How does a permafrost lake influence downstream carbon cycling?

Iva Thomason et al.
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:30:01 PDT

The Arctic is warming at nearly twice the rate of the mid-latitudes. Due to this warming, there are drastic changes in the environment, including in waterways. Permafrost releases ancient organic carbon (OC) into the modern environment as it thaws in warming Arctic temperatures. This permafrost has been found to be highly available for microbes to decompose into CO2 and CH4 representing a positive climate feedback. By measuring the rate of biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) consumption by microbes in lakes and streams around the Fairbanks area, we can assess the impact of seasonal changes and permafrost thaw on BDOC.