New research reveals that permafrost in the Arctic contains over 1.5 trillion tons of frozen carbon, exceeding previous estimates by a factor of two. Thawing of this carbon can lead to massive releases of greenhouse gases, further exacerbating climate change.
The new global carbon budget shows unprecedented acceleration of CO2 emissions and atmospheric accumulation, with natural sinks growing slower than emissions. Decreasing forest cover mainly due to deforestation is responsible for a significant portion of emissions, while oceans' carbon uptake has decreased by 10 million tons.
A recent study found that northern ecosystems lose more carbon than they gain from warmer autumn temperatures, offsetting up to 90% of spring's increased carbon uptake. This reduction in carbon sequestration capacity is attributed to increased soil decomposition and decreased carbon uptake during autumn.
A recent study published in Nature reveals that northern terrestrial ecosystems are losing more carbon dioxide through autumnal warming than they gain during spring, offsetting nearly 90% of increased carbon uptake. This finding highlights the critical role of autumn temperatures in determining the carbon balance of these ecosystems.