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Determinants of carbon release from the active layer and permafrost deposits on the Tibetan Plateau

Author

Listed:
  • Leiyi Chen

    (State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Junyi Liang

    (University of Oklahoma)

  • Shuqi Qin

    (State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Li Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Kai Fang

    (State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yunping Xu

    (Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciecnces, Peking University
    Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University)

  • Jinzhi Ding

    (State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Fei Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yiqi Luo

    (University of Oklahoma)

  • Yuanhe Yang

    (State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

The sign and magnitude of permafrost carbon (C)-climate feedback are highly uncertain due to the limited understanding of the decomposability of thawing permafrost and relevant mechanistic controls over C release. Here, by combining aerobic incubation with biomarker analysis and a three-pool model, we reveal that C quality (represented by a higher amount of fast cycling C but a lower amount of recalcitrant C compounds) and normalized CO2–C release in permafrost deposits were similar or even higher than those in the active layer, demonstrating a high vulnerability of C in Tibetan upland permafrost. We also illustrate that C quality exerts the most control over CO2–C release from the active layer, whereas soil microbial abundance is more directly associated with CO2–C release after permafrost thaw. Taken together, our findings highlight the importance of incorporating microbial properties into Earth System Models when predicting permafrost C dynamics under a changing environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Leiyi Chen & Junyi Liang & Shuqi Qin & Li Liu & Kai Fang & Yunping Xu & Jinzhi Ding & Fei Li & Yiqi Luo & Yuanhe Yang, 2016. "Determinants of carbon release from the active layer and permafrost deposits on the Tibetan Plateau," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13046
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13046
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    Cited by:

    1. Da Wei & Jing Tao & Zhuangzhuang Wang & Hui Zhao & Wei Zhao & Xiaodan Wang, 2024. "Elevation-dependent pattern of net CO2 uptake across China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Futing Liu & Shuqi Qin & Kai Fang & Leiyi Chen & Yunfeng Peng & Pete Smith & Yuanhe Yang, 2022. "Divergent changes in particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon upon permafrost thaw," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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