Export of nutrients and suspended solids from major Arctic rivers and their response to permafrost degradation

The rapid warming of the Arctic has led to permafrost degradation, accelerating the transport of terrestrial materials by rivers. The quantitative assessment of riverine nutrients and total suspended solids (TSS) flux is important to clarify the land-ocean connections in the Arctic. However, much is unknown about the estimates of these components from direct measurements in the Arctic rivers and the response of the components to permafrost degradation. Here, we report the results from the Arctic Great Rivers Observatory (Arctic-GRO) for the six major Arctic rivers (Yenisey, Lena, Ob', Mackenzie, Yukon, and Kolyma) to investigate the riverine exports of TSS, total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), nitrate (NO3-), bicarbonate (HCO3-), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), and phosphate (PO43-). The results showed that from 2004 to 2017, the annual TSS, TDN, and NO3- exports to the Arctic Ocean were approximately 106,026 Gg, 692 Gg, and 130 Gg, respectively, and the HCO3-, TDP, and PO43- exports were approximately 79,092 Gg, 32 Gg, and 18 Gg, respectively. There were remarkable variations in component concentrations and fluxes between seasons. More than 80% of the TDN, TDP, PO43-, and TSS exports mainly occurred in spring and summer, and a high HCO3- flux was recorded in summer, while a high NO3- flux in some rivers occurred in winter. The active layer thickness was significantly positively correlated with the annual TDN, NO3- and HCO3- exports. In addition, the HCO(3)(-)flux of the six Arctic rivers increased by 247 Gg per year during 2004-2017. The positive relationship between the active layer thickness and river discharge indicates that permafrost degradation accelerated riverine carbonate, nitrogen, and phosphorus exports. This study demonstrates that riverine exports play an important role both in the Arctic terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and permafrost degradation will likely increase the riverine material exports to the ocean.

Automated summary

This study investigates riverine nutrient and total suspended solids (TSS) flux in six major Arctic rivers, showing significant variations in component concentrations and fluxes between seasons. The active layer thickness is positively correlated with annual riverine exports, suggesting that permafrost degradation accelerates the transport of carbonate, nitrogen, and phosphorus into rivers. Riverine exports play a crucial role in both Arctic terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and are expected to increase with permafrost degradation.