ALBERT

Note: Table of contents Abstract Zusammenfassung Abbreviations and Nomenclature 1. Introduction 1.1 Scientific Background 1.1.1 Climate and Permafrost 1.1.2 Remote Sensing 1.1.3 Research Questions 1.2 General Approach 1.3 Thesis Structure 1.4 Author’ s contributions 1.4.1 Chapter 2 1.4.2 Chapter 3 1.4.3 Chapter 4 1.4.4 Chapter 5 1.4.5 Appendix Paper 1 2. Detection of landscape dynamics in the Arctic Lena Delta withtemporally dense Landsat time-series Stacks 2.1 Abstract 2.2 Introduction 2.3 Study Area and Data 2.3.1 Study Area 2.3.2 Data 2.3.3 Methods/processing 2.4 Results 2.4.1 Regional Scale changes 2.4.2 Local scale changes 2.5 Discussion 2.5.1 Regional scale changes 2.5.2 Local scale changes 2.5.3 Data quality 2.5.4 Data usage and outlook 2.6 Conclusion 2.7 Data Archive 2.8 Acknowledgements 2.9 Appendix A. Supplementary Data 3. Landsat-Based Trend Analysis of Lake Dynamics across NorthernPermafrost Regions 3.1 Abstract 3.2 Introduction 3.3 Study Sites 3.3.1 Alaska North Slope (NSL) 3.3.2 Alaska Kobuk-Selawik Lowlands (AKS) 3.3.3 Central Yakutia (CYA) 3.3.4 Kolyma Lowland (KOL) 3.4 Data and Methods 3.4.1 Data and Trend Analysis 3.4.2 Pixel-Based Machine-Leaming Classification 3.4.3 Object-Based Image Analysis 3.4.4 Data Quality and Post-Processing 3.4.5 Calculation of Lake Change Statistics 3.5 Results 3.5.1 NSL (Alaska North Slope) 3.5.2 AKS (Alaska Kobuk-Selawik Lowlands) 3.5.3 CYA (Central Yakutia) 3.5.4 KOL (Kolyma Lowland) 3.6 Discussion 3.6.1 Data Analysis 3.6.2 Comparison of Sites and Prior Studies 3.7 Conclusions 3.8 Supplementary Materials 3.9 Acknowledgements 3.10 Appendix A 4. Remotely sensing recent permafrost region disturbances across Arcticto Subarctic transects 4.1 Abstract 4.2 Introduction 4.3 Results 4.3.1 Lakes 4.3.2 Retrogressive Thaw Slumps 4.3.3 Wildfire 4.4 Discussion 4.5 Methods 4.5.1 Remote Sensing Data Processing 4.5.2 Auxiliary Data Sources 5. Tundra landform and Vegetation productivity trend maps for theArctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska 5.1 Abstract 5.2 Background & Summary 5.3 Methods 5.3.1 Polygonal tundra geomorphology mapping 5.3.2 Image processing 5.3.3 Image Classification 5.3.4 Decadal scale NDVI trend analysis 5.4 Data Records 5.5 Technical Validation 5.5.1 Tundra Geomorphology Map 5.5.2 NDVI Trend Map 5.6 Data Citation 6. Discussion/Synthesis 6.1 Landsat-based trend analysis 6.1.1 Spatial Scale 6.1.2 Time series analysis 6.1.3 Model complexity 6.2 Mapping of permafrost landscape dynamics 6.2.1 Lake dynamics 6.2.2 Wildfire 6.2.3 Retrogressive Thaw Slumps 6.3 Pan-arctic scale distribution and consequences of changes inpermafrost 6.4 Outlook Bibliography A-1. Appendix: Reduced arctic tundra productivity linked with landform and climate change interactions A-1.1 Abstract A-1.2 Introduction A-1.3 Methods A-1.4 Results A-1.5 Discussion Danksagung/Acknowledgements Eidesstattliche Erklärung

