Biologists: Greening Arctic not likely to offset permafrost carbon release
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 12:35
in Earth & Climate
GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- As the frozen soil in the Arctic thaws, bacteria will break down organic matter, releasing long-stored carbon into the warming atmosphere. At the same time, plants will proliferate, nurtured by balmier temperatures, more nutrients from decomposing soil and the increasing abundance of the greenhouse gas they depend on for growth.