A third of the tundra, forests and wetlands in the Arctic became a source of carbon emissions, New study It has been found that global warming ends thousands of years of carbon storage in parts of the frozen north.
For thousands of years, wild environmental systems in the Arctic have been a deep freezing of carbon on the planet, as it contains huge amounts of possible emissions in frosty soil. But environmental systems in the region have become increasingly Contribute to global heating When they release more carbon dioxide2 A new study to the atmosphere with high temperatures It was published in the nature of climate change Save.
More than 30% of the region was a clear source of carbon dioxide2According to the analysis, it rises to 40 percent when adding emissions caused by forest fires. Using monitoring data from 200 study sites between 1990 and 2020, the research shows how the northern forests, wetlands and tundra in the Arctic are shifted due to rapid warming.
“It is the first time that we have seen this shift on this wide range, and in a cumulative way across all regions of Tandra. Soo Natalie, the participating author and the main researcher in studying at the Woodwell Climate Research Center:” It is a very big deal. “
This transformation occurs even though the Arctic has become more green. “In one of the places I work in Alaska, when the soil melts, plants grow more so that they can sometimes increase carbon storage,” Natalie said. “But the frosty soil continues to melt and microbial control. You have this large group of carbon on the ground and see things Like the collapse of the earth. “You can visually see changes in the natural scene,” she said.
The study comes amid increasing concern among scientists on the natural processes that organize the Earth’s climate, which are affected by the same by high temperatures. The planet’s oceans, its forests, soil, and other natural carbon sofas work together Absorb Half of all human emissionsBut there are indications that these ponds are under pressure.
The ecosystem in the Arctic, which extends across Siberia, Alaska, the North and Canada countries, collects carbon for thousands of years, helping to cool the atmosphere of the Earth. In a world that gets more heat, the researchers say that the carbon cycle in the region has begun to change and need better monitoring.
“There is a large amount of carbon in the Arctic soil. It is close to half the amount of carbon in the soil of the earth. This is much more than what is in the atmosphere. There is a possible huge tank that must remain in the ground perfectly .
“With high temperatures, the soil becomes warmer. In frosty soil, most types of soil are completely frozen throughout the year. But now the temperatures are warmer, and there are more organic materials available for decomposition, and carbon is released in the atmosphere. These are responses The verb of carbon and frosty soil, which is the main engine here. ”
