Wildfire effects on aquatic chemistry (Yukon Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska), 2015-2019

Data from this study originate from the NSF (National Science Foundation) Polaris Project. The Polaris Project integrates scientific research in the Arctic-boreal region with education and outreach, with a primary focus on engaging and inspiring the next generation of scientists. The overarching scientific issue that drives the Polaris Project is the vulnerability and fate of ancient carbon stored in perennially frozen ground, permafrost. Although extensive permafrost thaw is expected to occur across the northern permafrost region this century, large uncertainties remain in the timing, magnitude, and form of carbon that will be released. Participants of the Polaris Project conducted field research in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD), collaborating to make fundamental scientific discoveries related to the transformation and fate of thawed permafrost carbon, and implications for global climate. This data set includes aquatic chemistry data from expeditions to the YKD during 2015–2019. Parameters measured include water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, dissolved organic and inorganic carbon, nitrogen species, phosphorous, greenhouse gases, stables isotopes of carbon and water, optical properties of water, and fluxes of methane and carbon dioxide made in the field. These data were compiled and underwent quality assurance / quality control specifically for the scientific objectives of the manuscript published by Zolkos et al. (2022). Consequently, this dataset contains a modified version of Polaris Project YKD aquatic chemistry data previously published for 2015–2016 (http://doi.org/10.18739/A22804Z8M) and 2017 (http://doi.org/10.18739/A23775V7T). Data from 2018–2019 were not previously published. Therefore, users interested in the original datasets for 2015–2017 are encouraged to access them via the provided links, while users interested in the data and metadata specific to the associated manuscript by Zolkos et al. are encouraged to use this companion dataset.

本研究数据源自美国国家科学基金会（NSF，National Science Foundation）北极星项目（Polaris Project）。该项目将北极-北方区域的科学研究与教育推广工作相结合，核心目标在于吸引并激励下一代科研人才。北极星项目的核心科学议题聚焦于永久冻土（permafrost）中储存的古老碳的脆弱性与归宿。尽管本世纪北极永久冻土区域预计将发生大规模冻土消融，但碳释放的时间、规模与形态仍存在显著不确定性。北极星项目的参与者在育空-库斯科奎姆三角洲（Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, YKD）开展野外研究，合作开展与解冻永久冻土碳的转化、归宿及其对全球气候的影响相关的基础科学探索。本数据集涵盖2015-2019年YKD科考所获取的水化学数据，测量参数包括水温、pH值、溶解氧、电导率、溶解有机碳与无机碳、氮物种、磷、温室气体、碳与水的稳定同位素、水体光学特性，以及野外实测的甲烷与二氧化碳通量。上述数据针对Zolkos等人（2022）发表论文的科学目标进行了整理与质量保证/质量控制（QA/QC）。本数据集包含了此前分别于2015-2016年（http://doi.org/10.18739/A22804Z8M）和2017年（http://doi.org/10.18739/A23775V7T）发布的北极星项目YKD水化学数据的修订版本，2018-2019年的数据则为首次公开。因此，若需获取2015-2017年的原始数据集，可通过上述链接获取；若需使用与Zolkos等人相关论文匹配的数据与元数据，则建议采用本配套数据集。