Thermal and Hydrological Controls on Soil Respiration and Subsurface Gas Transport in Arctic Tundra Ecosystems.
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350Copenhagen K, Denmark.
- 2Center for Permafrost, CENPERM, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350Copenhagen K, Denmark.
- 3DHI A/S, Agern Allé 5, 2970Hørsholm, Denmark.
- 4Global Wetland Center, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350Copenhagen K, Denmark.
- 5Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Lincoln University, 7647Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand.
- 6Center for Volatile Interactions, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100Copenhagen E, Denmark.
Abstract
Arctic tundra ecosystems have experienced marked changes in temperature and precipitation patterns in recent decades. The impact of these changes on the physical and biogeochemical mechanisms governing soil respiration and CO2 emissions remains poorly understood. We investigate how seasonal thermo-hydrological dynamics impact soil freezing/thawing, soil respiration, and O2 and CO2 transport and exchange in a typical well-drained Arctic tundra ecosystem by combining laboratory experiments and field observations with process-based modeling. Our results demonstrate that low temperatures constrain soil CO2 production and efflux during most of the year, but rising temperatures and large snowmelt infiltration in early spring reduce thermal constraints and induce relatively short yet important periods of soil water-saturated conditions. During these periods, depth-resolved measurements show noticeable limitations in oxygen transport and corresponding CO2 production, which leads to the reduction of CO2 effluxes. The snowmelt infiltration also reduces CO2 efflux by promoting downward CO2 migration and delays its emission by limiting diffusive transport to the atmosphere until the water level recedes. Comparing the simulations with a no-snowmelt scenario, we find that these physical and biogeochemical controls during such short periods collectively reduce annual CO2 efflux by 7%, highlighting the importance of climate-driven forcing in modulating soil greenhouse gas emissions.
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BibTeX
@article{danielsen2026thermal,
title = {{Thermal and Hydrological Controls on Soil Respiration and Subsurface Gas Transport in Arctic Tundra Ecosystems.}},
author = {Birgitte Kortegaard Danielsen and Navid Ahmadi and Guy Schurgers and T K K Chamindu Deepagoda and Riikka Rinnan and Karoline Nordberg Nilsson and Bo Elberling},
journal = {Environmental science \& technology},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.6c05369},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42915406},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Thermal and Hydrological Controls on Soil Respiration and Subsurface Gas Transport in Arctic Tundra Ecosystems.
AU - Birgitte Kortegaard Danielsen
AU - Navid Ahmadi
AU - Guy Schurgers
AU - T K K Chamindu Deepagoda
AU - Riikka Rinnan
AU - Karoline Nordberg Nilsson
AU - Bo Elberling
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Environmental science & technology
DO - 10.1021/acs.est.6c05369
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42915406
AB - Arctic tundra ecosystems have experienced marked changes in temperature and precipitation patterns in recent decades. The impact of these changes on the physical and biogeochemical mechanisms governing soil respiration and CO2 emissions remains poorly understood. We investigate how seasonal thermo-hydrological dynamics impact soil freezing/thawing, soil respiration, and O2 and CO2 transport and exchange in a typical well-drained Arctic tundra ecosystem by combining laboratory experiments and field observations with process-based modeling. Our results demonstrate that low temperatures constrain soil CO2 production and efflux during most of the year, but rising temperatures and large snowmelt infiltration in early spring reduce thermal constraints and induce relatively short yet important periods of soil water-saturated conditions. During these periods, depth-resolved measurements show noticeable limitations in oxygen transport and corresponding CO2 production, which leads to the reduction of CO2 effluxes. The snowmelt infiltration also reduces CO2 efflux by promoting downward CO2 migration and delays its emission by limiting diffusive transport to the atmosphere until the water level recedes. Comparing the simulations with a no-snowmelt scenario, we find that these physical and biogeochemical controls during such short periods collectively reduce annual CO2 efflux by 7%, highlighting the importance of climate-driven forcing in modulating soil greenhouse gas emissions.
SN - 0013-936X
SN - 1520-5851
ER -