Long-term pattern and magnitude of soil carbon feedback to the climate system in a warming world

Melillo, J. M.; Frey, S. D.; DeAngelis, K. M.; Werner, W. J.; Bernard, M. J.; Bowles, F. P.; Pold, G.; Knorr, M. A.; Grandy, A. S.

doi:10.1126/science.aan2874

Title: Long-term pattern and magnitude of soil carbon feedback to the climate system in a warming world

Journal Article · Thu Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aan2874· OSTI ID:1438093

;

; Bowles, F. P.;

;

; Grandy, A. S.

In a 26-year soil warming experiment in a mid-latitude hardwood forest, we documented changes in soil carbon cycling to investigate the potential consequences for the climate system. We found that soil warming results in a four-phase pattern of soil organic matter decay and carbon dioxide fluxes to the atmosphere, with phases of substantial soil carbon loss alternating with phases of no detectable loss. Several factors combine to affect the timing, magnitude, and thermal acclimation of soil carbon loss. These include depletion of microbially accessible carbon pools, reductions in microbial biomass, a shift in microbial carbon use efficiency, and changes in microbial community composition. Our results support projections of a long-term, self-reinforcing carbon feedback from mid-latitude forests to the climate system as the world warms.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: award307557; DOE-DE-SC0070740; award307558; DOE DE-SC0016590

OSTI ID:: 1438093

Journal Information:: Science, Journal Name: Science Vol. 358 Journal Issue: 6359; ISSN 0036-8075

Publisher:: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 342 works

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