Lateral transport of soil carbon and land−atmosphere CO ₂ flux induced by water erosion in China

Authors

Jinren Ni, Peking University
Yao Yue, Peking University
Philippe Ciais, Université Paris-Saclay
Shilong Piao, CAS - Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research
T Wang
Mengtian Huang, Peking University
Alistair G.L. Borthwick, School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
Tianhong Li, Peking University
Y Wang
Adrian Chappell, CSIRO
Oost K Van

ORCID

• Alistair G.L. Borthwick: 0000-0001-6053-7764

Abstract

Significance The role of soil erosion as a net sink or source of atmospheric CO 2 remains highly debated. This work quantifies national-scale land−atmosphere CO 2 fluxes induced by soil erosion. Severe water erosion in China has caused displacement of 180 ± 80 Mt C⋅y -1 of soil organic carbon during the last two decades, and the consequent land−atmosphere CO 2 flux from water erosion is a net CO 2 sink of 45 ± 25 Mt C⋅y -1 , equivalent to 8–37% of the terrestrial carbon sink previously assessed in China. This closes an important gap concerning large-scale estimation of lateral and vertical CO 2 fluxes from water erosion and highlights the importance of reducing uncertainty in assessing terrestrial carbon balance.

DOI

10.1073/pnas.1523358113

Publication Date

2016-06-14

Publication Title

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Volume

113

Issue

24

ISSN

0027-8424

First Page

6617

Last Page

6622

Recommended Citation

Ni, J., Yue, Y., Ciais, P., Piao, S., Wang, T., Huang, M., Borthwick, A., Li, T., Wang, Y., Chappell, A., & Van, O. (2016) 'Lateral transport of soil carbon and land−atmosphere CO ₂ flux induced by water erosion in China', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(24), pp. 6617-6622. Available at: 10.1073/pnas.1523358113