Towards improved Arctic wetland classification: a clustering analysis of
wetland carbon flux and environmental data
Abstract
Rapid environmental change in the Arctic raises concerns about the
future of wetland carbon dynamics. Current classifications may not
capture the diverse environmental conditions affecting these fluxes.
This study aims to fill this gap by identifying distinct wetland
clusters using a synthesis of field measurements (CO2 and CH4 fluxes,
soil moisture) and remote sensing and other geospatial data (snow season
length, annual precipitation, growing degree days, normalized difference
vegetation index, and potential peat depth). Our dataset includes 862
individual measurements of tundra and forest-tundra wetlands from 86
data sources covering the period 1988 - 2023 for a variety of Arctic
regions, with dominant wetland types including fens and polygonal bogs.
Clusters for CO2 and CH4 fluxes mostly did not overlap, indicating
different controls on these two carbon fluxes. CH4 flux clusters
depended on local moisture conditions, potential soil depth, and
vegetation characteristics, while CO2 flux clusters varied significantly
with climatic conditions and vegetation characteristics. Notably, no
single wetland type from the current classification formed a distinct
cluster in either carbon flux. This study highlights the importance of
high spatial resolution soil and vegetation data for accurate scaling of
wetland CH4 fluxes. However, this may be less critical for the upscaling
of wetland CO2 fluxes.