Permafrost and climate change: Carbon cycle feedbacks from the warming Arctic

Annual Review of Earth Science
By: , and 

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Abstract

Rapid Arctic environmental change affects the entire Earth system as thawing permafrost ecosystems release greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Understanding how much permafrost carbon will be released, over what time frame, and what the relative emissions of carbon dioxide and methane will be is key for understanding the impact on global climate. In addition, the response of vegetation in a warming climate has the potential to offset at least some of the accelerating feedback to the climate from permafrost carbon. Temperature, organic carbon, and ground ice are key regulators for determining the impact of permafrost ecosystems on the global carbon cycle. Together, these encompass services of permafrost relevant to global society as well as to the people living in the region and help to determine the landscape-level response of this region to a changing climate.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Permafrost and climate change: Carbon cycle feedbacks from the warming Arctic
Series title Annual Review of Earth Science
DOI 10.1146/annurev-environ-012220-011847
Volume 47
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher Annual Reviews
Contributing office(s) Florence Bascom Geoscience Center
Description 29 p.
First page 343
Last page 371
Other Geospatial Arctic
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