Note: Table of Contents Abstract Zusammenfassung List of Figures List of Tables 1. Introduction 1.1 Scientific Background 1.1.1 Arctic Climate Change 1.1.2 Permafrost Degradation 1.1.3 The Arctic Freshwater System and its Biogeochemistry 1.2 Objectives 1.3 Study Region and Methods 1.3.1 Study Area 1.3.2 Field Sampling and Measurements 1.3.3 Geochemical Analyses 1.3.4 Data Processing 1.4 Thesis Structure 1.5 Author Contributions 2. Spatial Variability of Dissolved Organic Carbon, Solutes and Suspended Sediment in Disturbed Low Arctic Coastal Watersheds 2.1 Abstract 2.2 Introduction 2.3 Study Site 2.4 Methods 2.4.1 Stream Monitoring 2.4.2 Mapping of Disturbances 2.4.3 Flux Estimates and Statistics 2.5 Results 2.5.1 Catchment Disturbance 2.5.2 Runoff and Hydrochemistry 2.5.3 Lateral Transport of Stream Water 2.5.4 Hydrochemical Composition and Fluxes in Nearby Streams 2.6 Discussion 2.6.1 Total Runoff and Water Quality 2.6.2 Water Quality Changes from Headwaters to Downstream 2.6.3 Changes in Hydrochemistry and Isotopic Composition over Time 2.6.4 Importance of Disturbances for Hydrochemistry 2.7 Conclusions 2.8 Supplementary Material 3. Terrestrial Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (cDOM) in Arctic Catchments - Characterizing Organic Matter Composition Across the Arctic 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Study Area 3.3 Methods 3.3.1 Field Methods and Hydrochemistry 3.3.2 Statistical Analyses 3.4 Results 3.4.1 Meteorological Conditions and General Hydrochemistry 3.4.2 DOC and cDOM Absorption Characteristics 3.4.3 Downstream Patterns of DOC and cDOM Along Longitudinal Transects 3.4.4 Temporal Trends ofDOC and cDOM with Changing Meteorological Conditions 3.5 Discussion 3.5.1 Limitations of cDOM Measurements from Terrestrial Sources 3.5.2 Catchment Processes and Biogeochemical Cycling 3.5.2.1 Regional Catchment Properties 3.5.2.2 Rainfall Events 3.5.2.3 Downstream Patterns and Impact of Permafrost Disturbance 3.5.3 Nature of cDOM-DOC Across the Terrestrial Arctic 3.6 Conclusion 3.7 Supplementary Material 4. Summer Rainfall DOC, Solute and Sediment Fluxes in a Small Arctic Coastal Catchment on Herschel Island (Yukon Territory, Canada) 4.1 Abstract 4.2 Introduction 4.3 Study Site 4.4 Methodology 4.4.1 Weather data 4.4.2 Hydrology 4.4.3 Suspended Sediment and Hydrochemistry 4.4.4 Flux Estimates and Statistics 4.5 Results 4.5.1 Meteorological Conditions 4.5.2 Streamflow and Electrical Conductivity 4.5.3 Transport of Suspended Sediment and Organic Matter 4.5.4 Solute Transport 4.5.5 Alluvial Fan Sampling 4.6 Discussion 4.6.1 Hydrological Response 4.6.2 Water Quality and Fluxes 4.6.3 Rainfall Response and Flow Pathways 4.7 Conclusions 4.8 Supplementary Material 5. Synthesis 5.1 Impacts of Permafrost Degradation on Stream Biogeochemistry 5.2 Controls on DOM Quality across the Arctic 5.3 Biogeochemical Fluxes from Small Coastal Catchments to the Arctic Ocean 5.4 Challenges 5.5 Outlook Acronyms Bibliography Acknowledgements Eidesstattliche Erklärung

Note: Dissertation, Universität Potsdam, 2017 , Table of Contents I. Abstract II. Deutsche Zusammenfassung 0 Challenge 1 Introduction 1.1 The treeline ecotone 1.2 Stand structure drivers in the treeline ecotone 1.3 Climate change and recent treeline changes 1.4 Methods for treeline studies 1.4.1 Overview 1.4.2 Field-based treeline studies 1.4.3 Modelling treeline dynamics 1.5 Study Area 1.6 The Siberian treeline ecotone 1.7 Larix as study Species 1.8 Objectives of this thesis 1.9 Thesis outline 1.10 Contribution of the authors 1.10.1 Manuscript!