Limited remineralization of Arctic permafrost-derived organic carbon in nearshore marine sediments

Abstract

Rapid Arctic warming causes thawing and erosion of coastal permafrost, releasing organic carbon into the Arctic Ocean. Although much of this organic carbon is deposited in marine sediments, the extent to which it is remineralized and re-enters the active carbon cycle remains uncertain. Here we examine the fate of permafrost-derived organic carbon in the nearshore sediments of Qikiqtaruk, Canada. Analysis of dual carbon isotopes revealed that nearshore sedimentary organic carbon originated predominantly from eroded ancient permafrost deposits, but the remineralization end-product, dissolved inorganic carbon, diffusing back out of the sediment was younger and predominantly of marine origin. We estimate that <10% of land-derived Pleistocene permafrost organic carbon is respired after redeposition in marine sediments. Our findings indicate that despite substantial Pleistocene permafrost organic carbon accumulation in marine sediments due to permafrost thaw and coastal erosion, much of it remains buried, potentially limiting its immediate contribution to atmospheric carbon. However, given the high reactivity of permafrost organic carbon entering the ocean, a reactive subfraction may remain in the water column or was degraded prior to redeposition in the analysed sediments, highlighting the need for more comprehensive assessments of permafrost organic carbon degradation and its inclusion into Earth system models. Only 10% of organic carbon from thawing Pleistocene permafrost in the Arctic that is buried in marine sediments ends up re-entering the active carbon cycle, according to a carbon isotope analysis of sediments from off Qikiqtaruk (Herschel Island) in Canada.