By adding highly accurate radiocarbon dating of soil to standard Earth system models, environmental scientists from the University of California, Irvine and other institutions have learned a dirty little secret: The ground will absorb far less atmospheric carbon dioxide this century than previously thought.
Researchers used carbon-14 data from 157 sample sites around the world to determine that current soil carbon is about 3,100 years old – rather than the 450 years stipulated by many Earth system models.
"This work indicates that soils have a weaker capacity to soak up carbon than we have been assuming over the past few decades," said UCI Chancellor's Professor of Earth system science James Randerson, senior author of a new study on the subject to be published Friday in the journal Science. "It means we have to be even more proactive in finding ways to cut emissions of fossil fuels to limit the magnitude and impacts of climate warming."
Read the full Phys.org news article.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is the free, trusted leader for reliably viewing, annotating and signing PDFs.
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader
Tackling the nature and climate crisis from source to sea
Scottish blanket bog awarded UNESCO world heritage status
The Crucial Role of Healthy Soils in Scotland's Economy
From robots and drones to sheep trackers, new tech can help farmers monitor and improve soil health
UNESCO raises global alarm on the rapid degradation of soils
World Soil Day report finds increased risk to Scotland’s soil biodiversity