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Evidence against recent climate‐induced destabilisation of soil carbon from 14 C analysis of riverine dissolved organic matter
Author(s) -
Evans Chris D.,
Freeman Chris,
Cork Lorna G.,
Thomas David N.,
Reynolds Brian,
Billett Michael F.,
Garnett Mark H.,
Norris David
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2007gl029431
Subject(s) - dissolved organic carbon , peat , environmental science , soil carbon , soil water , soil organic matter , total organic carbon , organic matter , climate change , destabilisation , carbon fibers , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental chemistry , soil science , chemistry , ecology , geology , oceanography , psychology , social psychology , materials science , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , biology , composite number , composite material
The stability of global soil carbon (C) represents a major uncertainty in forecasting future climate change. In the UK, substantial soil C losses have been reported, while at the same time dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in upland waters have increased, suggesting that soil C stocks may be destabilising in response to climate change. To investigate the link between soil carbon and DOC at a range of sites, soil organic matter, soilwater and streamwater DOC were analysed for radiocarbon ( 14 C). DOC exported from C‐rich landscapes appears younger than the soil C itself, much of it comprising C assimilated post‐1950s. DOC from more intensively managed, C‐poor soils is older, in some cases >100 years. Results appear consistent with soil C destabilisation in farmed landscapes, but not in peatlands. Reported C losses may to a significant extent be explained by mechanisms other than climate change, e.g. recovery from acidification in peatlands, and agricultural intensification in managed systems.