An international team of scientists has developed a map of the regions with the highest carbon content. According to the forecasts of the researchers, if all the carbon dioxide from there gets into the atmosphere, it will lead to a climate catastrophe. Read more about this in the journal Nature Sustainability.
The map shows the areas with the largest natural carbon sinks. These include peatlands and mangroves. Most of them can be found in the basins of the Amazon and Congo rivers, as well as on the island of Kalimantan. Scientists call the carbon buildup in these places “non-renewable.” If they are released into the air, it can take centuries for the carbon dioxide level to return to its previous level.
According to the study, the total amount of carbon in the accumulation regions is about 130 gigatons. For comparison, in 2010 in the United States, all transport allocated only 1.5 gigatons. According to scientists, if all the carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere, then its temperature will rise by 1.5 ° C.
Satellite images were used to create the map. The researchers also analyzed the amount of carbon in a particular region. They highlighted the concentration of carbon dioxide in purple. As the map shows, there are relatively few areas of high carbon concentration. They occupy 3% of the total area of the Earth.
As numerous forecasts say, an increase in atmospheric temperature can lead to a lot of negative consequences. Among them: melting glaciers, rising sea levels, extinction of flora and fauna.
