NOAA Ocean Exploration
For thousands of years, Arctic ecosystems have stored vast quantities of potential carbon emissions within permafrost. However, as worldwide temperatures increase, they are emitting additional CO2 into the atmosphere and are also becoming a contributor to global warming, the report stated.
"Arctic soils hold a significant quantity of carbon, nearly 50% of the Earth's soil CO2 reserves, far exceeding the levels found in the atmosphere. This represents a significant potential reservoir of (carbon) that should ideally remain underground," states Anna Virkkala, lead author of the study.
In the past, a large portion of the Arctic soil stayed frozen all year long. However, with the increase in temperatures, a greater amount of organic matter is breaking down, leading to more carbon being emitted into the atmosphere, explains Virkkala.
By analyzing monitoring data from 200 sites between 1990 and 2020, the authors of the study discovered the ways in which global warming is changing the Arctic's boreal forests, wetlands, and tundra. They project that over 30 percent of the Arctic has turned into a source of CO2, increasing to 40 percent when considering forest fires.
source: theguardian.com
"Arctic soils hold a significant quantity of carbon, nearly 50% of the Earth's soil CO2 reserves, far exceeding the levels found in the atmosphere. This represents a significant potential reservoir of (carbon) that should ideally remain underground," states Anna Virkkala, lead author of the study.
In the past, a large portion of the Arctic soil stayed frozen all year long. However, with the increase in temperatures, a greater amount of organic matter is breaking down, leading to more carbon being emitted into the atmosphere, explains Virkkala.
By analyzing monitoring data from 200 sites between 1990 and 2020, the authors of the study discovered the ways in which global warming is changing the Arctic's boreal forests, wetlands, and tundra. They project that over 30 percent of the Arctic has turned into a source of CO2, increasing to 40 percent when considering forest fires.
source: theguardian.com