Model estimates of CO2 emissions from soil in response to global warming

The Rothamsted model for the turnover of organic matter in soil is used here to calculate the amount of CO2 that would be released from the world stock of soil organic matter if temperatures increase as predicted, the annual return of plant debris to the soil being held constant. If world temperatur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1991-05, Vol.351 (6324), p.304-306
Main Authors: JENKINSON, D. S, ADAMS, D. E, WILD, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Soils
Surficial geology
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Summary:The Rothamsted model for the turnover of organic matter in soil is used here to calculate the amount of CO2 that would be released from the world stock of soil organic matter if temperatures increase as predicted, the annual return of plant debris to the soil being held constant. If world temperatures rise by 0.03 C/yr, it is estimated here that the additional release of CO2 from soil organic matter over the next 60 yrs will be 6.1 x 10 to the 16th gC. This is about 19 percent of the CO2 that will be released by combustion of fossil fuel during the next 60 yrs if present use of fuel continues unabated. (C.D.)
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/351304a0