The emerging role of drought as a regulator of dissolved organic carbon in boreal landscapes

One likely consequence of global climate change is an increased frequency and intensity of droughts at high latitudes. Here we use a 17-year record from 13 nested boreal streams to examine direct and lagged effects of summer drought on the quantity and quality of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) inputs from catchment soils. Protracted periods of drought reduced DOC concentrations in all catchments but also led to large stream DOC pulses upon rewetting. Concurrent changes in DOC optical properties and chemical character suggest that seasonal drying and rewetting trigger soil processes that alter the forms of carbon supplied to streams. Contrary to expectations, clearest drought effects were observed in larger watersheds, whereas responses were most muted in smaller, peatland-dominated catchments. Collectively, our results indicate that summer drought causes a fundamental shift in the seasonal distribution of DOC concentrations and character, which together operate as primary controls over the ecological and biogeochemical functioning of northern aquatic ecosystems. Long-term records from boreal streams indicate strong seasonal redistributions of dissolved organic carbon concentrations and quality linked to the severity of summer drought conditions

Automated summary

Global climate change could lead to more frequent and intense droughts in high latitudes. A study using a 17-year record from boreal streams found that summer droughts direct and lag effects on the quantity and quality of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) inputs from catchment soils. The research showed that summer drought causes a fundamental shift in the seasonal distribution of DOC concentrations and character, which play a primary role in the functioning of northern aquatic ecosystems.