The effect of changing land use on soil radiocarbon

Journal Article · Fri Oct 29 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.262.5134.725· OSTI ID:5350841

Harrison, K G; Broecker, W S ^[1]; Bonani, G ^[2]

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1. Columbia Univ. Palisades, NY (United States)
2. Eidgenoessiche Technische Hochschule, Zuerich (Switzerland)

Most carbon budgets require greening of the terrestrial biosphere as a sink for some of the excess carbon dioxide produced by fossil fuel burning and deforestation. Much of this storage is thought to occur in soils, but running counter to this conclusion is the observation that cultivation has reduced the agricultural reservoir of soil humus. Radiocarbon measurements in agricultural soils lend support to this browning of agricultural lands. Moreover, the loss is from the fast cycling portion of the humus.

• OSTI ID: 5350841
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Vol. 262:5134; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CARBON 14
ABUNDANCE
HUMUS
REMOVAL
SOILS
CARBON CYCLE
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
TRACER TECHNIQUES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBON ISOTOPES
CLIMATIC CHANGE
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
540211* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- Radiometric Techniques- (1990-)