Latitudinal limits to the predicted increase of the peatland carbon sink with warming

Angela V. Gallego-Sala; Dan J. Charman; Simon Brewer; Susan E. Page; I. Colin Prentice; Pierre Friedlingstein; Steve Moreton; Matthew J. Amesbury; David W. Beilman; Svante Björck; Tatiana Blyakharchuk; Christopher Bochicchio; Robert K. Booth; Joan Bunbury; Philip Camill; Donna Carless; Rodney A. Chimner; Michael Clifford; Elizabeth Cressey; Colin Courtney-Mustaphi; François De Vleeschouwer; Rixt de Jong; Barbara Fialkiewicz-Koziel; Sarah A. Finkelstein; Michelle Garneau; Esther Githumbi; John Hribjlan; James Holmquist; Paul D.M. Hughes; Chris Jones; Miriam C. Jones; Edgar Karofeld; Eric S. Klein; Ulla Kokfelt; Atte Korhola; Terri Lacourse; Gael Le Roux; Mariusz Lamentowicz; David Large; Martin Lavoie; Julie Loisel; Helen Mackay; Glen M. MacDonald; Markku Makila; Gabriel Magnan; Robert Marchant; Katarzyna Marcisz; Antonio Martínez Cortizas; Charly Massa; Paul Mathijssen; Dmitri Mauquoy; Timothy Mighall; Fraser J.G. Mitchell; Patrick Moss; Jonathan Nichols; Pirita O. Oksanen; Lisa Orme; Maara S. Packalen; Stephen Robinson; Thomas P. Roland; Nicole K. Sanderson; A. Britta K. Sannel; Noemí Silva-Sánchez; Natascha Steinberg; Graeme T. Swindles; T. Edward Turner; Joanna Uglow; Minna Väliranta; Simon van Bellen; Marjolein van der Linden; Bas van Geel; Guoping Wang; Zicheng Yu; Joana Zaragoza-Castells; Yan Zhao

doi:10.1038/s41558-018-0271-1

Latitudinal limits to the predicted increase of the peatland carbon sink with warming

Angela V. Gallego-Sala^*, Dan J. Charman, Simon Brewer, Susan E. Page, I. Colin Prentice, Pierre Friedlingstein, Steve Moreton, Matthew J. Amesbury, David W. Beilman, Svante Björck, Tatiana Blyakharchuk, Christopher Bochicchio, Robert K. Booth, Joan Bunbury, Philip Camill, Donna Carless, Rodney A. Chimner, Michael Clifford, Elizabeth Cressey, Colin Courtney-MustaphiFrançois De Vleeschouwer, Rixt de Jong, Barbara Fialkiewicz-Koziel, Sarah A. Finkelstein, Michelle Garneau, Esther Githumbi, John Hribjlan, James Holmquist, Paul D.M. Hughes, Chris Jones, Miriam C. Jones, Edgar Karofeld, Eric S. Klein, Ulla Kokfelt, Atte Korhola, Terri Lacourse, Gael Le Roux, Mariusz Lamentowicz, David Large, Martin Lavoie, Julie Loisel, Helen Mackay, Glen M. MacDonald, Markku Makila, Gabriel Magnan, Robert Marchant, Katarzyna Marcisz, Antonio Martínez Cortizas, Charly Massa, Paul Mathijssen, Dmitri Mauquoy, Timothy Mighall, Fraser J.G. Mitchell, Patrick Moss, Jonathan Nichols, Pirita O. Oksanen, Lisa Orme, Maara S. Packalen, Stephen Robinson, Thomas P. Roland, Nicole K. Sanderson, A. Britta K. Sannel, Noemí Silva-Sánchez, Natascha Steinberg, Graeme T. Swindles, T. Edward Turner, Joanna Uglow, Minna Väliranta, Simon van Bellen, Marjolein van der Linden, Bas van Geel, Guoping Wang, Zicheng Yu, Joana Zaragoza-Castells, Yan Zhao

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

228 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The carbon sink potential of peatlands depends on the balance of carbon uptake by plants and microbial decomposition. The rates of both these processes will increase with warming but it remains unclear which will dominate the global peatland response. Here we examine the global relationship between peatland carbon accumulation rates during the last millennium and planetary-scale climate space. A positive relationship is found between carbon accumulation and cumulative photosynthetically active radiation during the growing season for mid- to high-latitude peatlands in both hemispheres. However, this relationship reverses at lower latitudes, suggesting that carbon accumulation is lower under the warmest climate regimes. Projections under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP)2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios indicate that the present-day global sink will increase slightly until around ad 2100 but decline thereafter. Peatlands will remain a carbon sink in the future, but their response to warming switches from a negative to a positive climate feedback (decreased carbon sink with warming) at the end of the twenty-first century.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	907-913
Number of pages	7
Journal	Nature Climate Change
Volume	8
Issue number	10
Early online date	10 Sept 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0271-1
Publication status	Published - 01 Oct 2018
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Graeme Swindles
- G.Swindlesqub.acuk
- School of Natural and Built Environment - Professor
- Culture and Society
Person: Academic

