Wildfires offset the increasing Arctic–boreal CO2 uptake

This paper shows that how increasing wildfire could turn tundra regions into a CO2 sources, demonstrating a shift in carbon dynamics.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Creator Anna-Maria Virkkala et al.
Summary The Arctic–Boreal Zone is rapidly warming, impacting its large soil carbon stocks. Here we use a new compilation of terrestrial ecosystem CO2 fluxes, geospatial datasets and random forest models to show that although the Arctic–Boreal Zone was overall an increasing terrestrial CO2 sink from 2001 to 2020. More than 30% of the region was a net CO2 source. Tundra regions may have already started to function on average as CO2 sources, demonstrating a shift in carbon dynamics. When fire emissions are factored in, the increasing Arctic–Boreal Zone sink is no longer statistically significant.
Local Relevance The NWT spans both boreal forest and tundra ecosystems, making it directly affected by the climate-driven changes in carbon dynamics.
Notes
Tags wildfire,Boreal,Arctic-Boreal,CO2 uptake,Carbon Cycle
Geographic Region NWT
Release Date 2025-01-21
Last Modified Date 2025-01-21
Funding Program