Large stocks of peatland carbon and nitrogen are vulnerable to permafrost thaw
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Over many millennia, northern peatlands have accumulated large amounts of carbon and nitrogen, thus cooling the global climate. Over shorter timescales, peatland disturbances can trigger losses of peat and release of greenhouses gases. Despite their importance to the global climate, peatlands remain poorly mapped, and the vulnerability of permafrost peatlands to warming is uncertain. This study compiles over 7,000 field observations to present a data-driven map of northern peatlands and their carbon and nitrogen stocks. We use these maps to model the impact of permafrost thaw on peatlands and find that warming will likely shift the greenhouse gas balance of northern peatlands. At present, peatlands cool the climate, but anthropogenic warming can shift them into a net source of warming.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Large stocks of peatland carbon and nitrogen are vulnerable to permafrost thaw |
| Series title | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |
| DOI | 10.1073/pnas.1916387117 |
| Volume | 117 |
| Issue | 34 |
| Year Published | 2020 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |
| Contributing office(s) | Eastern Geology and Paleoclimate Science Center, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center |
| Description | 9 p. |
| First page | 20438 |
| Last page | 20446 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |