Source: The post Arctic Tundra Emitting More Carbon Than Absorbing It has been created, based on the article “Why Arctic tundra is emitting more carbon than it absorbs, for first time in many millennia” published in “Indian Express on 18th December 2024
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS –3- Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
Context: The article sheds light on a significant and concerning environmental shift in the Arctic tundra, which has long functioned as a massive carbon sink.Recent analyses reveal that this biome has now become a net emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), both potent greenhouse gases (GHGs). This marks a significant departure from the role it has played for millennia in stabilizing global climate systems.
What is happening in the Arctic tundra?
- The Arctic tundra, a frozen, treeless biome that has stored carbon for thousands of years, has become a source of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions.
- A recent report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reveals this alarming shift, driven by rising temperatures and increased wildfires.
How does the Arctic tundra store carbon?
- Plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
- Organic matter decomposes very slowly due to the cold climate.
- Carbon from dead plants and animals remains trapped in permafrost (ground frozen for at least two years straight).
- Arctic soils store over 1.6 trillion metric tonnes of carbon, double the amount currently in the atmosphere.
Why is the Arctic tundra emitting more carbon than it absorbs?
- Rising Temperatures:
- The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average.
- 2024 recorded the second-warmest annual surface air temperatures in the Arctic since 1900.
- Thawing permafrost activates microbes that decompose organic matter, releasing CO2 and CH4.
- Increased Wildfires:
- Wildfires in the Arctic have intensified in frequency and severity.
- 2023 saw the worst wildfire season on record, while 2024 had the second-highest wildfire emissions.
- Wildfires accelerate permafrost thaw and release greenhouse gases (GHGs).
What are the consequences of these emissions?
- The Arctic tundra has shifted from being a carbon sink to a carbon source for the first time in millennia.
- This exacerbates climate change, as CO2 and CH4 are heat-trapping GHGs driving global warming.
Can this trend be reversed? What challenges lie ahead?
Yes, but only by significantly reducing global GHG emissions. Lower emissions would slow permafrost thaw and reduce carbon release. However, there are some challenges:
- Global GHG emissions continue to rise.
- A study by the Global Carbon Project estimates that total CO2 emissions in 2024 will increase to 41.6 billion tonnes, up from 40.6 billion tonnes in 2023.
- Efforts to combat climate change are being outpaced by ongoing fossil fuel burning and land-use changes.
What actions are scientists recommending?
- Reducing global emissions is the only viable solution to prevent further carbon release from the Arctic.
- Brendan Rogers, a scientist contributing to the Arctic Report Card, urges aggressive emission reduction efforts to mitigate the impacts.
- By understanding and acting on these findings, we can work towards protecting the Arctic tundra and its crucial role in the global carbon cycle.
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