Concerns about climate change impacts in the Arctic and potential feedbacks to global warming have stimulated an explosion of research in the 21^st century. A few basic conceptual models have been instrumental in guiding this research. These models have evolved over time, but legacies from earlier models have, to some extent, also presented barriers to new thinking. This tutorial will consider the conceptual models that have framed research and thinking about climate change impacts on aquatic biogeochemistry in the Arctic as well as permafrost regions more generally. We will explore how early models emphasizing effects of permafrost thaw (particularly active layer deepening) are evolving to embrace multiple factors that influence water chemistry over space and time. These include, but are not limited to, regional differences in geology, vegetation, and soil organic matter; groundwater contributions; thermokarst; shrubification; changing precipitation regimes; and asynchronous shifts in seasonality. We will also address tenacious misconceptions that may be hindering progress and consider steps toward next-generation models that are needed to facilitate future advancements.

Tutorial/Invited: Tutorial

Primary Presenter: James McClelland, Marine Biological Laboratory (jmcclelland@mbl.edu)

Authors:

James McClelland, Marine Biological Laboratory  (jmcclelland@mbl.edu)

Ben Abbott, Brigham Young University  (benabbott@byu.edu)

Suzanne Tank, University of Alberta  (suzanne.tank@ualberta.ca)

Michelle Walvoord, US Geological Survey  (walvoord@usgs.gov)