A study from ETH Zurich reveals an unexpected process in the Congo Basin. Large dark-water lakes formed in its peatlands are mobilizing carbon stored for thousands of years. This carbon, which was considered stable, is transferred to the atmosphere. The finding alerts to a new mechanism of climate feedback.
Remote Sensing Technology and Isotopic Analysis to Track Carbon 📡
The research combined satellite imagery with geochemical analyses of water and peat samples. Remote sensing allowed mapping the extent of the lakes in the peatlands, an environment of difficult access. Radiocarbon isotope analysis confirmed that the carbon dissolved in the lakes is ancient, demonstrating that it does not come from recent vegetation. This methodology quantifies a carbon flux not accounted for in current climate models.
The Carbon's Retirement Plan Canceled Without Notice 😅
It seems the peat carbon had other plans. Instead of enjoying a quiet retirement for millennia, it has decided to take a dip in the lakes and catch the first flight available to the atmosphere. A clear case that not even the deepest geological storage is safe if you don't read the fine print of climate change.