Permafrost development in northern Fennoscandian peatlands since the mid-Holocene
ABSTRACTIncreased permafrost temperatures have been reported in the circum-Arctic, and widespread degradation of permafrost peatlands has occurred in recent decades. The timing of permafrost aggradation in these ecosystems could have implications for the soil carbon lability upon thawing, and an inc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2023.2250035 |
| _version_ | 1797224793870696448 |
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| author | Marit Hichens-Bergström A. Britta K. Sannel |
| author_facet | Marit Hichens-Bergström A. Britta K. Sannel |
| author_sort | Marit Hichens-Bergström |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTIncreased permafrost temperatures have been reported in the circum-Arctic, and widespread degradation of permafrost peatlands has occurred in recent decades. The timing of permafrost aggradation in these ecosystems could have implications for the soil carbon lability upon thawing, and an increased understanding of the permafrost history is therefore needed to better project future carbon feedbacks. In this study, we have conducted high-resolution plant macrofossil and geochemical analyses and accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dating of active layer cores from four permafrost peatlands in northern Sweden and Norway. In the mid-Holocene, all four sites were wet fens, and at least three of them remained permafrost-free until a shift in vegetation toward bog species was recorded around 800 to 400 cal. BP, suggesting permafrost aggradation during the Little Ice Age. At one site, Karlebotn, the plant macrofossil record also indicated a period of dry bog conditions between 3300 and 2900 cal. BP, followed by a rapid shift toward species growing in waterlogged fens or open pools, suggesting that permafrost possibly was present around 3000 cal. BP but thawed and was replaced by thermokarst. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:48:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-44eadbd49c794ce68da540e37fe879ba |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1523-0430 1938-4246 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:58:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-44eadbd49c794ce68da540e37fe879ba2024-04-03T14:36:12ZengTaylor & Francis GroupArctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research1523-04301938-42462023-12-0155110.1080/15230430.2023.2250035Permafrost development in northern Fennoscandian peatlands since the mid-HoloceneMarit Hichens-Bergström0A. Britta K. Sannel1Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SwedenABSTRACTIncreased permafrost temperatures have been reported in the circum-Arctic, and widespread degradation of permafrost peatlands has occurred in recent decades. The timing of permafrost aggradation in these ecosystems could have implications for the soil carbon lability upon thawing, and an increased understanding of the permafrost history is therefore needed to better project future carbon feedbacks. In this study, we have conducted high-resolution plant macrofossil and geochemical analyses and accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dating of active layer cores from four permafrost peatlands in northern Sweden and Norway. In the mid-Holocene, all four sites were wet fens, and at least three of them remained permafrost-free until a shift in vegetation toward bog species was recorded around 800 to 400 cal. BP, suggesting permafrost aggradation during the Little Ice Age. At one site, Karlebotn, the plant macrofossil record also indicated a period of dry bog conditions between 3300 and 2900 cal. BP, followed by a rapid shift toward species growing in waterlogged fens or open pools, suggesting that permafrost possibly was present around 3000 cal. BP but thawed and was replaced by thermokarst.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2023.2250035Sub-Arctic peatlandsplant macrofossilscarbon/nitrogen ratiostable isotopeslate Holocene |
| spellingShingle | Marit Hichens-Bergström A. Britta K. Sannel Permafrost development in northern Fennoscandian peatlands since the mid-Holocene Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research Sub-Arctic peatlands plant macrofossils carbon/nitrogen ratio stable isotopes late Holocene |
| title | Permafrost development in northern Fennoscandian peatlands since the mid-Holocene |
| title_full | Permafrost development in northern Fennoscandian peatlands since the mid-Holocene |
| title_fullStr | Permafrost development in northern Fennoscandian peatlands since the mid-Holocene |
| title_full_unstemmed | Permafrost development in northern Fennoscandian peatlands since the mid-Holocene |
| title_short | Permafrost development in northern Fennoscandian peatlands since the mid-Holocene |
| title_sort | permafrost development in northern fennoscandian peatlands since the mid holocene |
| topic | Sub-Arctic peatlands plant macrofossils carbon/nitrogen ratio stable isotopes late Holocene |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2023.2250035 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marithichensbergstrom permafrostdevelopmentinnorthernfennoscandianpeatlandssincethemidholocene AT abrittaksannel permafrostdevelopmentinnorthernfennoscandianpeatlandssincethemidholocene |