Siberian Peatlands a Net Carbon Sink and Global Methane Source Since the Early Holocene
Top Cited Papers
- 16 January 2004
- journal article
- other
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 303 (5656) , 353-356
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1090553
Abstract
Interpolar methane gradient (IPG) data from ice cores suggest the “switching on” of a major Northern Hemisphere methane source in the early Holocene. Extensive data from Russia's West Siberian Lowland show (i) explosive, widespread peatland establishment between 11.5 and 9 thousand years ago, predating comparable development in North America and synchronous with increased atmospheric methane concentrations and IPGs, (ii) larger carbon stocks than previously thought (70.2 Petagrams, up to ∼26% of all terrestrial carbon accumulated since the Last Glacial Maximum), and (iii) little evidence for catastrophic oxidation, suggesting the region represents a long-term carbon dioxide sink and global methane source since the early Holocene.Keywords
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