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Gallego-Sala, A. V., Charman, D. J., Brewer, S., Page, S. E., Prentice, I. C., Friedlingstein, P., Moreton, S., Amesbury, M. J., Beilman, D. W., Björck, S., Blyakharchuk, T., Bochicchio, C., Booth, R. K., Bunbury, J., Camill, P., Carless, D., Chimner, R. A., Clifford, M., Cressey, E., ... Zhao, Y. (2018). Latitudinal limits to the predicted increase of the peatland carbon sink with warming. Nature Climate Change, 8(10), 907-913. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0271-1

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title = "Latitudinal limits to the predicted increase of the peatland carbon sink with warming",

abstract = "The carbon sink potential of peatlands depends on the balance of carbon uptake by plants and microbial decomposition. The rates of both these processes will increase with warming but it remains unclear which will dominate the global peatland response. Here we examine the global relationship between peatland carbon accumulation rates during the last millennium and planetary-scale climate space. A positive relationship is found between carbon accumulation and cumulative photosynthetically active radiation during the growing season for mid- to high-latitude peatlands in both hemispheres. However, this relationship reverses at lower latitudes, suggesting that carbon accumulation is lower under the warmest climate regimes. Projections under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP)2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios indicate that the present-day global sink will increase slightly until around ad 2100 but decline thereafter. Peatlands will remain a carbon sink in the future, but their response to warming switches from a negative to a positive climate feedback (decreased carbon sink with warming) at the end of the twenty-first century.",

author = "Gallego-Sala, {Angela V.} and Charman, {Dan J.} and Simon Brewer and Page, {Susan E.} and Prentice, {I. Colin} and Pierre Friedlingstein and Steve Moreton and Amesbury, {Matthew J.} and Beilman, {David W.} and Svante Bj{\"o}rck and Tatiana Blyakharchuk and Christopher Bochicchio and Booth, {Robert K.} and Joan Bunbury and Philip Camill and Donna Carless and Chimner, {Rodney A.} and Michael Clifford and Elizabeth Cressey and Colin Courtney-Mustaphi and {De Vleeschouwer}, Fran{\c c}ois and {de Jong}, Rixt and Barbara Fialkiewicz-Koziel and Finkelstein, {Sarah A.} and Michelle Garneau and Esther Githumbi and John Hribjlan and James Holmquist and Hughes, {Paul D.M.} and Chris Jones and Jones, {Miriam C.} and Edgar Karofeld and Klein, {Eric S.} and Ulla Kokfelt and Atte Korhola and Terri Lacourse and {Le Roux}, Gael and Mariusz Lamentowicz and David Large and Martin Lavoie and Julie Loisel and Helen Mackay and MacDonald, {Glen M.} and Markku Makila and Gabriel Magnan and Robert Marchant and Katarzyna Marcisz and {Mart{\'i}nez Cortizas}, Antonio and Charly Massa and Paul Mathijssen and Dmitri Mauquoy and Timothy Mighall and Mitchell, {Fraser J.G.} and Patrick Moss and Jonathan Nichols and Oksanen, {Pirita O.} and Lisa Orme and Packalen, {Maara S.} and Stephen Robinson and Roland, {Thomas P.} and Sanderson, {Nicole K.} and Sannel, {A. Britta K.} and Noem{\'i} Silva-S{\'a}nchez and Natascha Steinberg and Swindles, {Graeme T.} and Turner, {T. Edward} and Joanna Uglow and Minna V{\"a}liranta and {van Bellen}, Simon and {van der Linden}, Marjolein and {van Geel}, Bas and Guoping Wang and Zicheng Yu and Joana Zaragoza-Castells and Yan Zhao",

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Gallego-Sala, AV, Charman, DJ, Brewer, S, Page, SE, Prentice, IC, Friedlingstein, P, Moreton, S, Amesbury, MJ, Beilman, DW, Björck, S, Blyakharchuk, T, Bochicchio, C, Booth, RK, Bunbury, J, Camill, P, Carless, D, Chimner, RA, Clifford, M, Cressey, E, Courtney-Mustaphi, C, De Vleeschouwer, F, de Jong, R, Fialkiewicz-Koziel, B, Finkelstein, SA, Garneau, M, Githumbi, E, Hribjlan, J, Holmquist, J, Hughes, PDM, Jones, C, Jones, MC, Karofeld, E, Klein, ES, Kokfelt, U, Korhola, A, Lacourse, T, Le Roux, G, Lamentowicz, M, Large, D, Lavoie, M, Loisel, J, Mackay, H, MacDonald, GM, Makila, M, Magnan, G, Marchant, R, Marcisz, K, Martínez Cortizas, A, Massa, C, Mathijssen, P, Mauquoy, D, Mighall, T, Mitchell, FJG, Moss, P, Nichols, J, Oksanen, PO, Orme, L, Packalen, MS, Robinson, S, Roland, TP, Sanderson, NK, Sannel, ABK, Silva-Sánchez, N, Steinberg, N, Swindles, GT, Turner, TE, Uglow, J, Väliranta, M, van Bellen, S, van der Linden, M, van Geel, B, Wang, G, Yu, Z, Zaragoza-Castells, J & Zhao, Y 2018, 'Latitudinal limits to the predicted increase of the peatland carbon sink with warming', Nature Climate Change, vol. 8, no. 10, pp. 907-913. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0271-1

TY - JOUR

T1 - Latitudinal limits to the predicted increase of the peatland carbon sink with warming

AU - Gallego-Sala, Angela V.

