Can mire complexes of western Siberia retard climate warming?
Bleuten, Wladimir*,1, Naumov, Aleksei2, Lapshina, Elena3, Huttunen, Jari4, Martikainen, Pertti4, 1 Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands2 Academy of Sciences SB, Novosibirsk, Russia3 Yugorski State University, Khanty-Mansyisk, Russia4 University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland ABSTRACT- Based on the Holocene accumulation rates calculated from radiocarbon dates and peat depth the carbon sequestration by western Siberian mires can be estimated at 94Mt[CO2-e]y-1. By a climate change induced average temperature rise of 2°C a part of the permafrost of the southern part of the tundra zone will thaw which make peat accumulation possible. At the same time the Methane emission will start in the area where permafrost decreases. The total yearly carbon accumulation in West Siberian mires then will increase with 12-23 % depending on the precipitation change. The sequestration in the southern part (the so called ‘sub-taiga’) will probably stop if the climate will be drier and warmer. In that area
