Is the subarctic landscape still a carbon sink? Evidence from a detailed catchment balance. Issue 5 (4th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lundin, Erik J.; Klaminder, Jonatan; Giesler, Reiner; Persson, Andreas; Olefeldt, David; Heliasz, Michal; Christensen, Torben R.; Karlsson, Jan
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 43:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 1988
• Page End: 1995
• Publication Date: 2016-03-04
• Subjects: carbon balance -- subarctic -- sink -- source -- aquatic ecosystems -- terrestrial ecosystems; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2015GL066970
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Climate warming raises the question whether high‐latitude landscape still function as net carbon (C) sinks. By compiling an integrated C balance for an intensely studied subarctic catchment, we show that this catchment's C balance is not likely to be a strong current sink of C, a commonly held assumption. In fact, it is more plausible (71% probability) that the studied catchment functions as a C source (−11 ± 20 g C m −2 yr −1 ). Analyses of individual fluxes indicate that soil and aquatic C losses offset C sequestering in other landscape components (e.g., peatlands and aboveground forest biomass). Our results stress the importance of fully integrated catchment C balance estimates and highlight the importance of upland soils and their interaction with the aquatic network for the catchment C balance. Key Points: We show that the catchment C balance is not likely to be a strong current sink of C The results stress the importance of fully integrated catchment C balance estimates Future research should focus on the large areas of upland soils and their integration with the aquatic network