The net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) at catchment scales in the Arctic

The Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance (NECB) is a crucial metric for understanding integrated carbon dynamics in Arctic and boreal regions, which are vital to the global carbon cycle. These areas are associated with significant uncertainties and rapid climate change, potentially leading to unpredictable...

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Main Authors: Efrén López-Blanco, Maria Väisänen, Elodie Salmon, Cheristy P. Jones, Niels M. Schmidt, Hannu Marttila, Annalea Lohila, Sari Juutinen, Johan Scheller, Torben R. Christensen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1544586/full
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author Efrén López-Blanco
Efrén López-Blanco
Maria Väisänen
Elodie Salmon
Cheristy P. Jones
Niels M. Schmidt
Hannu Marttila
Annalea Lohila
Annalea Lohila
Sari Juutinen
Johan Scheller
Torben R. Christensen
Torben R. Christensen
author_facet Efrén López-Blanco
Efrén López-Blanco
Maria Väisänen
Elodie Salmon
Cheristy P. Jones
Niels M. Schmidt
Hannu Marttila
Annalea Lohila
Annalea Lohila
Sari Juutinen
Johan Scheller
Torben R. Christensen
Torben R. Christensen
author_sort Efrén López-Blanco
collection DOAJ
description The Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance (NECB) is a crucial metric for understanding integrated carbon dynamics in Arctic and boreal regions, which are vital to the global carbon cycle. These areas are associated with significant uncertainties and rapid climate change, potentially leading to unpredictable alterations in carbon dynamics. This mini-review examines key components of NECB, including carbon sequestration, methane emissions, lateral carbon transport, herbivore interactions, and disturbances, while integrating insights from recent permafrost region greenhouse gas budget syntheses. We emphasize the need for a holistic approach to quantify the NECB, incorporating all components and their uncertainties. The review highlights recent methodological advances in flux measurements, including improvements in eddy covariance and automatic chamber techniques, as well as progress in modeling approaches and data assimilation. Key research priorities are identified, such as improving the representation of inland waters in process-based models, expanding monitoring networks, and enhancing integration of long-term field observations with modeling approaches. These efforts are essential for accurately quantifying current and future greenhouse gas budgets in rapidly changing northern landscapes, ultimately informing more effective climate change mitigation strategies and ecosystem management practices. The review aligns with the goals of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) and Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), providing important insights for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders working to understand and protect these sensitive ecosystems.
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spelling doaj-art-857db786e0fa49d3b316e32c6ae4fa0e2025-08-20T01:54:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-04-011310.3389/fenvs.2025.15445861544586The net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) at catchment scales in the ArcticEfrén López-Blanco0Efrén López-Blanco1Maria Väisänen2Elodie Salmon3Cheristy P. Jones4Niels M. Schmidt5Hannu Marttila6Annalea Lohila7Annalea Lohila8Sari Juutinen9Johan Scheller10Torben R. Christensen11Torben R. Christensen12Department of Ecoscience and Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DenmarkDepartment of Environment and Minerals, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, GreenlandWater, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, FinlandLaboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Gif-sur-Yvette, FranceDepartment of Earth Sciences, Earth Systems Research Center, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United StatesDepartment of Ecoscience and Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DenmarkWater, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, FinlandClimate System Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, FinlandInstitute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research / Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandClimate System Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, FinlandDanish Meteorological Institute, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Ecoscience and Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DenmarkWater, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, FinlandThe Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance (NECB) is a crucial metric for understanding integrated carbon dynamics in Arctic and boreal regions, which are vital to the global carbon cycle. These areas are associated with significant uncertainties and rapid climate change, potentially leading to unpredictable alterations in carbon dynamics. This mini-review examines key components of NECB, including carbon sequestration, methane emissions, lateral carbon transport, herbivore interactions, and disturbances, while integrating insights from recent permafrost region greenhouse gas budget syntheses. We emphasize the need for a holistic approach to quantify the NECB, incorporating all components and their uncertainties. The review highlights recent methodological advances in flux measurements, including improvements in eddy covariance and automatic chamber techniques, as well as progress in modeling approaches and data assimilation. Key research priorities are identified, such as improving the representation of inland waters in process-based models, expanding monitoring networks, and enhancing integration of long-term field observations with modeling approaches. These efforts are essential for accurately quantifying current and future greenhouse gas budgets in rapidly changing northern landscapes, ultimately informing more effective climate change mitigation strategies and ecosystem management practices. The review aligns with the goals of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) and Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), providing important insights for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders working to understand and protect these sensitive ecosystems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1544586/fullnet ecosystem carbon balancehigh Arcticboreal zonepermafrost regioncarbon sequestrationmethane emissions
spellingShingle Efrén López-Blanco
Efrén López-Blanco
Maria Väisänen
Elodie Salmon
Cheristy P. Jones
Niels M. Schmidt
Hannu Marttila
Annalea Lohila
Annalea Lohila
Sari Juutinen
Johan Scheller
Torben R. Christensen
Torben R. Christensen
The net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) at catchment scales in the Arctic
Frontiers in Environmental Science
net ecosystem carbon balance
high Arctic
boreal zone
permafrost region
carbon sequestration
methane emissions
title The net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) at catchment scales in the Arctic
title_full The net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) at catchment scales in the Arctic
title_fullStr The net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) at catchment scales in the Arctic
title_full_unstemmed The net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) at catchment scales in the Arctic
title_short The net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) at catchment scales in the Arctic
title_sort net ecosystem carbon balance necb at catchment scales in the arctic
topic net ecosystem carbon balance
high Arctic
boreal zone
permafrost region
carbon sequestration
methane emissions
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1544586/full
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