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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Index Terms

  • Biogeosciences: Biogeochemical cycles, processes, and modeling
  • Biogeosciences: Carbon cycling
  • Biogeosciences: Permafrost, cryosphere, and high-latitude processes
  • Biogeosciences: Soils/pedology
  • Geochemistry: Stable isotope geochemistry

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 33, L20502, 5 PP., 2006
doi:10.1029/2006GL027484

Permafrost carbon: Stock and decomposability of a globally significant carbon pool

S. A. Zimov

North-East Scientific Station, Pacific Institute for Geography, Far-East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Cherskii, Russia

S. P. Davydov

North-East Scientific Station, Pacific Institute for Geography, Far-East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Cherskii, Russia

G. M. Zimova

North-East Scientific Station, Pacific Institute for Geography, Far-East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Cherskii, Russia

A. I. Davydova

North-East Scientific Station, Pacific Institute for Geography, Far-East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Cherskii, Russia

E. A. G. Schuur

Department of Botany, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

K. Dutta

Department of Botany, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

F. S. Chapin III

Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA

The magnitude of future CO2-induced climate warming is difficult to predict because of uncertainties in the role of ecosystems and oceans as CO2 sources and sinks. Siberia has extensive areas (1 × 106 km2) of deep (up to 90 m) deposits of organic-rich frozen loess (wind-blown silt) that accumulated during the Pleistocene but have not been considered in most global carbon (C) inventories. Similar deposits occur less extensively in Alaska. Recent warming at high latitudes causes this permafrost (permanently frozen ground) to thaw, raising questions about the fate of C in thawing permafrost. Here we show that Siberian loess permafrost contains a large organic C pool (∼450 GT—more than half the quantity in the current atmosphere) that decomposes quickly when thawed, and could act as a positive feedback to climate warming.

Received 6 July 2006; accepted 19 September 2006; published 27 October 2006.

Citation: Zimov, S. A., S. P. Davydov, G. M. Zimova, A. I. Davydova, E. A. G. Schuur, K. Dutta, and F. S. Chapin III (2006), Permafrost carbon: Stock and decomposability of a globally significant carbon pool, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L20502, doi:10.1029/2006GL027484.

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