Northern peatlands store 300–600 Pg C, of which approximately half are underlain by permafrost. Climate warming and, in some regions, soil drying from enhanced evaporation are progressively threatening this large carbon stock. Here, we assess future CO2 and CH4 fluxes from northern peatlands using five land surface models that explicitly include representation of peatland processes. Under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 2.6, northern peatlands are projected to remain a net sink of CO2 and climate neutral for the next three centuries. A shift to a net CO2 source and a substantial increase in CH4 emissions are projected under RCP8.5, which could exacerbate global warming by 0.21°C (range, 0.09–0.49°C) by the year 2300. The true warming impact of peatlands might be higher owing to processes not simulated by the models and direct anthropogenic disturbance. Our study highlights the importance of understanding how future warming might trigger high carbon losses from northern peatlands.
Related Resources
Soil and Water Nutrients in Stem‐only and Whole‐tree Harvest Treatments in Restored Boreal Peatlands
Resource Date:
August
2020
Organization
Boreal Caribou Can Coexist with Natural but Not Industrial Disturbances
Resource Date:
August
2020
The Biophysical Climate Mitigation Potential of Boreal Peatlands During the Growing Season
Resource Date:
October
2020
Organization
Drought Effects on Wet Soils in Inland Wetlands and Peatlands
Resource Date:
November
2020
Organization
Decreased Carbon Accumulation Feedback Driven by Climate‐Induced Drying of Two Southern Boreal Bogs over Recent Centuries
Resource Date:
January
2020
Large Stocks of Peatland Carbon and Nitrogen are Vulnerable to Permafrost Thaw
Resource Date:
August
2020
Organization
Was this helpful?
|