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Soil organic carbon is a key determinant of CH4 sink in global forest soils

Author

Listed:
  • Jaehyun Lee

    (Yonsei University)

  • Youmi Oh

    (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    University of Colorado)

  • Sang Tae Lee

    (National Institute of Forest Science)

  • Yeon Ok Seo

    (National Institute of Forest Science)

  • Jeongeun Yun

    (Yonsei University)

  • Yerang Yang

    (Yonsei University)

  • Jinhyun Kim

    (Yonsei University
    Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute)

  • Qianlai Zhuang

    (Purdue University)

  • Hojeong Kang

    (Yonsei University)

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a primary regulator of the forest–climate feedback. However, its indicative capability for the soil CH4 sink is poorly understood due to the incomplete knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, SOC is not explicitly included in the current model estimation of the global forest CH4 sink. Here, using in-situ observations, global meta-analysis, and process-based modeling, we provide evidence that SOC constitutes an important variable that governs the forest CH4 sink. We find that a CH4 sink is enhanced with increasing SOC content on regional and global scales. The revised model with SOC function better reproduces the field observation and estimates a 39% larger global forest CH4 sink (24.27 Tg CH4 yr−1) than the model without considering SOC effects (17.46 Tg CH4 yr−1). This study highlights the role of SOC in the forest CH4 sink, which shall be factored into future global CH4 budget quantification.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaehyun Lee & Youmi Oh & Sang Tae Lee & Yeon Ok Seo & Jeongeun Yun & Yerang Yang & Jinhyun Kim & Qianlai Zhuang & Hojeong Kang, 2023. "Soil organic carbon is a key determinant of CH4 sink in global forest soils," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-38905-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38905-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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