Journal Article

Climate change and the permafrost carbon feedback

McGuire, A. D., Lawrence, D. M., Romanovsky, V. E., Hayes, D. J., Hugelius, G., Schädel, C., Natali, S. M., Harden, J. W., Olefeldt, D., Koven, C. D., Kuhry, P., Turetsky, M. R., Treat, C. C., Schaefer, K., Schuur, E. A. G., Grosse, G., Vonk, J. E.

2015

Overview

A large amount of organic carbon stored in frozen Arctic soils (permafrost) could be released as carbon dioxide and methane in a warming climate, which would accelerate the pace of climate change; this review suggests that release of greenhouse gas emissions will be gradual but prolonged. The potential role of permafrost in climate change Temperatures have risen faster than the global average in the Artic and sub-Arctic over the past thirty years. A warming climate thaws the frozen ground and accelerates the microbial decomposition of soil organic carbon stored in large quantities in this region, leading to the release of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane. This feedback effect can accelerate climate change, but the magnitude and timing of greenhouse gas emissions remains uncertain. In this Review, Ted Schurr et al . conclude that current evidence points to a gradual but prolonged release of carbon dioxide and methane in a warming climate. The authors identify poorly understood aspects of permafrost carbon dynamics. Large quantities of organic carbon are stored in frozen soils (permafrost) within Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. A warming climate can induce environmental changes that accelerate the microbial breakdown of organic carbon and the release of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane. This feedback can accelerate climate change, but the magnitude and timing of greenhouse gas emission from these regions and their impact on climate change remain uncertain. Here we find that current evidence suggests a gradual and prolonged release of greenhouse gas emissions in a warming climate and present a research strategy with which to target poorly understood aspects of permafrost carbon dynamics.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 704/106 / 704/106/47 / Arctic Regions / Arctic zone / Carbon Cycle / Carbon cycle (Biogeochemistry) / Carbon dioxide / Carbon Dioxide - analysis / Climate Change / Climatic changes / Cold regions / Datasets / Emissions / Environmental aspects / Environmental changes / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES / Feedback / Freezing / Frozen ground / Global warming / Greenhouse gases / Humanities and Social Sciences / Methane - analysis / multidisciplinary / Organic carbon / Permafrost / Permafrost - chemistry / Remote sensing / Research methods / review-article / Science / Seawater - chemistry / Uncertainty