A new study suggests regions of the Arctic tundra are now releasing more planet-warming gases than they absorb, upending a millennia-old trend.
The study published in academic journal Nature Climate Change suggests many tundra regions may have started to release more carbon dioxide than they absorb, calling it a"noteworthy shift in carbon dynamics."
The study says while the region comprised of the boreal forest and the Arctic increased how much carbon it can hold in its plants and soils from 2001 to 2020, about a third of the region had become a net source of carbon dioxide as permafrost thaws and soils dry out. Sue Natali, one of the authors, says the study stood out for its pan-Arctic approach, combining satellite and field observations from an international team to come up with its expansive results.
"I think to be able to see it over such a large area – to detect it, to monitor it – is quite surprising, and it represents a shift in how this system is functioning," she said in an interview.
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