- published 1.10.2 Manuscript II - submitted 1.10.3 Manuscript III-in preparation 1.10.4 Manuscript IV-submitted 2 Manuscript I Treeline dynamics in Siberia under changing climates as inferred from an individual-based model for Larix 2.1 Abstract 2.2 Introduction 2.3 Materials and Methods 2.3.1 Reference sites 2.3.2 Description of the model LAVESI 2.3.3 The ODD-Protocol for LAVESI 2.3.4 Parameterization 2.3.5 Khatanga climate time-series 2.3.6 Sensitivity analysis 2.3.7 Model experiments 2.4 Results 2.4.1 Sensitivity analysis 2.4.2 Taymyr treeline application 2.4.3 Temperature experiments 2.5 Discussion 2.5.1 Assessment of LAVESI sensitivity 2.5.2 Larix stand simulation under the Taymyr Peninsula weather 2.5.3 Transient Larix response to hypothetical future temperature changes 2.5.4 Conclusions 2.6 Acknowledgements 3 Manuscript II Dissimilar responses of larch stands in northern Siberia to increasing temperatures - a field and simulation based study 3.1 Abstract 3.2 Introduction 3.3 Methods 3.3.1 Study area 3.3.2 Field-based approach 3.3.3 Age analyses 3.3.4 Stand structure analyses 3.3.5 Seed analyses 3.3.6 Establishment history 3.3.7 Modelling approach 3.4 Results 3.4.1 Field data 3.4.2 Simulation study 3.5 Discussion 3.5.1 Data acquisition 3.5.2 Larch-stand patterns across the Siberian treeline ecotone 3.5.3 Warming causes densification in the forest-tundra 3.5.4 Intra-specific competition inhibits densification in the closed forest 3.5.5 Recruitment limitation decelerates densification and northward expansion ofthe single-tree tundra 3.6 Conclusions 3.7 Acknowledgements 4 Manuscript III Spatial patterns and growth sensitivity of larch stands in the Taimyr Depression 4.1 Abstract 4.2 Introduction 4.3 Methods 4.3.1 Study Area 4.3.2 Field data collection 4.3.3 Spatial point patterns 4.3.4 Dendrological approach 4.4 Results 4.4.1 Spatial patterns 4.4.2 Tree growth 4.5 Discussion 4.5.1 Spatial patterns 4.5.2 Tree chronology characteristics 4.6 Conclusion 5 Manuscript IV Patterns of larch stands under different disturbance regimes in the lower Kolyma River area (Russian Far East) 5.1 Abstract 5.2 Introduction 5.3 Methods 5.3.1 Study area and field data collection 5.3.2 Site description 5.3.3 Dendrochronological approach 5.3.4 Statistical analyses 5.4 Results 5.4.1 General stand characteristics and age structure 5.4.2 Spatial patterns 5.5 Discussion 5.5.1 Fire related disturbances 5.5.2 Water-related disturbances: lake drainage, flooding, polygon development 5.5.3 Implications and conclusion 6 Synthesis and Discussion 6.1 Assessment of applied methods 6.1.1 Field-based observations: 6.1.2 Modelling 6.2 Overview of larch stand structures and spatial pattern on different spatial scales 6.2.1 Recent stand structures 6.2.2 Spatial Patterns 6.3 Stand structure drivers and treeline changes 6.3.1 Climate change 6.3.2 Disturbances 6.3.3 Autecology 6.4 Conclusion 6.5 Outlook 7 Appendix 7.1 Supplementary information for Manuscript I 7.2 Supplementary information for Manuscript II 7.2.1 Manuscript II: Appendix 1. Climatic information for the study region 7.2.2 Manuscript II: Appendix 2. Plot-specific values and krummholz appearance 7.2.3 Manuscript II: Appendix 3. Regression analysis for age data 7.2.4 Manuscript II: Appendix 4. Model description 7.3 Supplementary information for Manuscript III 7.4 Supplementary information for Manuscript IV 7.5 Supplementary information 8 References Danksagung Eidesstattliche Erklärung

