Permafrost-carbon complexities

Abstract

The thawing and decomposition of carbon stored in permafrost generates greenhouse gases that could further intensify global warming. Currently, most of the thawed carbon is assumed to be converted to greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, and carbon decomposition is thought to only occur at the site of the thaw. We argue that lateral transport of thawed permafrost carbon from land to ocean will translocate greenhouse gas release away from the thaw site, and that storage and burial of thawed carbon in long- and short-term reservoirs will attenuate greenhouse gas emissions.