The Arctic Has Long Been a Carbon-Capture Giant, but That's Starting to Change
The world is adept at balancing the warming gases in its atmosphere, but anthropogenic climate change is challenging this balance.
A new study reports that 34 percent of the Arctic-boreal zone (ABZ) is actually releasing more carbon than its storing, and that number climbs to 40 percent when considering wildfires.
While this once again presses the importance of cutting back emissions, it's also important for climate modeling to not necessarily rely on these carbon sink systems to perform as they have in the past.
For thousands of years, the Earth's done a pretty good job at regulating the delicate balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Massive oceans, sprawling rainforests, and frozen permafrost in the Arctic-boreal zone (ABZ) all play their part in maintaining a healthy global ecosystem. But with the introduction of anthropogenic carbon emissions (courtesy of everything from the Industrial Revolution to present), that delicate balance has been thrown into chaos, and some of these previous natural allies are no longer as reliable as they used to be.
Previous research has already shown that the Amazon Rainforest is already releasing a concerning amount of carbon into the atmosphere and that the ocean's carbon sink is also weakening. Now, a new study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, is concerningly adding the ABZ to this sad company. An international team of researchers, led by the Woodwell Climate Research Center, pored over decades of data provided by a growing climate library called 'ABC Flux.' Gathered from carbon flux monitoring towers and chambers, this data essentially captures the respiration of the Arctic by tracing what gasses are being exchanged, or 'breathed,' in and out.
It isn't good news.
'While we found many northern ecosystems are still acting as carbon dioxide sinks, source regions and fires are now canceling out much of that net uptake and reversing long-standing trends,' Woodwell Climate's Anna Virkkala, the lead author of the study, said in a press statement.
The team found that 34 percent of the ABZ, which includes the wetlands, boreal forests, and treeless tundra, is now a source of carbon rather than a sink. If emissions from wildfires were added to the mix, that percentage rose to 40. A greening Arctic also doesn't translate to net gains when it comes to carbon sequestration primarily through the loss of carbon through permafrost thaw. The study estimates that while nearly half of the ABZ experienced some level of greening, only 12 percent recorded an uptake of carbon dioxide.
Thankfully, this study brings more than just bad news, because due to its impressive resolution, scientists are able to accurately pinpoint where these carbon-producing regions are cropping up.
'The high resolution of these data means that we can now see how variable the Arctic is when it comes to carbon,' Woodwell Climate's Sue Natali, a co-author on the study, said in a press statement. 'And now we have the capability to track and map carbon processes at a spatial resolution that can reveal what's happening on the ground.'
This will be vital for climate scientists to understand just how big the threat is, especially as previous models relied on carbon sinks in the rainforests, oceans, and polar regions to continue acting the same. Sadly, as this study only confirms, we may not be able to rely on our oldest carbon sink allies.
You Might Also Like
The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape
The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere
Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Scientists raise red flag over concerning trend among polar bears — here's why it has bigger implications
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has estimated that there have been sharp declines in Alaska's polar bear population. Alaska polar bears face serious threats because of rising global temperatures and human activity. As Defenders of Wildlife reported, approximately one-tenth of the global polar bear population lives around Alaska's Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea. The estimates of their numbers from earlier this year signal that polar bears' livelihood is at risk, and their long-term survival prospects are dim. The FWS estimated that only approximately 819 polar bears are in the Southern Beaufort Sea population. Bears in this region saw a 40% population decline during the 2000s. They are considered one of the most at-risk populations of polar bears worldwide. Along the Chukchi Sea, the FWS estimated the polar bear population to be around 2,937. Although this population is considered more stable than that of the Beaufort Sea, officials aren't fully confident in the accuracy of this number since tracking them is quite challenging. The Alaskan polar bear population's decline is attributed to sea ice declines and behavioral changes, as bears must spend more time on land in the summer. Oil and gas development also threatens polar bear habitats because drilling and dirty energy exploration projects displace them and destroy the resources they need to survive. Declining polar bear populations disrupt the Arctic food chain and the people and animals who rely on the region's natural resources. Polar bears are the top predators in the region and help balance the natural ecosystem. Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated issue to just Alaska. Polar bears also struggle to survive in other regions, while even grizzly bears are dying in increasingly disturbing numbers because of environmental conditions and extreme weather shifts. Polar bear population declines indicate the overall health of the Arctic environment and are a cultural symbol for Indigenous communities. Protecting and rebuilding their populations is crucial to preserving regional biodiversity and cultural heritage. Fortunately, scientists have been improving polar-bear tracking strategies to monitor their populations and inspire conservation efforts. Reducing our world's reliance on dirty energy and choosing clean energy for power can slow the steadily rising temperatures and help protect polar bears. As an individual, you can spread the news about declining polar bear populations by discussing critical climate issues like sea ice melt and oil drilling with people you know. You can also contact your elected officials to urge them to support sustainable policies that protect polar bears. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
New York Times
2 days ago
- New York Times
Study Shows Mercury Levels in Arctic Wildlife Could Rise for Centuries
Levels of mercury in Arctic wildlife could continue to rise significantly even as countries curb their emissions, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed more than 700 samples of fish, mammals and peat collected across Greenland over the past 40 years and found evidence that the mercury in them was distributed by ocean currents. The finding, published this week in the journal Nature Communications, helps explain why levels of mercury contamination have continued increasing in the Arctic even as global emissions have begun to plateau. 'We got a lot of surprises when we analyzed the data,' said Jens Sondergaard, a senior ecological science researcher at Aarhus University in Denmark and lead author of the study. 'It's a really striking trend.' Exposure to high concentrations of mercury, a potent neurotoxin, can lead to neurological and other health-related effects and the study confirms that mercury emitted today could continue posing a large threat to humans and wildlife in the region for centuries. eBy analyzing mercury isotopes, a unique kind of chemical signature that can be matched like a fingerprint, the researchers traced the spread of mercury contamination to the patterns of ocean currents around Greenland. Previous research has shown that mercury can persist in oceans for more than 300 years. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Electric vehicle boom could lead to lithium shortage, study warns
Soaring global demand for electric vehicles could lead to a significant lithium shortage by 2030, particularly in Europe, a study warns. According to researchers from East China Normal University in Shanghai and Lund University in Sweden, current plans to expand lithium production won't be enough to meet rising global needs. Europe is projected to face the biggest gap. While EU production could reach 325,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent annually by 2030, demand is expected to soar to 792,000 tons - more than double the supply. Study co-author Qifan Xia described lithium as being as important today as petrol was during the Industrial Revolution. He said that while global lithium reserves are substantial, they are unevenly spread across countries, posing major challenges to meeting rising demand. Lithium is mainly used in lithium-ion batteries, such as those found in smartphones, laptops and electric cars. Europe depends on imports Europe currently depends almost entirely on imports, with key suppliers including Chile, Australia and China. Several pilot projects are under way - but the continent is unlikely to become self-sufficient. The United States and China also face shortfalls, though less severe. By 2030, US production could cover up to 90% of demand. China's production could reach 1.1 million tons, which would still fall short of its projected demand of 1.3 million tons. To help ease the shortage, the study recommends expanding production while also reducing lithium use. Potential solutions include new battery technologies that require little or no lithium, such as sodium-ion batteries, which are already being used in some cars in China. Without urgent action, the report warns, supply constraints could derail global climate and energy transition goals.
