Massive peatland carbon banks vulnerable to rising temperatures

Hopple, A. M.; Wilson, R. M.; Kolton, M.; Zalman, C. A.; Chanton, J. P.; Kostka, J.; Hanson, P. J.; Keller, J. K.; Bridgham, S. D.

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16311-8

Title: Massive peatland carbon banks vulnerable to rising temperatures

Journal Article · Tue May 12 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Nature Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16311-8· OSTI ID:1630519

^[1]; Wilson, R. M. ^[2];

^[3]; Zalman, C. A. ^[4]; Chanton, J. P. ^[2];

^[3];

^[5]; Keller, J. K. ^[4]; Bridgham, S. D. ^[6]

Univ. of Oregon, Eugene, OR (United States); Chapman Univ., Orange, CA (United States); Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Florida State Univ., Tallahassee, FL (United States)
Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
Chapman Univ., Orange, CA (United States)
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Univ. of Oregon, Eugene, OR (United States)

Peatlands contain one-third of the world’s soil carbon (C). If destabilized, decomposition of this vast C bank could accelerate climate warming; however, the likelihood of this outcome remains unknown. Here, we examine peatland C stability through five years of whole-ecosystem warming and two years of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (eCO₂). Warming exponentially increased methane (CH₄) emissions and enhanced CH₄ production rates throughout the entire soil profile; although surface CH₄ production rates remain much greater than those at depth. Additionally, older deeper C sources played a larger role in decomposition following prolonged warming. Most troubling, decreases in CO₂:CH₄ ratios in gas production, porewater concentrations, and emissions, indicate that the peatland is becoming more methanogenic with warming. We observed limited evidence of eCO₂ effects. Our results suggest that ecosystem responses are largely driven by surface peat, but that the vast C bank at depth in peatlands is responsive to prolonged warming.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725; SC0014416; SC00008092; SC0007144; SC0012088; AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1630519

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1638023

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-154135

Journal Information:: Nature Communications, Vol. 11, Issue 1; ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 63 works

Citation information provided by
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