Earth’s Cryosphere, 2011, Vol. XV, No. 4, p. 65-68

COASTAL EROSION AS A DESTABILIZING FACTOR OF CARBONATE BALANCE IN THE EAST SIBERIAN ARCTIC SEAS

S.O. Razumov, M.N. Grigoriev

Melnikov Permafrost Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 36, Merzlotnaya str., Yakutsk, 677010, Russia; razum55@mail.ru

The carbonate balance in the Arctic seas of East Siberia is in reciprocal relationship with climate change and destructive coastal dynamics. Thermal and wave erosion of permafrost coast associated with global warming destabilizes the marine CO₂ – carbonate system by increasing dramatically the partial pressure of CO₂ in coastal waters to 800–900 ppm and facilitating its release into air. The ongoing warming and growing activity of coastal processes can reduce the ability of the eastern Arctic seas for CO₂ uptake.

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