Rivers Release Ancient Carbon Stored in Landscapes for Millennia Back into Atmosphere, Study Reveals

A recent peer-reviewed study published on Phys.org has demonstrated that rivers are capable of emitting carbon dioxide (CO₂) that originates from ancient carbon stores in surrounding landscapes. Using aerial imagery and field data from rivers in northeast Siberia, researchers observed that carbon, which has been sequestered in soils and vegetation for thousands of years or longer, can be mobilized and transported by river systems. Once in the river, this carbon can be converted to CO₂ and released into the atmosphere. The findings provide new insights into the global carbon cycle, highlighting that rivers are not only conduits for modern carbon but also play a role in returning ancient, previously stored carbon to the atmosphere. This process is particularly relevant in regions with permafrost or long-term carbon storage, such as Siberia, where climate change and warming temperatures may accelerate the release of ancient carbon. Understanding these mechanisms is important for accurately modeling carbon fluxes and predicting future climate scenarios.