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When microorganisms break down organic matter in the soil, they actively release CO. 2 into the atmosphere. This process is called heterotrophic respiration. The new model shows that
When microorganisms break down organic matter in the soil, they actively release CO. 2 into the atmosphere. This process is called heterotrophic respiration. The new model shows that these emissions could increase by up to 40 percent by the end of the century, with the biggest increase being seen in the polar regions.
An increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (CO2) is the main catalyst of global warming and is about one-fifth of atmospheric CO 2 comes from land sources. This is partly due to the activity of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that break down organic matter in the soil using oxygen, such as dead plant material. During this process, CO 2 is released into the atmosphere. Scientists call this heterotrophic soil respiration.
Based on a recent study published in a scientific journal Nature Communication A research team from ETH Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology Eawag and the University of Lausanne has reached an important conclusion. Their studies show that CO emissions 2 By the end of this century, the mixing of soil microbes into the Earth’s atmosphere is expected not only to increase, but to accelerate on a global scale.
Using the forecast, CO emissions by 2100 2 soil microbes will increase, potentially reaching a global increase of about 40% relative to current levels in the worst-climate scenario. “Thus, the projected growth of microbial CO emissions 2 “It will further contribute to global warming, emphasizing the urgent need for more accurate estimates of heterotrophic respiration,” says Alon Nissan, lead author of the study and ETH. PhD student at the Environmental Engineering Institute ETH Zurich.
These findings not only confirm previous studies, but also provide a more accurate idea of the mechanisms and magnitude of heterotrophic soil respiration in different climatic zones. Unlike other models that rely on multiple parameters, a new mathematical model developed by Alon Nissan simplifies the evaluation process using only two important environmental factors: soil moisture and soil temperature.
The model is a significant advance as it encompasses all biophysically relevant levels, from the microscale of soil structure and soil water distribution to plant communities such as forests, entire ecosystems, climate zones, and even global scale.
Peter Molnar, professor at the ETH Institute of Environmental Engineering, highlights the importance of this theoretical model that complements large models of the Earth system: “The model makes it easy to predict microbial respiration rates based on soil moisture and temperature. It also improves our understanding of how heterotrophic respiration in different climatic zones contributes to global warming.”
Polar emissions of CO 2 will more than double
A key finding of a research collaboration led by Peter Molnar and Alon Nissan is increased microbial CO. 2 varies in different climatic zones. In cold polar regions, the main factor behind the increase is not a significant increase in temperature, unlike in warm and temperate regions, but a decrease in soil moisture. “Even a small change in water content can cause a significant change in respiration rates in the polar regions,” Alon Nissan emphasizes, emphasizing the sensitivity of cold regions.
According to their calculations, in the worst-climate scenario, microbial CO emissions are expected to increase.Ten percent in the polar regions in the decade to 2100, twice the expected rate for the rest of the world. This inconsistency can be explained by the optimal conditions for heterotrophic respiration, which occurs when soils are in a semi-saturated state, ie neither too dry nor too wet. These conditions prevail during the melting of the soil in the polar regions.
On the other hand, soils in other climatic zones that are already relatively drier and prone to further drying show a relatively smaller increase in microbial CO emissions. 2 . However, regardless of the climate zone, the effect of temperature remains constant: as soil temperature increases, so does microbial CO emission.2. Source
Source: Port Altele
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