Australian wet rainforests may be switching from absorbing carbon to emitting it
17 hours ago
- #carbon cycle
- #rainforests
- #climate change
- Queensland's wet tropical rainforests have shifted from being a carbon sink to a carbon source due to trees dying and decaying faster than they can be replaced.
- The shift occurred about 25 years ago, with woody biomass now emitting 930kg of carbon per hectare annually, compared to absorbing 620kg per hectare from 1971 to 2000.
- Climate change is attributed to the increased tree mortality, potentially signaling a decline in these ecosystems.
- Unlike the Amazon, Queensland's forests are not benefiting from elevated CO2 levels, possibly due to soil or climate limitations.
- Cyclones further suppress carbon absorption in these forests, with reduced storage observed for six years post-cyclone.
- The study suggests this could be a precursor for similar changes in other global rainforests, impacting carbon budget calculations for climate targets.
- Maintaining stable carbon stocks in ecosystems is crucial for the global carbon budget, alongside reducing fossil fuel emissions.