Note: Table of contents Abstract Zusammenfassung Abbreviations and nomenclatureI 1. Introduction 1.1 Scientific background 1.1.1 Permafrost and ground ice 1.1.2 Organic carbon pools and fluxes into the Arctic Ocean 1.1.3 Climate warming and permafrost thaw 1.1.4 Permafrost degradation and coastal erosion 1.1.5 Study area Yukon coast and Qikiqtaruk 1.2 Knowledge gaps 1.3 Aims and objectives 1.4 Thesis structure and author's contribution 2. Eroding permafrost coasts release low amounts of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from ground ice into the nearshore zone of the Arctic Ocean 2.1 Abstract 2.2 Introduction 2.3 Study area 2.4 Methods 2.4.1 Field work 2.4.2 DOC concentration 2.4.3 DOC flux estimation 2.5 Results 2.5.1 Segmentation of the coast - literature synthesis 2.5.2 DOC concentration 2.5.3 DOC stocks and fluxes 2.6 Discussion 2.6.1 DOC concentrations in ground ice 2.6.2 DOC fluxes from the YC 2.6.3 DOC fluxes and the Arctic carbon budget 2.7 Conclusion and Outlook 2.8 Acknowledgements 3.Transformation of terrestrial organic matter along thermokarst-affected permafrost coasts in the Arctic 3.1 Abstract 3.2 Introduction 3.3 Study area 3.3 Methods 3.3.1 Field work 3.3.2 Sedimentology, stratigraphy, and vegetation 3.3.3 Organic matter 3.3.4 Statistics 3.3.5 Transformation of organic matter 3.3.6 Fate of organic matter in the nearshore zone 3.4 Results 3.4.1 Sedimentology, stratigraphy, and vegetation 3.4.2 Organic matter 3.4.3 C/N-ratios and δ13C 3.4.4 Biomarkers 3.5 Discussion 3.5.1 Transformation of organic matter in the disturbed zone 3.5.2 Fate of organic matter in the nearshore zone 3.5.3 Environmental impact of the RTS 3.6 Conclusion 3.7 Acknowledgements 4. Rapid greenhouse gas release from eroding permafrost coasts 4.1 Summary 4.2 Background 4.3 Study site 4.4 Sampling and incubation setup 4.5 Findings and discussion 4.6 Conclusion 4.7 Methods 4.7.1 Incubation conditions 4.7.2 Gas measurements 4.7.3 Geo- and hydrochemical analysis 4.8 Acknowledgements 5. Synthesis 5.1 Mobilization of permafrost OC pools by coastal erosion 5.2 Transformation of permafrost OM on transit from land to sea 5.3 Fate and pathways of permafrost OC in the nearshore zone 5.4 Conclusion and outlook References Appendix I: Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in Arctic ground ice I-1 Abstract I-2 Introduction I-3 Study area and study sites I-4 Material and methods I-4-1 Laboratory analyses I-4-2 Statistical methods I-5 Results I-5-1 DOC and DIC concentrations I-5-2 Correlation matrix I-5-3 Principal components I-5-4 Univariate Tree Model (UTM) I-6 Discussion I-6-1 DOC stocks in ground ice and relevance to carbon cycling I-6-2 Carbon sequestration and origin in relation to inorganic geochemistry I-6-3 DOC mobility and quality upon permafrost degradation I-7 Conclusions and outlook I-8 Acknowledgements Appendix II: Supplementary material for Chapter 2 II-1 Supplementary table - Ground ice and geochemical data II-2 Supplementary table - Coastal segments and DOC flux Appendix III: Supplementary material for Chapter 3 III-1 Normalized Differenced Vegetation Index map III-2 Photograph of a massive ice bed in a RTS III-3 Calculation of biomarker proxies III-4 Supplementary table - Summary of geochemical data III-5 Supplementary table - Summary of statistical analysis AppendixI V: Supplementary material for Chapter 4 IV-1 Design of the incubation experiment IV-2 Photograph of a standard incubation setup IV-3 Conversion