AU - Charman, Dan J.

AU - Brewer, Simon

AU - Page, Susan E.

AU - Prentice, I. Colin

AU - Friedlingstein, Pierre

AU - Moreton, Steve

AU - Amesbury, Matthew J.

AU - Beilman, David W.

AU - Björck, Svante

AU - Blyakharchuk, Tatiana

AU - Bochicchio, Christopher

AU - Booth, Robert K.

AU - Bunbury, Joan

AU - Camill, Philip

AU - Carless, Donna

AU - Chimner, Rodney A.

AU - Clifford, Michael

AU - Cressey, Elizabeth

AU - Courtney-Mustaphi, Colin

AU - De Vleeschouwer, François

AU - de Jong, Rixt

AU - Fialkiewicz-Koziel, Barbara

AU - Finkelstein, Sarah A.

AU - Garneau, Michelle

AU - Githumbi, Esther

AU - Hribjlan, John

AU - Holmquist, James

AU - Hughes, Paul D.M.

AU - Jones, Chris

AU - Jones, Miriam C.

AU - Karofeld, Edgar

AU - Klein, Eric S.

AU - Kokfelt, Ulla

AU - Korhola, Atte

AU - Lacourse, Terri

AU - Le Roux, Gael

AU - Lamentowicz, Mariusz

AU - Large, David

AU - Lavoie, Martin

AU - Loisel, Julie

AU - Mackay, Helen

AU - MacDonald, Glen M.

AU - Makila, Markku

AU - Magnan, Gabriel

AU - Marchant, Robert

AU - Marcisz, Katarzyna

AU - Martínez Cortizas, Antonio

AU - Massa, Charly

AU - Mathijssen, Paul

AU - Mauquoy, Dmitri

AU - Mighall, Timothy

AU - Mitchell, Fraser J.G.

AU - Moss, Patrick

AU - Nichols, Jonathan

AU - Oksanen, Pirita O.

AU - Orme, Lisa

AU - Packalen, Maara S.

AU - Robinson, Stephen

AU - Roland, Thomas P.

AU - Sanderson, Nicole K.

AU - Sannel, A. Britta K.

AU - Silva-Sánchez, Noemí

AU - Steinberg, Natascha

AU - Swindles, Graeme T.

AU - Turner, T. Edward

AU - Uglow, Joanna

AU - Väliranta, Minna

AU - van Bellen, Simon

AU - van der Linden, Marjolein

AU - van Geel, Bas

AU - Wang, Guoping

AU - Yu, Zicheng

AU - Zaragoza-Castells, Joana

AU - Zhao, Yan

PY - 2018/10/1

Y1 - 2018/10/1

N2 - The carbon sink potential of peatlands depends on the balance of carbon uptake by plants and microbial decomposition. The rates of both these processes will increase with warming but it remains unclear which will dominate the global peatland response. Here we examine the global relationship between peatland carbon accumulation rates during the last millennium and planetary-scale climate space. A positive relationship is found between carbon accumulation and cumulative photosynthetically active radiation during the growing season for mid- to high-latitude peatlands in both hemispheres. However, this relationship reverses at lower latitudes, suggesting that carbon accumulation is lower under the warmest climate regimes. Projections under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP)2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios indicate that the present-day global sink will increase slightly until around ad 2100 but decline thereafter. Peatlands will remain a carbon sink in the future, but their response to warming switches from a negative to a positive climate feedback (decreased carbon sink with warming) at the end of the twenty-first century.

AB - The carbon sink potential of peatlands depends on the balance of carbon uptake by plants and microbial decomposition. The rates of both these processes will increase with warming but it remains unclear which will dominate the global peatland response. Here we examine the global relationship between peatland carbon accumulation rates during the last millennium and planetary-scale climate space. A positive relationship is found between carbon accumulation and cumulative photosynthetically active radiation during the growing season for mid- to high-latitude peatlands in both hemispheres. However, this relationship reverses at lower latitudes, suggesting that carbon accumulation is lower under the warmest climate regimes. Projections under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP)2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios indicate that the present-day global sink will increase slightly until around ad 2100 but decline thereafter. Peatlands will remain a carbon sink in the future, but their response to warming switches from a negative to a positive climate feedback (decreased carbon sink with warming) at the end of the twenty-first century.

U2 - 10.1038/s41558-018-0271-1

DO - 10.1038/s41558-018-0271-1

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85053496549

SN - 1758-678X

VL - 8

SP - 907

EP - 913

JO - Nature Climate Change

JF - Nature Climate Change

IS - 10

ER -

Latitudinal limits to the predicted increase of the peatland carbon sink with warming

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