A new Q&A in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment explores how carbon stored beneath Arctic ice sheets behaves when exposed by melting. Researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute are investigating the reactivity of subglacial carbon, which could release greenhouse gases as glaciers retreat. This is a key feedback loop in climate modeling that is still poorly understood. The research matters for carbon accounting and climate projections. If subglacial carbon turns out to be highly reactive, melting Arctic ice could accelerate emissions beyond current estimates. The full study is behind a paywall, but the interview gives a clear look at the science and why it matters for global carbon budgets.
