The Destruction Of Coastal Habitats Releases Carbon Into The Atmosphere

[n2doc]

A new study, led by Duke University, estimates that destruction of coastal habitats may release as much as 1 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere each year, which is about 10 times higher than previously reported.

The analysis provides the most comprehensive estimate of global carbon emissions from the loss of these coastal habitats to date: 0.15 to 1.2 billion tons. The study, published online in PLOS ONE, suggest there is a high value associated with keeping these coastal-marine ecosystems intact as the release of their stored carbon costs roughly $6-$42 billion annually.

“On the high end of our estimates, emissions are almost as much as the carbon dioxide emissions produced by the world’s fifth-largest emitter, Japan,” said Brian Murray, director for economic analysis at Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. “This means we have previously ignored a source of greenhouse gas emissions that could rival the emissions of many developed nations.”

Captured through biological processes and stored in the sediment below mangroves, sea grasses and salt marshes, this carbon is called “blue carbon.” When these wetlands are drained and destroyed, the sediment layers below begin to oxidize. Once this soil is exposed to air or ocean water, it releases carbon dioxide over days or years.

more

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112689521/coastal-ecosystems-carbon-090712/

[AverageJoe90]

1. Really tragic, and plausible, too.

That may be part of the reason why the crisis is substantially worse that some thought it would be, I think. Truly sad.