Soil microbes release more CO2 as temperatures rise, scientists warn
A 40-year study at Harvard Forest reveals that warming soil temperatures cause stable organic matter to decompose, releasing more carbon dioxide than previously anticipated. This suggests that forest soils may become a larger contributor to atmospheric carbon as global temperatures rise.
Why it matters
Understanding soil carbon feedback loops is critical for refining climate change models and predicting the long-term impact of global warming on terrestrial ecosystems.
It’s not just humans that are at risk of extinction due to global warming, it’s the Earth, too. In research conducted over a period of 40 years, scientists have uncovered evidence that challenges long-held assumptions about forest soils.While on the first glance, the Harvard Forest seems like an ordinary woodland filled with oak trees, there is something unique about the 1600-hectare patch of land. Some 10 centimetres below, scientists have installed a subterranean network of wires, some of which have been active for about 35 years, that warm the forest floor.
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