Peatlands such as Männikjärve bog in Estonia are important carbon sinks Vincent Jassey
Microbes in carbon-rich soils ramp up their rate of photosynthesis in warmer conditions, suggesting current climate models may be overestimating the total emissions expected from degrading landscapes as the climate warms.
As the world warms, natural ecosystems like peatlands and permafrost are expected to start rapidly releasing stored carbon dioxide as microbial activity shifts in their soils. These environments could be huge sources of future emissions, with estimates suggesting the northern hemisphere in permafrost, while the world’s peatlands …
Article amended on 24 April 2025
We corrected the estimated amount of carbon stored in permafrost.
