Vulnerability of high-latitude soil organic carbon in North America to disturbance

SOC in northern high latitudes is highly vulnerable to disturbances Disturbances are an important component of the northern soil C cycle Soils in northern high latitudes could loose their long-term C sink character This synthesis addresses the vulnerability of the North American high-latitude soil organic carbon (SOC) pool to climate change. Disturbances caused by climate warming in arctic, subarctic, and boreal environments can result in significant redistribution of C among major reservoirs with potential global impacts. We divide the current northern high-latitude SOC pools into (1) near-surface soils where SOC is affected by seasonal freeze-thaw processes and changes in moisture status, and (2) deeper permafrost and peatland strata [...]