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Current forest carbon fixation fuels stream CO2 emissions

Author

Listed:
  • A. Campeau

    (Uppsala University)

  • K. Bishop

    (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

  • N. Amvrosiadi

    (Uppsala University)

  • M. F. Billett

    (University of Stirling)

  • M. H. Garnett

    (NERC Radiocarbon Facility, Scottish Enterprise Technology Par)

  • H. Laudon

    (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

  • M. G. Öquist

    (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

  • M. B. Wallin

    (Uppsala University)

Abstract

Stream CO2 emissions contribute significantly to atmospheric climate forcing. While there are strong indications that groundwater inputs sustain these emissions, the specific biogeochemical pathways and timescales involved in this lateral CO2 export are still obscure. Here, via an extensive radiocarbon (14C) characterisation of CO2 and DOC in stream water and its groundwater sources in an old-growth boreal forest, we demonstrate that the 14C-CO2 is consistently in tune with the current atmospheric 14C-CO2 level and shows little association with the 14C-DOC in the same waters. Our findings thus indicate that stream CO2 emissions act as a shortcut that returns CO2 recently fixed by the forest vegetation to the atmosphere. Our results expose a positive feedback mechanism within the C budget of forested catchments, where stream CO2 emissions will be highly sensitive to changes in forest C allocation patterns associated with climate and land-use changes.

Suggested Citation

  • A. Campeau & K. Bishop & N. Amvrosiadi & M. F. Billett & M. H. Garnett & H. Laudon & M. G. Öquist & M. B. Wallin, 2019. "Current forest carbon fixation fuels stream CO2 emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09922-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09922-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Lars Högbom & Dalia Abbas & Kęstutis Armolaitis & Endijs Baders & Martyn Futter & Aris Jansons & Kalev Jõgiste & Andis Lazdins & Diana Lukminė & Mika Mustonen & Knut Øistad & Anneli Poska & Pasi Rauti, 2021. "Trilemma of Nordic–Baltic Forestry—How to Implement UN Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-12, May.
    2. Leonel J.R. Nunes & Catarina I.R. Meireles & Carlos J. Pinto Gomes & Nuno M.C. Almeida Ribeiro, 2019. "Forest Management and Climate Change Mitigation: A Review on Carbon Cycle Flow Models for the Sustainability of Resources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-10, September.

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