in these lakes are not well understood. This study investigates the spatial and seasonal variations in DOM cycling in Arctic lakes, revealing that the composition of DOM is highly seasonal and influenced by factors such as lake depth. As the Arctic warms, changes in hydrology and ice cover are expected to impact DOM processing and carbon fluxes in these lakes.