Differential Spatiotemporal Patterns of Major Ions and Dissolved Organic Carbon Variations from Non-Permafrost to Permafrost Arctic Basins: Insights from the Severnaya Dvina, Pechora and Taz Rivers

Abstract

The Arctic river basins, among the most sensitive regions to climate warming, are experiencing rapid temperature rise and permafrost thawing that profoundly affect their hydrological and hydrochemical systems. However, our understanding of chemical export from Arctic basins to oceans remains limited due to scarce data, particularly in permafrost-dominated regions. This study examines the spatiotemporal variations and seasonal dynamics of major ions (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl−, SO42−) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations across three river basins with varying permafrost extents: the Severnaya Dvina (2006–2008, 2012–2014), the Pechora (2016–2019) and the Taz Rivers (2016–2020). All the data were sourced from published Chemical Geological researches and were taken from Mendeley and PANGAEA datasets. Our results showed that DOC concentrations ranged from 1.75 to 26.40 mg/L, with the Severnaya Dvina River exhibiting the highest levels of DOC concentrations, alongside significantly elevated ion concentrations compared to the other two basins. A positive correlation was observed between DOC concentrations and river discharge, with peaks during the spring flood and summer baseflow due to leaching processes. The Severnaya Dvina and Pechora Rivers exhibited the highest DOC values during the spring flood, reaching 26.40 mg/L and 8.07 mg/L, respectively. In contrast, the Taz River had the highest runoff during the spring flood season, but the DOC concentration reached its highest value of 11.69 mg/L in the summer. Specifically, a 1% increase in river discharge corresponded to a 1.25% rise in DOC concentrations in the Severnaya Dvina River and a 1.04% increase in the Pechora River, while there was no significant correlation between runoff and DOC concentrations in the Taz River. Major ion concentrations demonstrated a negative correlation with river discharge, remaining relatively high during winter low-flow period. A robust power-law relationship between river discharge and concentration of DOC and major ions was observed, with distinct variations across the three river basins depending on permafrost extent. The Pechora and Taz Rivers, characterized by extensive permafrost, exhibited increasing trends in river discharge and DOC concentrations, accompanied by decreasing major ion concentrations, whereas the non-permafrost-dominated Severnaya Dvina River basin showed the opposite pattern. The Taz River, with the most extensive permafrost, also displayed a delayed DOC peak and more complex seasonal ion concentration patterns. These findings highlight the importance of varying permafrost extents and their implications for water quality and environmental protection in these vulnerable regions.

Keywords

• DOC
• major ions
• runoff
• hydrochemistry
• Arctic