Global alpine ecosystems contain a large amount of carbon, which is sensitive to global change. Changes to alpine carbon sources and sinks have implications for carbon and climate feedback processes. To date, few studies have quantified the spatial-temporal variations in ecosystem carbon storage and its response to global change in the alpine regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Ecosystem carbon storage in the northeastern QTP between 2001 and 2019 was simulated and systematically analyzed using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model. Furthermore, the Hurst exponent was obtained and used as an input to perform an analysis of the future dynamic consistency of ecosystem carbon storage. Our study results demonstrated that: (1) regression between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and biomass (coefficient of determination (R-2) = 0.974, p < 0.001), and between NDVI and soil organic carbon density (SOCD) (R-2 = 0.810, p < 0.001) were valid; (2) the spatial distribution of ecosystem carbon storage decreased from the southeast to the northwest; (3) ecosystem carbon storage increased by 13.69% between 2001 and 2019, and the significant increases mainly occurred in the low-altitude regions; (4) climate and land use (LULC) changes caused increases in ecosystem carbon storage of 4.39 Tg C and 2.25 Tg C from 2001 to 2019, respectively; and (5) the future trend of ecosystem carbon storage in 92.73% of the study area shows high inconsistency but that in 7.27% was consistent. This study reveals that climate and LULC changes have positive effects on ecosystem carbon storage in the alpine regions of the QTP, which will provide valuable information for the formulation of eco-environmental policies and sustainable development.

High Arctic soil organic carbon (SOC) is an important component in the global C cycle, yet there is considerable uncertainty in the estimates for the polar deserts and semi-deserts that dominate these regions. Some of this uncertainty in SOC estimates arises from the cryoturbic processes including diapirism that structure polar desert soils. Diapirism occurs when the top, viscous layer of permafrost is deformed during freezing and ejected up-wards into the soil profile forming a distinct diapiric soil patch or diapir. The diapiric is often nutrient rich relative to the surrounding soil; plants seek out and forage for nutrients in these patches creating a localized mixture of old carbon ejected from the permafrost and new carbon. Here we investigate how the subsurface SOC-rich patches in frost boils resulting from diapirism contribute to overall SOC storage in these environments. We quantify the rates of diapirism and fine-scale distribution of SOC in 560 frost boils at two Canadian high Arctic polar desert sites differing in parent material (dolomite versus granitic) with strikingly different plant surface communities. Though total soil organic carbon content did not differ between the dolomite and granite polar semi-deserts, SOC was being stored differently. The dolomitic site had greater SOC content below 10 cm reflecting the more common occurrence of subsurface SOC patches (46% of frost boils) compared to the granitic site (30%). When a subsurface patch of SOCC (SOC expressed on a m- 2 basis) was present in a frost boil the boil contained nearly double the SOCC compared to frost boils without subsurface patches (11 +/- 6.3 kg SOC m(-2) compared to 6.4 +/- 3.6 kg SOC m(-2)). Diapirism occurs in only 35% of all frost boils, but these diapiric patches represent an important, yet heterogenous, pool of SOC in polar semi-deserts. We upscale from these data to generate an improved estimate of SOC stored in the active layer of High Arctic polar semi-deserts of 8.14 +/- 0.45 Pg SOC.

Numerous studies have reported that treelines are moving to higher elevations and higher latitudes. Most treelines are temperature limited and warmer climate expands the area in which trees are capable of growing. Hence, climate change has been assumed to be the main driver behind this treeline movement. The latest review of treeline studies was published in 2009 by Harsch et al. Since then, a plethora of papers have been published studying local treeline migration. Here we bring together this knowledge through a review of 142 treeline related publications, including 477 study locations. We summarize the information known about factors limiting tree-growth at and near treelines. Treeline migration is not only dependent on favorable growing conditions but also requires seedling establishment and survival above the current treeline. These conditions appear to have become favorable at many locations, particularly so in recent years. The review revealed that at 66% of these treeline sites forest cover had increased in elevational or latitudinal extent. The physical form of treelines influences how likely they are to migrate and can be used as an indicator when predicting future treeline movements. Our analysis also revealed that while a greater percentage of elevational treelines are moving, the latitudinal treelines are capable of moving at greater horizontal speed. This can potentially have substantial impacts on ecosystem carbon storage. To conclude the review, we present the three main hypotheses as to whether ecosystem carbon budgets will be reduced, increased or remain the same due to treeline migration. While the answer still remains under debate, we believe that all three hypotheses are likely to apply depending on the encroached ecosystem. Concerningly, evidence is emerging on how treeline migration may turn tundra landscapes from net sinks to net sources of carbon dioxide in the future.

Soil organic matter (SOM) quality and biodegradability the permafrost underlying Siberian wet tussock tundra (Kolyma river basin, northeast Siberia) were analyzed and compared to the characteristics of the contemporary active layer. For this purpose, three permafrost affected soil cores (down to 3 m depth) and seven active layer soil cores (down to 0.3 in depth) were sampled. The samples were divided into particular layers, which were analyzed separately. SOM stability was assessed using a simple chemical fractionation (sequential extraction by cold and hot water, and hot acid). SOM biodegradability and soil mineralization potentials were tested in short-term laboratory incubations. The active layer contained 24 kg C m(-2) and 70 kg cm(-2) was preserved in 3 in of permafrost. The chemical quality and biodegradability of permafrost SOM were very similar to that of the active layer mineral horizon, and independent from depth. The only exceptions were (1) higher solubility of permafrost SOM in water, indicating its higher mobility and potential leakage after permafrost thawing and (2) higher nutrient (N, P) concentrations available to a dense permafrost microbial community, which could support decomposition of more complex substrates under suitable temperature conditions after thawing. The mineralization potential of the upper 1 in deep permafrost, which could melt by 2100 according to permafrost degradation models, was 6.7 g C m(-2) d(-1) (optimum conditions of 20 degrees C, field water capacity), which is comparable to that of the contemporary active layer of 0.5 m depth (7.5 g C m(-2) d(-1)). Under field conditions, SOM mineralization rate would reasonably be significantly lower due to prevailing anoxia (high water table) and diffusion constraints in the deep and flooded soil profile. We conclude from our results that the permafrost (1) cryopreserves a high SOM amount, which is distributed to considerable depths, being of similar chemical quality and biodegradability to that of the active layer mineral horizon SOM, and (2) contains a dense living microbial community, which is able to decompose the present SOM rapidly without any obvious chemical limitation under suitable conditions. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.