Articles | Volume 11, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-793-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-793-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Original research article
| 
09 Oct 2025
Original research article |
| 09 Oct 2025
| 09 Oct 2025
High biodegradability of water-soluble organic carbon in soils at the southern margin of the boreal forest
Yuqi Zhu
Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China
Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety, Harbin 150025, China
Chao Liu
School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Rui Liu
Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China
Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety, Harbin 150025, China
Hanxi Wang
Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China
Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety, Harbin 150025, China
Xiangwen Wu
Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China
Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety, Harbin 150025, China
Zihao Zhang
Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China
Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety, Harbin 150025, China
Shuying Zang
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China
Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety, Harbin 150025, China
Xiaodong Wu
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Geographical Environment Monitoring and Spatial Information Service in Cold Regions, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China
Heilongjiang Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Cold Region Ecological Safety, Harbin 150025, China
Cryosphere Research Station on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730020, China
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Jianting Zhao, Lin Zhao, Zhe Sun, Guojie Hu, Defu Zou, Minxuan Xiao, Guangyue Liu, Qiangqiang Pang, Erji Du, Zhibin Li, Xiaodong Wu, Yao Xiao, Lingxiao Wang, and Wenxin Zhang
The Cryosphere, 19, 4211–4236, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4211-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4211-2025, 2025
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We used the Moving-Grid Permafrost Model (MVPM) to simulate the permafrost thermal regime in West Kunlun (55,669 km², NW Qinghai–Tibet Plateau), driven by remote-sensing-based land surface temperature (LST; 1980–2022). The model showed high accuracy and stability. Despite ongoing warming (+0.40 °C per decade), permafrost extent remained stable, reflecting delayed deep responses. The permafrost thermal regime reveals altitude- and soil-dependent responses to climate change and offers valuable insights into thermal states in data-scarce regions.
Tonghua Wu, Changwei Xie, Xiaofan Zhu, Jie Chen, Wu Wang, Ren Li, Amin Wen, Dong Wang, Peiqing Lou, Chengpeng Shang, Yune La, Xianhua Wei, Xin Ma, Yongping Qiao, Xiaodong Wu, Qiangqiang Pang, and Guojie Hu
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 1257–1269, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-1257-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-1257-2022, 2022
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We presented an 11-year time series of meteorological, active layer, and permafrost data at the Mahan Mountain relict permafrost site in northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. From 2010 to 2020, the increasing rate of active layer thickness was 1.8 cm-year and the permafrost temperature showed slight changes. The release of those data would be helpful to understand the impacts of climate change on permafrost in relict permafrost regions and to validate the permafrost models and land surface models.
Dong Wang, Tonghua Wu, Lin Zhao, Cuicui Mu, Ren Li, Xianhua Wei, Guojie Hu, Defu Zou, Xiaofan Zhu, Jie Chen, Junmin Hao, Jie Ni, Xiangfei Li, Wensi Ma, Amin Wen, Chengpeng Shang, Yune La, Xin Ma, and Xiaodong Wu
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 3453–3465, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-3453-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-3453-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The Third Pole regions are important components in the global permafrost, and the detailed spatial soil organic carbon data are the scientific basis for environmental protection as well as the development of Earth system models. Based on multiple environmental variables and soil profile data, this study use machine-learning approaches to evaluate the SOC storage and spatial distribution at a depth interval of 0–3 m in the frozen ground area of the Third Pole region.
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Short summary
Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) is crucial in boreal forests, but its behavior across soil depths is poorly understood. Our study found that shallow soils contain complex WSOC molecules with high biodegradability, while deeper soils have simpler molecules that are also highly biodegradable. These results reveal the significant role of WSOC in carbon cycling across soil layers, improving our understanding of carbon dynamics in boreal ecosystems impacted by climate change.
Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) is crucial in boreal forests, but its behavior across soil...
