The Arctic plays a central role in the global climate system, particularly through its function as a carbon sink. However, climate change could disrupt its balance. Nunataryuk researchers present here a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the Arctic carbon cycle.The results, which have been published in the scientific journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, provide new and updated numbers and highlight existing uncertainties.
The analysis shows that the Arctic in its entirety is still a carbon sink. “The Arctic Ocean stores more than 100 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere every year,” explains Dr. Jorien Vonk from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, co-first author of the study. “The land masses also continue to bind carbon, but with decreasing capacity. Thawing permafrost, forest fires and soil erosion in particular could lead to a net carbon source in the long term.” In addition, Arctic inland waters, such as rivers and lakes, are already emitting significant amounts of CO2 and methane.
The original study can be read in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment in here.
A press release on the results of the study can be found on AWI website in here.
