Tundras act as amplifiers of climate change

Snow covered tundra in Alaska

Image - NASA / JPL-Caltech / Charles Miller

High carbon dioxide emissions are causing many problems for humanity as they intensify the greenhouse effect. As a consequence, temperatures rise and the poles melt, which in turn could endanger many lives.

One of the areas that are being studied is Alaska, specifically the tundra. From 1975 to date, the amount of CO2 that has been emitted due to the thaw has increased by 70%, as reported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, known by its acronym in English NASA.

The study, which has been led by Harvard University atmosphere researcher Roisin Commane, reveals that warmer temperatures and snowmelt can increase carbon dioxide emissions in tundras, which will undoubtedly worsen global warming as soils that are above 60 degrees north latitude have large amounts of carbon in the form of organic matter from dead vegetation.

Comanne explained that During the arctic summer, soil thawing and microbes break down this organic matter, producing large amounts of CO2. Although the ground freezes again in October, the strong emissions of this compound continue until the ground freezes completely.

Mount in Alaska

Consequently, the climate is getting warmer which has led to the tundra taking up to three months to refreezeWhen in the past it only took a month. In addition, the data that have been obtained in observation towers show constant increases in carbon dioxide, which makes the temperatures in autumn and winter milder.

Thus, the soils of the tundra act as an amplifier of climate change.

You can read the study here (In English).


Be the first to comment

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

*

*

  1. Responsible for the data: Miguel Ángel Gatón
  2. Purpose of the data: Control SPAM, comment management.
  3. Legitimation: Your consent
  4. Communication of the data: The data will not be communicated to third parties except by legal obligation.
  5. Data storage: Database hosted by Occentus Networks (EU)
  6. Rights: At any time you can limit, recover and delete your information.