System Science Partnership (EESP) Global Carbon

• Main Author: Wcrp Climate
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; ACIA; Global warming; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.420.1016; http://www.lter.uaf.edu/pdf/1442_Kuhry_Ping_2009.pdf

because there is considerable concern and increased awareness both within the international scientific community and the general public about the effects of global warming on the very large soil organic-matter pool in permafrost regions (Figure 1). A new estimate (Schuur et al., 2008; Tarnocai et al., 2009) indicates that the total below-ground carbon pool in permafrost regions (ca. 1672 PgC) is more than double the present atmospheric pool (ca. 730 PgC) and more than three times larger than the total global forest biomass (ca. 450 PgC). Permafrost degradation has already been observed in parts of the northern circumpolar region and a significant portion of permafrost is expected to thaw this century (ACIA, 2004). This could result in the release of greenhouse gases (both carbon dioxide and the much more potent methane) from soil organicmatter decomposition. This positive feedback within the Earth System has not yet been considered in climate model projections of future global warming. A unique aspect of permafrost degradation is that gradual thawing of the ground with depth over time will be accompanied by more dramatic events, such as ground subsidence due to melting of buried ice bodies and lateral erosion along the edges of thaw lakes and arctic coastlines (Figure 2), further accelerating the release of greenhouse gases. CAPP is not a funding programme. Its aim is to develop a network of established and young scientists