Mapping pan-Arctic riverine particulate organic carbon from space (1985 to 2022)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Carbon release from high-latitude regions is intensifying, with profound consequences for the Arctic carbon cycle. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis of changes in fluvial particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations ( C POC ) and fluxes ( F POC ) during ice-free seasons of pan-Arctic rivers from 1985 to 2022 on the basis of satellite observations. Across 578,000 kilometers of river length, 18% of the total length experienced a significant increase in C POC , which exceeds the 11% that exhibited declines, resulting in a net rise. Most increases occurred after 2005, contributing to a 12.6% (0.49 teragrams per year) increase in total F POC to the Arctic Ocean between 1985 to 2005 and 2006 to 2022. Regional contrasts highlight distinct possible drivers: increased precipitation in the North American Arctic and atmospheric warming in the Eurasian Arctic. Deepening of the permafrost active layer is also significantly correlated with C POC increases. These findings highlight climate-driven fluvial POC export as a key contributor to the Arctic carbon budget and provide a high-resolution, satellite-based dataset that can inform carbon cycle models and data assimilation efforts.
Source: Science Advances
Institutions: Wuhan University, State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying Mapping and Remote Sensing, Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, Southern University of Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, University of Exeter, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
OpenAlex ID: W7124455403