Abstract. Fluvial discharge and coastal erosion of the permafrost-dominated East Siberian Arctic delivers large quantities of terrigenous organic carbon (Terr-OC) to marine waters. The composition and fate of the remobilized Terr-OC needs to be better constrained as it impacts the potential for a climate-carbon feedback. In the present study, the bulk isotope (δ13C and Δ14C) and macromolecular (lignin-derived phenols) composition of the cross-shelf exported organic carbon (OC) in different marine pools is evaluated. For this purpose, as part of the SWERUS-C3 expedition (July–September 2014), sediment organic carbon (SOC) as well as water column (from surface and near-bottom seawater) dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) samples were collected along the outer shelves of the Kara Sea, Laptev Sea and East Siberian Sea. The results show that the Lena River and the DOC have a preferential role in the transport of Terr-OC to the outer shelf. DOC concentrations (740–3600 μg L−1) were one order of magnitude higher than POC (20–360 μg L−1), with higher concentrations towards to the Lena River plume. Depleted δ13C, modern Δ14C and lignin phenols concentrations were all well correlated with DOC levels indicating a relatively young terrestrial contribution. In contrast, POC may have a preferential marine origin, as its concentrations were not correlated with isotope and terrestrial biomarker proxies. The δ13C signatures in the three carbon pools varied from −23.9 ± 1.9 ‰ in the SOC, −26.1 ± 1.2 ‰ in the DOC and −27.1 ± 1.9 ‰ in the POC. The Δ14C values ranged between −395 ± 83 ‰ (SOC), −226 ± 92 ‰ (DOC) and −113 ± 122 ‰ (POC). These stable and radiocarbon isotopes were also different between the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea. Both DOC and POC showed a depleted and younger trend off the Lena River plume. The older and more enriched δ13C signatures in the outer-shelf of the ESS suggest instead a greater influence of the sea ice coverage and the Pacific inflow from the east. Lignin phenols exhibited higher OC-normalized concentration in the SOC (0.10–2.34 mg g−1 OC) and DOC (0.08–2.40 mg g−1 OC) than in the POC (0.03–1.14 mg g−1 OC). The good relationship between lignin and Δ14C signatures in the DOC suggests that a significant fraction of the outer-shelf DOC comes from ''young'' Terr-OC. By contrast, the slightly negative correlation between lignin phenols and Δ14C signatures in POC, with higher lignin concentrations in older POC from near-bottom waters, may reflect the off-shelf transport of OC from remobilized permafrost in the nepheloid layer. Moreover, syringyl/vanillyl and cinnamyl/vannillyl phenols ratios presented distinct clustering between DOC, POC and SOC, suggesting that those pools are carrying different Terr-OC of partially different origin. Finally, 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid to vanillyl phenols ratios and p-coumaric acid to ferulic acid ratios, used as a diagenetic indicators, enhanced in POC and SOC. This suggests that the remobilized old OC from thawing permafrost, which is mainly transported within these pools, could experience less burial and more mineralization than believed earlier. Overall, DOC is strongly affected by the Lena River plume transporting young Terr-OC from topsoil and/or recently produced vascular pant material, while near-bottom POC and SOC preferentially carries off-shelf old OC released from thawing permafrost.
Scaling effects of a eutrophic river plume on organic carbon consumption
