CO2 loss by permafrost thawing implies additional emissions reductions to limit warming to 1.5 or 2°C

• Published in: Environmental Research Letters
• Main Authors: Burke, Eleanor J., Chadburn, Sarah E., Huntingford, Chris, Jones, Chris D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 2018
• Subjects: Meteorology and Climatology; Atmospheric Sciences; Jules; permafrost
• Online Access: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/519132/; https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/519132/1/N519132JA.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aaa138

Large amounts of carbon are stored in the permafrost of the northern high latitude land. As permafrost degrades under a warming climate, some of this carbon will decompose and be released to the atmosphere. This positive climate-carbon feedback will reduce the natural carbon sinks and thus lower ant...