Impacts of climate change-induced extreme weather events on carbon dynamics in soil

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) content is an important indicator of soil health, agricultural productivity, and ecosystem service. Soil carbon sustains a number of ecosystem processes including water holding capacity and availability to plants, nutrient cycling, soil structure and microbial diversity. Carbon dynamics in soil is highly complex, and depending on the land management practices, soil carbon can serve as a significant source or sink for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby contributing to climate change. Soil carbon storage can be promoted as part of a greater suite of nature-based climate change mitigation strategies that can simultaneously render natural capital ecosystem benefits and environmental outcomes, and diversify livelihoods. In regard to soil carbon sequestration and its function in mitigating climate change, this study offers a thorough bibliometric analysis of critical discussions on the effects of extreme weather events such as floods, wildfires and drought. Floods, droughts, and wildfires are among the extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. These extreme weather events due to climate change can influence soil carbon dynamics by affecting soil carbon input and the microbial breakdown of soil organic matter. Drought promotes more root biomass than shoot biomass as a drought adaptation strategy by plants, thereby impacting the root-derived carbon input to soil. Flooding can mobilize dissolved organic carbon in soil, thereby facilitating the leaching losses of soil carbon. Wildfires can lead to the loss of above ground biomass, thereby impacting carbon input to soil. All these major extreme weather events can also impact soil carbon by influencing soil microbial activity and function, and soil erosion. Climate change-induced extreme weather events impact C dynamics in soil. Drought reduces plant biomass production, soil C inputs and alters microbial activity. Soil heterotrophic respiration declines under drought stress conditions. Prolonged waterlogging promotes Fe oxyhydroxides reduction and DOC release. Wildfires under dry conditions reduce C sequestration potential in peat and wetland. Climate change-induced extreme weather events impact C dynamics in soil. Drought reduces plant biomass production, soil C inputs and alters microbial activity. Soil heterotrophic respiration declines under drought stress conditions. Prolonged waterlogging promotes Fe oxyhydroxides reduction and DOC release. Wildfires under dry conditions reduce C sequestration potential in peat and wetland.