 |
Sørensen HL, Meire L, Juul-Pedersen T, de Stigter HC, Meysman FJR, Rysgaard S, Thamdrup B, Glud RN
Seasonal carbon cycling in a Greenlandic fjord: an integrated pelagic and benthic study
Increasing temperatures have decreased sea ice coverage and enhanced the freshwater inflow into many Arctic areas. These climate-driven changes have major implications for the biogeochemical functioning of many coastal settings. Sørensen and colleagues explored the potential consequences of reduced sea ice coverage for primary production, vertical export of organic material, and the benthic biogeochemistry in a sub-Arctic fjord. Sørensen and colleagues compared their integrated study with previous investigations, and found that primary production, mineralization, and burial of organic material are enhanced proportionally with an increasing duration of the ice-free period. Hence, the projected decline in sea ice coverage in Arctic fjords will likely result in proportional increases in primary productivity, mineralization and burial of organic material. These effects may, however, additionally be modified by enhanced freshwater inflow.