Nitrous Oxide Dynamics in the Siberian Arctic Ocean and Vulnerability to Climate Change

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a strong greenhouse gas and stratospheric ozone‐depleting substance. Around 20% of global emissions stem from the ocean, but current estimates and future projections are uncertain due to poor spatial coverage over large areas and limited understanding of drivers of N2O dynamics. Here, we focus on the extensive and particularly data‐lean Arctic Ocean shelves north of Siberia that experience rapid warming and increasing input of land‐derived nitrogen with permafrost thaw. We combine water column N2O measurements from two expeditions with on‐board incubation of intact sediment cores to assess N2O dynamics and the impact of land‐derived nitrogen. Elevated nitrogen concentrations in water column and sediments were observed near large river mouths. Concentrations of N2O were only weakly correlated with dissolved nitrogen and turbidity, reflecting particulate matter from rivers and coastal erosion, and correlations varied between river plumes. Surface water N2O concentrations were on average close to equilibrium with the atmosphere, but varied widely (N2O saturation 38%–180%), indicating strong local N2O sources and sinks. Water column N2O profiles and low sediment‐water N2O fluxes do not support strong sedimentary sources or sinks. We suggest that N2O dynamics in the region are influenced by water column N2O consumption under aerobic conditions or in anoxic microsites of particles, and possibly also by water column N2O production. Changes in biogeochemical and physical conditions will likely alter N2O dynamics in the Siberian Arctic Ocean over the coming decades, in addition to reduced N2O solubility in a warmer ocean.

The Role of Coastal Yedoma Deposits and Continental Shelf Sediments in the Arctic Ocean Silicon Cycle

“…The collected water was not filtered and analyzed immediately for DSi concentration using the same methods described earlier for water column sampling. Sediment incubations were also used to measure fluxes of dissolved gases (Wild et al, 2023), which yielded a total volume replacement of <10%. The volume of sample replaced during this time was replaced with water siphoned from adjacent cores and kept in a carboy.…”

“…O 2 fluxes were calculated using a regression of concentration over time, and were considered significant when the regression R 2 ≥ 0.65 and p ≤ 0.10 (Prairie, 1996; Wild et al, 2023). All O 2 fluxes met these standards except for two incubations, which had positive O 2 fluxes, indicating an improper seal of the lid (Station 6961 and 6963 in the outer East Siberian Sea).…”