1. Decline of CO2Release During the Evolution of the Thaw Slump on the Northern Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau
- Author
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Mu, Mei, Mu, Cuicui, Liu, Hebin, Zhang, Chunling, Jia, Yunjie, Lei, Pengsi, and Peng, Xiaoqing
- Abstract
Abrupt permafrost thaw accelerates the decomposition of soil organic carbon and might double the warming caused by the carbon release. However, the influence of thaw slump evolution on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rates and its drives remains unclear, which induces large uncertainties in the prediction of permafrost carbon‐climate feedback. Here we collected soil samples in the thaw slump landscapes that happened 1–23 years ago on the northern Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP) and measured the CO2release rates using a 189‐day aerobic laboratory incubation in the dark. The incubation results showed that thaw slump occurred 23 years ago reduced soil CO2–C release by 57 ± 19% compared with the undisturbed area. The relative contribution of O‐alkyl C and microbial abundance decreases with the thaw slump initiation time lengthens. We illustrate that soil carbon quality and microbial communities uniquely explained 41% and 13% of the variation in CO2–C release, respectively. We preliminary estimate that the carbon release for thaw slump landscapes on the QTP may be overestimated by approximately 50% if the declining soil CO2–C release is without consideration. Our study highlights the CO2–C release would decrease with the stability of thaw slumps on the warming and wetting QTP, which may weaken the mountain permafrost carbon‐climate feedback. Rapid warming of permafrost regions leads to the widespread development of thaw slumps and accelerates the decomposition and release of soil organic carbon. Yet, how the evolution of thaw slump affects CO2release remains unclear. We found that CO2release gradually decreased with the thaw sequence. Labile carbon (O‐alkyl C) proportion and microbial abundance declined along the thaw sequence, while resistant carbon (alkyl C) proportion increased. Soil carbon quality and microbial communities are important factors controlling CO2release. Applying the results to the entire Tibetan Plateau, we find that permafrost carbon emissions would be overestimated by approximately 50% if the declining soil CO2release of stabilized thaw slump is without consideration. Our findings suggest that stable thaw slump can weaken CO2release. Therefore, the assessment of mountain permafrost carbon feedback needs to consider the effect of thaw slump evolution. Soil CO2release was reduced by 57% in areas that collapsed for 23 years compared to the control areasThaw slump leads to a large decrease in O‐alkyl C and soil microbial abundanceSoil carbon quality and microbial communities exert the controls of 41% and 13% over CO2release, respectively Soil CO2release was reduced by 57% in areas that collapsed for 23 years compared to the control areas Thaw slump leads to a large decrease in O‐alkyl C and soil microbial abundance Soil carbon quality and microbial communities exert the controls of 41% and 13% over CO2release, respectively
- Published
- 2024
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