Publication Date:
2016-11-13
Description:
The Yukon River Basin, underlain by discontinuous permafrost, has experienced a warming climate over the last century that has altered air temperature, precipitation and permafrost. We investigated a water chemistry database from 1982 to 2014 for the Yukon River and its major tributary, the Tanana River. Significant increases of Ca, Mg, and Na annual flux were found in both rivers. Additionally, SO 4 and P annual flux increased in the Yukon River. No annual trends were observed for DOC from 2001 to 2014. In the Yukon River, Mg and SO 4 flux increased throughout the year, while some of the most positive trends for Ca, Mg, Na, SO 4 and P flux occurred during the fall and winter months. Both rivers exhibited positive monthly DOC flux trends for summer (Yukon River) and winter (Tanana River). These trends suggest increased active layer expansion, weathering and sulfide oxidation due to permafrost degradation throughout the YRB.
Print ISSN:
0094-8276
Electronic ISSN:
1944-8007
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
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