Siberian Peatlands a Net Carbon Sink and Global Methane Source since the Early Holocene

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 303; no. 5656; pp. 356 - 355
• Main Authors: Smith, L. C., MacDonald, G. M., Velichko, A. A., Beilman, D. W., Borisova, O. K., Frey, K. E., Kremenetski, K. V., Sheng, Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science 16-01-2004
• Subjects: Atmospheric methane; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; Carbon sinks; Methane; Northern hemisphere; Peat; Peatlands; Pollutant emissions; Radiocarbon dating
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203

Interpolar methane gradient (IPG) data from ice cores suggest the "switching on" of a major Northern Hemisphere methane source in the early Holocene. Extensive data from Russia's West Siberian Lowland show (i) explosive, widespread peatland establishment between 11.5 and 9 thousand years ago, predating comparable development in North America and synchronous with increased atmospheric methane concentrations and IPGs, (ii) larger carbon stocks than previously thought (70.2 Petagrams, up to ~26% of all terrestrial carbon accumulated since the Last Glacial Maximum), and (iii) little evidence for catastrophic oxidation, suggesting the region represents a long-term carbon dioxide sink and global methane source since the early Holocene.