of gas amounts into mass IV-4 Total and daily aerobic CH4 production IV-5 Histogram summarizing OC losses and CO2 emissions IV-6 Supplementary table - Summary of TOC, DOC, and pH data IV-7 Supplementary table - Summary of TN, TOC/TN, and δ13C-TOC data IV-8 Supplementary table - Summary of total CO2 and CH4 production data IV-9 Supplementary table - Comparison of incubation setups IV-10 Supplementary table - Summary of daily CO2 production data IV-11 Supplementary table - Summary of daily CH4 production data Acknowledgements-Danksagung

Note: Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Einleitung 1.1Wissenschaftliche Zielsetzung 2 Grundlagen 2.1 Grundgleichungen 2.2 Potentielle Vorticity 2.3 Planetare Wellen 2.4 Atmosphärische Instabilität 2.5 Grenzschicht 2.6 Kopplung von Tropo- und Stratosphäre 3 Daten und Methoden 3.1 N-ICE2015 3.1.1 Expeditionsbeschreibung 3.1.2 Ziele der Expedition 3.2 Daten 3.2.1 Beobachtungsdaten 3.2.2 ERA-Interim Reanalyse 3.2.3 Das HIRHAM5 Modell 3.3 Analysemethoden 3.3.1 Temperaturinversionen 3.3.2 Vertikale Stabilität 3.3.3 Grenzschichthöhe 3.3.4 Eady Growth Rate 3.3.5 2d-Skalenfilterung und -Pattern-Korrelation 3.3.6 Nudging Experiment 4 Analyse der N-ICE2015 Radiosonden 4.1 Blick auf die Troposphäre 4.2 Fallstudie zum M2-Sturm: A 4.3 Zyklonencharakteristika 4.4 Temperaturinversionen und Stabilität 4.5 Vergleich mit ERA-Interim, SHEBA und Ny-Ålesund 4.6 Résumé der Expeditionsdaten 5 Nudging Studien mit HIRHAM5 5.1 Vergleich mit ERA-Interim 5.2 Vergleich der Simulationen 5.3 Fallstudie zum M2-Sturm: B 5.3.1 Synoptische Aktivität 5.4 Statistischer Vergleich 6 Einfluss der Stratosphäre 6.1 Stratosphäre im Winter 2014/2015 6.2 Fallstudie zum M2-Sturm: C 6.3 PV als Ladung 6.4 Résumé der Beobachtungen 7 Zusammenfassung und Ausblick A Zusätztliche Abbildungen B Literaturverzeichnis

Note: Contents: 1 General introduction. - 1.1 Challenges of isotope-based temperature reconstructions. - 1.2 Thesis overview. - 1.3 Author contributions. - 2 Theoretical background. - 2.1 The isotopic composition of firn and ice. - 2.1.1 Fractionation of water isotopologues. - 2.1.2 Relationship with temperature. - 2.1.3 Measuring of the isotopic composition. - 2.2 Processes within the firn column. - 2.2.1 The firn column of polar ice sheets. - 2.2.2 The density of firn. - 2.2.3 The temperature profile of firn. - 2.2.4 Vapour diffusion in firn. - 2.3 Internal climate variability. - 3 Regional climate signal vs.local noise: a two-dimensional view of water isotopes. - 3.1 Introduction. - 3.2 Data and methods. - 3.3 Results. - 3.3.1 Trench isotope records. - 3.3.2 Single-profile representativity. - 3.3.3 Mean trench profiles. - 3.3.4 Spatial correlation structure. - 3.3.5 Statistical noise model. - 3.4 Discussion. - 3.4.1 Local noise vs. regional climate signal. - 3.4.2 Representativity of isotope signals. - 3.4.3 Implications. - 3.5 Conclusions. - 3.6 Appendix A: Derivation of noise model. - 3.6.1 Definitions. - 3.6.2 Derivation of model correlations. - 3.6.3 Estimation of parameters. - 3.7 Appendix B: Noise level after diffusion. - 4 Constraints on post-depositional isotope modifications in east antarctic firn. - 4.1 Introduction. - 4.2 Data and methods. - 4.2.1 Sampling and measurements. - 4.2.2 Trench depth scale. - 4.2.3 Spatial variability of trench profiles. - 4.2.4 Quantification of downward