Permafrost Thaw and Wildfires Are Raising CO2 Emissions in Arctic Tundras

Learn about hotspots in tundras and boreal forests that are releasing higher level of carbon dioxide, altering the carbon balance in the world's coldest regions.

By Jack Knudson
Jan 22, 2025 10:40 PM
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(Credit: Troutnut/Shutterstock)

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Climate change has already begun to instigate environment-altering effects around the world, and the latest evidence is cropping up in arctic regions that are emitting increasing amounts of carbon dioxide. Researchers in a new study published in Nature Climate Change, have measured the flow of carbon in the Arctic-boreal zone (ABZ) — consisting of the treeless tundra, boreal forests, and wetlands in northern latitudes — and found that a shifting dynamic is underway.

These environments were once mostly carbon dioxide sinks, meaning they absorbed more atmospheric CO2 than they released. The majority of the ABZ still acts as a sink, but now, some spots have started to become significant carbon sources.

A Change in the Earth's Breathing

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