Thermokarst lake and drained lake basin (DLB) dynamics are intensifying across the Alaskan Arctic Coastal Plain. Thawing, drainage, and erosion expose surface and deep sediments (> 1 m) to aerobic conditions, with saline deposits being particularly vulnerable due to freeze‐point depression. As organic carbon mineralization remains poorly constrained, we determined potentials with an aerobic one‐year long incubation at 10°C in...

Organic matter in sedimentary archives is abundantly used to reconstruct paleoenvironmental and climate histories. Thereby, distinguishing between the terrestrial and aquatic origin of sedimentary organic matter is often a prerequisite for robust interpretations. In this case study, we use published data for modern plants and topsoils to identify the terrestrial versus aquatic source of n -alkane and sugar biomarkers in two af...

In the Bale Mountains, the ericaceous belt ranges between 3200 and 3800 m asl. Studies indicate an expansion on the Sanetti Plateau at the end of the Late Glacial and during the early Holocene. Currently, only patches of Erica growing between boulders are found on the Plateau, while most of the landscape above 3800 m asl is covered by afro-alpine plants. Driving factors for Erica patches above the upper ericaceous ecotone is a...