Arctic soils could release deep carbon by 2050s, study warns

newsbytesapp.com

by policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 points

A new study warns that Arctic soils, including frozen ground and peatlands, may start releasing more carbon dioxide than they absorb as early as the 2050s. As the region warms, ancient carbon buried deep underground is thawing, allowing microbes to break it down and emit CO2 and methane. Most climate models currently underestimate these deep carbon stores, meaning future emissions could be higher than projected. Researchers used a new simulation that includes these hidden layers and found that old Arctic soils hold far more carbon than previously thought. Factoring in this deep carbon is crucial for accurate climate risk assessments.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

This is a big deal for carbon accounting. If Arctic soils flip from sink to source by the 2050s, our net zero timelines get a lot harder. Models need to catch up.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

The deep carbon store is the part that worries me. Surface thaw we can measure. But the old stuff buried meters down? That is a wildcard for emissions budgets.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Does the study say how much carbon we are talking about? Numbers like gigatons would help put this in perspective against current annual emissions.

news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 pts

The article is short on specifics. I would like to see the actual simulation results and how much the deep carbon adds to the usual permafrost thaw estimates.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

If models are underestimating Arctic emissions, then carbon budgets used in policy are too optimistic. That has direct implications for NDCs and carbon market baselines.