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Story: What are the potential consequences globally if the sink becomes a source?

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Story: What are the potential consequences globally if the sink becomes a source?

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If natural temperate grasslands become a carbon source rather than a carbon sink the global consequences would be disastrous. Not only would the carbon storage of these areas be lost but entire ecosystems would be destroyed. Specific consequences would be erosion and soil compacting due to the loss of root systems, more carbon released into the atmosphere, and loss of plant and animal species as well as their habitat. (Source: National Geographic)

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This is a map showing the biomes of Earth. The tan shades represent Temperate Grasslands, and grasslands in The Great Plains, The Asian Steppe, and Australia, all under threat of agricultural conversion, are marked by an X.

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Story: In what form is carbon released or could be released into the atmosphere (CO2 or CH4 or both) from this sink?

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Story: In what form is carbon released or could be released into the atmosphere (CO2 or CH4 or both) from this sink?

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The alteration of soil and the erosion of grasslands via human activity disrupts the soil structure. This exposes organic carbon compounds in the soil that would have remained underground otherwise. These compounds are surfaced and exposed to decomposition, releasing both CO2 and CH4. (Source: U.S. Forest Service)

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The graph shows a comparison of how much carbon can be lost and stored based on human activities disrupting grasslands. (Source: U.S. Forest Service)

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Story: What human activities or global changes are threatening to transform the sink into a source? 

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Story: What human activities or global changes are threatening to transform the sink into a source? 

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Grasslands are used intensively for food production by humans. Cultivation, animal grazing, and crop production lead to soil disruption and land degradation. (Source: U.S. Forest Service)

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Grasslands cover 25% of Earth’s land surface

12% of global terrestrial carbon sinks

80% of the carbon stored is in the soil

(Source: U.S. Forest Service)

2.3 to 7.3 billion tons of CO2 sequestered annually

(Source: Bai and Cotrufo 2022)

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Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
National Geographic
National Geographic
Bai and Cotrufo 2022
U.S Forest Service

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Natural grasslands have deep root systems which make up a majority of their biomass. Deep root systems deposite carbon collected during cellular respiration into the soil. The deeper the roots, the deeper down the carbon is deposited. This is important because carbon sequestration rates increase with depth. More diversity of grasses creates a sustainable form of long-term carbon storage that benefits the organisms in the area and makes a diverse micro organism community. (Source: National Geographic )