Arctic soil development under changing climate conditions

Abstract

As global temperatures rise, soil dynamics in areas affected by changing snow and permafrost are increasingly important due to their impact on carbon release and ecosystem functionality. This study examines soil development and variability in Kangerlussuaq, southwest Greenland, from the ice margin to inland areas, assessing how soil characteristics evolve with time since glacial retreat and across different spatial scales. The findings highlight the interaction between geomorphic and pedogenic processes, with soils influenced by glacial deposition, aeolian inputs, and topography. The most common soil groups include Regosols, Cambisols, Cryosols and Histosols. Soil depths range from shallow layers constrained by bedrock or permafrost to more developed profiles exceeding 80 cm, with an average depth of 24–40 cm. Buried organic layers and paleosols reflect the area’s aeolian history and could partly explain the highly variable distribution of soil organic carbon showing weak or inconsistent correlations with slope and aspect, although organic carbon content was higher on cooler wetter north-facing slopes. Future permafrost thaw will disproportionately impact ice-rich soils in waterlogged and north-facing areas, releasing stored carbon and potentially accelerating climate feedback loops. In contrast, south-facing slopes with seasonal thaw will experience minimal structural change. This research established a detailed baseline for monitoring changes in soil properties and carbon dynamics over time, particularly as warming continues to affect Arctic environments.