Global Warming Causing Soils to Release Carbon
09.09.2005 - Other
A study of the National Soil Resources Institute published in the journal Nature monitored the carbon content of soil in England and Wales from 1978 to 2003. The study concluded that British soils are losing 13 million tons of carbon per year. Since the carbon is released regardless of how soils are used, there is a strong probability that climate change itself is the main cause.
Soils are a vitally important sink for carbon dioxide " twice as much carbon is wrapped up in soils as in Earth's vegetation or atmosphere. If they do absorb less carbon, the planet may warm at an even faster rate than expected. Moreover, if soils release their carbon faster because of temperature increase, the phenomenon might initiate a positive feedback loop.
Although the study does not mention where all the missing carbon has gone, much of it may be entering the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and methane (greenhouse gases), thereby reinforcing the global warming trend. As temperature rises, more carbon will be released by soils ...