advection, densification and diffusion. - 4.2.5 Statistical tests. - 4.3 Results. - 4.3.1 Comparison of T15 and T13 isotope data. - 4.3.2 Expected isotope profile changes. - 4.3.3 Temporal vs. spatial variability. - 4.4 Discussion. - 4.4.1 Densification, diffusion and stratigraphic noise. - 4.4.2 Additional post-depositional modifications. - 4.5 Conclusions. - 5 On the similarity and apparent cycles of isotope variations. - 5.1 Introduction. - 5.2 Data and Methods. - 5.2.1 Data. - 5.2.2 Spectral analysis. - 5.2.3 Rice’s formula. - 5.2.4 Cycle length and amplitude estimation. - 5.2.5 Model for vertical isotope profiles. - 5.3 Results. - 5.3.1 Spectral analysis of isotope profiles. - 5.3.2 Theoretical and observed cycle length. - 5.3.3 Illustrative examples. - 5.3.4 Depth dependency of cycle length. - 5.3.5 Simulated vs. observed isotope variations. - 5.4 Discussion and summary. - 5.5 Conclusions. - 5.6 Appendix A: Input sensitivity. - 5.7 Appendix B: Additional results. - 5.8 Appendix C: Spectral significance testing. - 6 Timescale-dependency of antarctic isotope variations. - 6.1 Introduction. - 6.2 Data and methods. - 6.2.1 DML and WAIS isotope records. - 6.2.2 Spectral model. - 6.2.3 Timescale-dependent signal-to-noise ratio. - 6.2.4 Effects of diffusion and time uncertainty. - 6.2.5 Present-day temperature decorrelation. - 6.3 Results. - 6.3.1 Illustration of model approach. - 6.3.2 DML and WAIS isotope variability. - 6.4 Discussion. - 6.4.1 Interpretation of noise spectra. - 6.4.2 Interpretation of signal spectra. - 6.4.3 Signal-to-noise ratios. - 6.4.4 Differences between DML and WAIS. - 6.5 Conclusions. - 7 Declining temperature variability from LGM to holocene. - 8 General discussion and conclusions. - 8.1 Short-scale spatial and temporal isotope variability. - 8.1.1 Local spatial variability. - 8.1.2 Seasonal to interannual variability. - 8.1.3 Spatial vs. temporal variability. - 8.2 Extension to longer scales. - 8.2.1 Spatial vs. temporal variability on interannual timescales. - 8.2.2 Holocene and longer timescales. - 8.3 Concluding remarks and outlook. - Bibliography. - A Methods to: declining temperature variability from lgm to holocene. - A.1 Temperature proxy data. - A.2 Model-based temperature and variability change. - A.3 Temperature recalibration of proxy records. - A.3.1 Recalibration of ice-core records. - A.3.2 Recalibration of marine records. - A.4 Variance and variance ratio estimation. - A.5 Noise correction. - A.5.1 Testing effect of noise correction. - A.6 Effect of ecological adaption and bioturbation. - A.7 Effect of proxy sampling locations. - B Layering of surface snow and firn: noise or seasonal signal?. - B.1 Introduction. - B.2 Materials and methods. - B.2.1 Firn-core density profiles. - B.2.2 Trench density profiles. - B.2.3 Dielectric profiling and density estimates. - B.2.4 Comparison of DEP and CT density. - B.2.5 Ion measurements. - B.3 Results. - B.3.1 2-D trench density data. - B.3.2 Spatial correlation structure. - B.3.3 Comparison of mean density, isotope and impurity profiles. - B.3.4 Spectral analysis of vertical density data. - B.4 Discussion. - B.4.1 Spatial variability. - B.4.2 Representativeness of single profiles. - B.4.3 Seasonal cycle in snow density. - B.4.4 Density layering in firn and impurities. - B.5 Conclusions. - Acknowledgements - Danksagung.

