Evidence for non-steady-state carbon emissions from snow-scoured alpine tundra
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Abstract
High-latitude warming is capable of accelerating permafrost degradation and the decomposition of previously frozen carbon. The existence of an analogous high-altitude feedback, however, has yet to be directly evaluated. We address this knowledge gap by coupling a radiocarbon-based model to 7 years (2008–2014) of continuous eddy covariance data from a snow-scoured alpine tundra meadow in Colorado, USA, where solifluction lobes are associated with discontinuous permafrost. On average, the ecosystem was a net annual source of 232 ± 54 g C m−2 (mean ± 1 standard deviation) to the atmosphere, and respiration of relatively radiocarbon-depleted (i.e., older) substrate contributes to carbon emissions during the winter. Given that alpine soils with permafrost occupy 3.6 × 106 km2 land area and are estimated to contain 66.3 Pg of soil organic carbon (4.5% of the global pool), this scenario has global implications for the mountain carbon balance and corresponding resource allocation to lower elevations.
Suggested Citation
Knowles, J.F., Blanken, P.D., Lawrence, C., Williams, M.W., 2019, Evidence for non-steady-state carbon emissions from snow-scoured alpine tundra: Nature Communications, v. 10, Article number: 1306; 9 p., https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09149-2.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Evidence for non-steady-state carbon emissions from snow-scoured alpine tundra |
| Series title | Nature Communications |
| DOI | 10.1038/s41467-019-09149-2 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Publication Date | March 21, 2019 |
| Year Published | 2019 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| Contributing office(s) | Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center |
| Description | Article number: 1306; 9 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| Other Geospatial | Niwot Ridge |