Ancient Carbon Emissions Resurface from Rivers

Speedy summary

• Finding: Rivers globally are releasing ancient carbon into the atmosphere, surprising scientists with the extent of this phenomenon.
• Carbon Emissions: About 60% of global river carbon emissions originate from thousands-of-years-old sources, contributing nearly 1 gigatonne annually.
• Study Details: Researchers used radiocarbon dating on data from over 700 river segments across 26 countries to determine the age of emitted carbon and methane.
• Causes Speculated: Potential drivers include climate change (e.g., thawing permafrost, increased weathering), drainage of peatlands, and drying wetlands. More research is needed to calculate human impact accurately.
• Global Impact: Findings imply that natural landscapes need to absorb about 1 gigatonne more CO₂ annually than previously estimated. Changes in climate plans may be required based on these insights.

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