The most recent research suggests that the role of the Arctic as a contributor of CO₂ is growing, effectively decreasing the region's capabilities as a carbon sink.
Previously, The Arctic Century elaborated on the topic of the Arctic losing its role as the world's carbon sink and instead becoming a source of CO₂. Among the most crucial factors we highlighted were the changing dynamics of the ocean and the increased activity of carbon-releasing microbes in the tundra and seas.
The increasing amount of emitted CO₂ in the tundra is easily linked to the decreasing ice cover and permafrost across the North; however, there is more to consider, as a new study published in Nature Climate Change shows. According to this study, 30 per cent of the region contributes to CO₂ emissions. As the frequency of wildfires continues to rise, this figure could reach up to 40 per cent.
The rapid climate change in the Arctic-Boreal Zone makes this discrepancy even more critical. Increasing air and soil temperatures in both summer and non-summer seasons are causing changes in the CO₂ budget that remain poorly understood.
This, in turn, adds Arctic forests to the equation of carbon emitters. Put simply, this trend is very concerning, as forests usually serve as some of the best 'storages' for organic carbon. Not anymore, it seems, as wildfires and carbon decomposition enhanced by microbes become more common in the Arctic.
In other terms, the axiom "the greener, the better" may be at risk, and the North would be more stable if "the icier, the better".
It is important to note that the study highlights that permafrost soils in the Arctic contain half of the global organic carbon stocks.
Given that the modern-day Arctic is influenced by a multitude of climatic factors and trends, it is rather difficult to conduct thorough research. The study indicates that there is a significant issue with the lack of field data—a common factor in Arctic science. This, in turn, adds to the uncertainty surrounding any new research.
Further concern arises as record high temperatures are observed in the ocean, as the 2025 study in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences suggests.
In light of the rapidly shifting balance, the climate of the Arctic should be observed closely and from different perspectives. It is also important to analyse the global trends that influence the North Pole.
The Editorial Board of the Arctic Century
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