Organic versus Inorganic Carbon Exports from Glacier and Permafrost Watersheds in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

In a warming climate, land-to-water carbon mobilization is increasing in glacier and permafrost area. To identify the connection between exported river carbon content and the permafrost or glacier condition in the high-altitude mountain area, we studied the dissolved organic carbon and dissolved inorganic carbon concentration in three streams of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), which were located in the continuous permafrost, seasonal permafrost and glacial basin, respectively. It was found that the DIC and DOC concentrations were lower in the glacial rivers compared with the permafrost derived rivers; but more DOC would be exported from glacier due to the large amount of melted glacier water in the high mountainous area. DIC/DOC ratio in rivers reflected the watershed landscape types. In the permafrost area, the river recharged by seasonal permafrost had higher DIC concentration than the river in the continuous permafrost region, suggesting that increased DIC concentration could be a precursor of permafrost degradation. Research is meaningful to estimate the DOC and DIC export from high mountain area.

Automated summary

In a warming climate, carbon mobilization from land to water is increasing in glacier and permafrost areas. A study in the high-altitude mountain area of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau found that while DIC and DOC concentrations were lower in glacial rivers, more DOC was exported from glaciers due to the large amount of melted water. The DIC/DOC ratio in rivers reflected watershed landscape types and increased DIC concentration could be a precursor of permafrost degradation.