Program Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Michael Bradley
Document Type
Poster
Location
Face-to-face
Start Date
18-4-2024 9:00 AM
Abstract
Carbon sequestration is when carbon dioxide is stored in ecosystems like grasslands forests, soils and oceans. Wetlands are one of the many important ecosystems that sequester carbon and act as a carbon sink. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that in 2019 33,621.5 million metric tons of carbon were released into the atmosphere globally, due to human emissions. Anthropogenic carbon emissions have rapidly increased over the past 150 years. Since 1982, The global rate of warming is more than three times as fast, currently rising 0.36 degrees Fahrenheit each decade, and the rate will continue to increase. How do wetlands store this carbon? In non-wetland ecosystems, dead roots can decompose quickly, because they are exposed to readily available oxygen. Since wetland soils are saturated, Roots that die decompose slowly while new roots grow. The inability to decompose these roots and other organic material leads to the accumulation of organic matter in the soil and Carbon makes up around 50 percent of this organic matter. Preserving our current wetlands and reflooding previously drained wetlands will assist in mitigating climate control. While wetlands only occupy about 4-6% of earth's surface they are responsible for storing 20-30% of the world's carbon. Wetlands act as a natural solution to the current increasing carbon emissions. They also provide habitat for many species of plants and animals as well as providing flood control and preventing erosion. Preserving our current wetlands and restoring previously drained wetlands will provide more ecosystems where carbon can be stored and decrease atmospheric carbon that contributes to climate change. Restoration of wetland ecosystems will slow the rate of climate change as we find more solutions to our carbon emissions.
Recommended Citation
Woodward, Mallory, "Carbon Sequestration and Its Role in Mitigating Climate Change" (2024). ATU Research Symposium. 26.
https://orc.library.atu.edu/atu_rs/2024/2024/26
Included in
Carbon Sequestration and Its Role in Mitigating Climate Change
Face-to-face
Carbon sequestration is when carbon dioxide is stored in ecosystems like grasslands forests, soils and oceans. Wetlands are one of the many important ecosystems that sequester carbon and act as a carbon sink. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that in 2019 33,621.5 million metric tons of carbon were released into the atmosphere globally, due to human emissions. Anthropogenic carbon emissions have rapidly increased over the past 150 years. Since 1982, The global rate of warming is more than three times as fast, currently rising 0.36 degrees Fahrenheit each decade, and the rate will continue to increase. How do wetlands store this carbon? In non-wetland ecosystems, dead roots can decompose quickly, because they are exposed to readily available oxygen. Since wetland soils are saturated, Roots that die decompose slowly while new roots grow. The inability to decompose these roots and other organic material leads to the accumulation of organic matter in the soil and Carbon makes up around 50 percent of this organic matter. Preserving our current wetlands and reflooding previously drained wetlands will assist in mitigating climate control. While wetlands only occupy about 4-6% of earth's surface they are responsible for storing 20-30% of the world's carbon. Wetlands act as a natural solution to the current increasing carbon emissions. They also provide habitat for many species of plants and animals as well as providing flood control and preventing erosion. Preserving our current wetlands and restoring previously drained wetlands will provide more ecosystems where carbon can be stored and decrease atmospheric carbon that contributes to climate change. Restoration of wetland ecosystems will slow the rate of climate change as we find more solutions to our carbon emissions.