Note: Dissertation, Universität Potsdam, 2019 , Table of contents Abstract Zusammenfassung Abbreviations 1 Introduction 1.1 Scientific background 1.1.1 Permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere 1.1.2 The permafrost carbon climate feedback 1.1.3 Rapidly changing, deep permafrost environments 1.2 Aims of this dissertation 1.3 Investigated study areas 1.4 Basic method overview 1.4.1 Field work in the Arctic 1.4.2 Laboratory procedure 1.4.3 Analysis ofl andscape-scale carbon and nitrogen stocks 1.5 Thesis organization 1.6 Overview of publications 1.6.1 Publication#1 - Yedoma landscape publication 1.6.2 Publication#2 - Thermokarst lake sequence publication 1.6.3 Publication#3 - North Alaska Arctic river delta publication 1.6.4 Extended Abstract - Western Alaska river delta study 1.6.5 Appendices - Supplementary material and paper in preparation II Carbon and nitrogen pools in thermokarst-affected permafrost landscapes in Arctic Siberia 2.1 Abstract 2.2 Introduction 2.3 Material and methods 2.3.1 Study area 2.3.2 Field Work 2.3.3 Laboratory analysis 2.3.4 Landform classification and upscaling C and N pools 2.4 Results 2.4.1 Sedimentological results 2.4.2 Sampling site SOC and N stocks 2.4.3 Upscaling: Landscape SOC and N stocks 2.4.4 Radiocarbon dates 2.5 Discussion 2.5.1 Site specific soil organic C and N stock characteristics 2.5.2 Upscaling of C and N pools 2.5.3 Sediment and organic C accumulation rates 2.5.4 Characterizing soil organic carbon 2.5.5 The fate of organic carbon in thermokarst-affected yedoma in Siberia 2.6 Conclusions III Impacts of successive thermokarst lake stages on soil organic matter, Arctic Alaska 3.1 Abstract 3.2 Plain language summary 3.3 Introduction 3.4 Study site 3.5 Methods 3.5.1 Core collection 3.5.2 Biogeochemical analyses 3.5.3 Study area OC and N calculation 3.6 Results 3.6.1 Biogeochemistry 3.6.2 Sediment organic carbon and nitrogen stocks 3.6.3 Radiocarbon dates and carbon accumulation rates 3.6.4 Landscape C and N budget 3.7 Discussion 3.7.1 Impact of thermokarst lake dynamics on organic matter storage 3.7.2 High organic C and N stocks on the ACP 3.7.3 Landscape chronology 3.7.4 Organic matter accumulation 3.7.5 Future development 3.8 Conclusions IV Sedimentary and geochemical characteristics of two small permafrost-dominated Arctic river deltas in northern Alaska 4.1 Abstract 4.2 Introduction 4.3 Study area 4.4 Material and Methods 4.4.1 Soil organic carbon and soil nitrogen storage 4.4.2 Radiocarbon dating and organic carbon accumulation rates 4.4.3 Grain size distribution 4.4.4 Scaling carbon and nitrogen contents to landscape level 4.5 Results 4.5.1 Carbon and nitrogen contents 4.5.2 Radiocarbon dates and accumulation rates 4.5.3 Grain size distribution 4.5.4 Arctic river delta carbon and nitrogen storage 4.6. Discussion 4.6.1 Significance of carbon and nitrogen stocks in Arctic river deltas 4.6.2 SOC and SN distribution with depth 4.6.3 Sedimentary characteristics 4.6.3.1 Accumulation rates 4.6.3.2 Sediment distribution 4.6.4 Impacts of future changes 4.6.5 Significance of remotely sensed upscaling results 4.7 Conclusions V Soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in