Arctic wildfires release carbon stored for thousands of years

May 13, 2026

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Wildfires raging across Arctic and boreal regions are igniting ancient carbon in soils, releasing far more carbon dioxide than climate models have assumed. A new study of soil cores shows that some fires are burning organic matter up to 5,000 years old.

Meri Ruppel at the Finnish Meteorological Institute led the research. Her team collected soil cores from fire sites and found that surface vegetation burns often trigger slower smouldering in deeper, older layers. This process releases both carbon dioxide and black carbon that absorbs sunlight and accelerates melting when it lands on ice or snow.

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Study reveals underestimated carbon emissions from boreal wildfires

A new study from UC Berkeley indicates that climate models may significantly underestimate carbon emissions from wildfires in boreal forests due to overlooked peat soil burning. Researchers analyzed 2018 wildfires in Sweden and found that smoldering underground fires release ancient carbon stored for centuries. This discrepancy highlights potential gaps in global emission estimates, especially in vast regions like Siberia and Canada.

Arctic peatlands expand as warming creates feedback risks

February 24, 2026 በAI የተዘገበ

A new study reveals that peatlands in the Arctic are growing due to rapid regional warming and increased precipitation, potentially storing more carbon but also heightening the risk of releases through fires. Researchers warn of a dangerous feedback loop as these carbon-rich ecosystems respond to climate changes. The findings highlight the dual role of these landscapes in global warming mitigation.

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Brazil's cerrado savanna stores vast carbon in peat soils

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Scientists debate causes of accelerating global warming

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AMOC collapse could release 640 billion tonnes of CO2

Ice core shows low CO2 in Pliocene warm period

Researchers have analysed a 3-million-year-old ice core from Allan Hills in Antarctica, measuring atmospheric CO2 at 250 parts per million and methane at 507 parts per billion during the late Pliocene. This epoch featured global temperatures about 1°C warmer than today and sea levels up to 25 metres higher. The levels are lower than previous indirect estimates.

Scientists attribute Greenland platinum spike to volcanic activity

March 20, 2026 በAI የተዘገበ

Researchers have identified volcanic eruptions, likely in Iceland, as the source of a mysterious platinum spike in Greenland ice cores from 12,800 years ago. This finding rules out a comet or asteroid impact and occurred decades after the onset of the Younger Dryas cooling period. The study provides new insights into abrupt climate shifts.

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