In the face of global warming and a wetter climate, the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau remains a significant carbon sink, recent research by the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment (IMHE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reveals.
A carbon sink is a natural system that absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. Typical examples include forests, oceans, and soil. Conversely, carbon sources emit more carbon dioxide than they absorb, often due to activities like burning fossil fuels or volcanic eruptions.
Wei Da, a researcher with the IMHE, highlighted that the enhanced carbon sink capacity of the terrestrial ecosystem in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region underscores the success of ecological security barrier construction and the region's adaptive climate changes.
Scientists emphasize the importance of quantifying how carbon sinks evolve under the pressures of climate change and ecological restoration on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Addressing these dynamics is a top priority for ongoing scientific inquiry.
This year marked the establishment of the first demonstration base for monitoring carbon sinks in artificial forests in Shannan city, a significant step forward in understanding and enhancing the plateau's role in sequestering carbon.
Reference(s):
Studies: China's Qinghai-Xizang Plateau remains a carbon sink
cgtn.com