Arctic river deltas - New data for three Western Alaskan deltas 5.1 Abstract 5.2 Introduction 5.3 Study sites 5.4 Methods 5.5 Results and discussion 5.5 Conclusions VI Discussion 6.1 Interregional comparison 6.2 Changing thermokarst landscapes and their global impact 6.3 A growing C and N data base 6.4 Outlook - potential follow-up projects VII Synthesis VIII References Appendix A Synthesis of SOC and N inventories Appendix B Supplementary material to Chapter II Appendix C Supplementary material to Chapter III Appendix D Supplementary material to Chapter IV Appendix E Supplementary material to Chapter V Appendix F Arctic river delta data set - Version 1.0 Acknowledgements - Danksagung

Note: Table of Contents Abstract Kurzfassung Abbreviations and nomenclature 1. Introduction 2. Scientific Background 2.1. Permafrost 2.2.Retrogressive Thaw Slumps 2.3. Inputs of Freshwater, Sediment and Carbon into the Canadian Beaufort Sea 3. Study Area 3.1. Regional Setting: Yukon Coast and Herschel Island 3.2. Retrogressive Thaw Slumps 4. Material and Methods 4.1. Field Work 4.1.1. Terrain Photography 4.1.2. Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) 4.1.3. Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) 4.1.4. Micrometeorology 4.1.5. Discharge Measurement 4.1.6. Multiple Regression-Statistical Relationships between Micrometeorological Variables and Discharge 4.1.7. Sampling 4.2. Laboratory Analyses 4.2.1. Sedimentological Analyses 4.2.2. Hydrochemical Analyses 4.3. Fluxes of Sediment and (In-) Organic Matter 5. Results 5.1. Field Work 5.1.1. Terrain Photography 5.1.2. Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) 5.1.3. Light Detecting And Ranging (LiDAR) and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) 5.1.4. Micrometeorology 5.1.5. Discharge 5.1.6. Multiple Regression - Statistical Relationships between Micrometeorology and Discharge 5.2. Laboratory Analyses 5.2.1. Sedimentological Analyses 5.2.2. Hydrochemical Analyses 5.3. Fluxes of Sediment-meltwater 6. Discussion 6.1. Microclimatological and Geomorphological Factors Controlling Discharge 6.1.1. Diurnal Variations 6.1.2. Seasonal Variations 6.2. Contribution of Retrogressive Thaw Slumps to the Sediment Budget of the Yukon Coast 6.2.1. Origin of Outflow Material 6.2.2. Slump D in the Regional Context 6.2.3. Seasonal Sediment Budget Compilation for Slump D 6.2.4. Retrogressive Thaw Slump Occurrence along the Yukon Coast 6.2.5. Input to the Beaufort Sea 6.3. Projected Climatic Change and its Impact on Retrogressive Thaw Slump Outflow 6.4. Uncertainties and Limitations 6.5. Future Research 7. Conclusion 8. Appendix 8.1. Field Work 8.1.1. Slump D's northern headwall profile 8.1.2. Collinson Head slump 8.1.3. Herschel Island West Coast slump 8.1.4. Roland Bay slump 8.1.5. Kay Point slump 8.2. Laboratory Work 8.2.1. Volumetric Ice Content 8.2.2. Grain Size 8.3. Evolution of Slump D 8.3.1. Geo Eye satellite of Slump D 8.3.2. Aerial Oblique Photography of Slump D 8.3.3. LiDAR of Slump D 8.3.4. Time Lapse Photography of Slump D's Headwall 9. References 10. Financial and technical support 11. Acknowledgement - Danksagung