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Coastal vegetation and estuaries are collectively a greenhouse gas sink

Author

Listed:
  • Judith A. Rosentreter

    (Southern Cross University
    Yale University
    Yale University)

  • Goulven G. Laruelle

    (Université Libre de Bruxelles)

  • Hermann W. Bange

    (Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

  • Thomas S. Bianchi

    (University of Florida)

  • Julius J. M. Busecke

    (Columbia University)

  • Wei-Jun Cai

    (University of Delaware)

  • Bradley D. Eyre

    (Southern Cross University)

  • Inke Forbrich

    (Marine Biological Laboratory
    University of Toledo)

  • Eun Young Kwon

    (Institute for Basic Science)

  • Taylor Maavara

    (Yale University
    Yale University
    University of Leeds)

  • Nils Moosdorf

    (Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research
    Kiel University
    Southern Cross University)

  • Raymond G. Najjar

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • V. V. S. S. Sarma

    (CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography)

  • Bryce Dam

    (Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon)

  • Pierre Regnier

    (Université Libre de Bruxelles)

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems release or absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), but the net effects of these ecosystems on the radiative balance remain unknown. We compiled a dataset of observations from 738 sites from studies published between 1975 and 2020 to quantify CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes in estuaries and coastal vegetation in ten global regions. We show that the CO2-equivalent (CO2e) uptake by coastal vegetation is decreased by 23–27% due to estuarine CO2e outgassing, resulting in a global median net sink of 391 or 444 TgCO2e yr−1 using the 20- or 100-year global warming potentials, respectively. Globally, total coastal CH4 and N2O emissions decrease the coastal CO2 sink by 9–20%. Southeast Asia, North America and Africa are critical regional hotspots of GHG sinks. Understanding these hotspots can guide our efforts to strengthen coastal CO2 uptake while effectively reducing CH4 and N2O emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Judith A. Rosentreter & Goulven G. Laruelle & Hermann W. Bange & Thomas S. Bianchi & Julius J. M. Busecke & Wei-Jun Cai & Bradley D. Eyre & Inke Forbrich & Eun Young Kwon & Taylor Maavara & Nils Moosd, 2023. "Coastal vegetation and estuaries are collectively a greenhouse gas sink," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 13(6), pages 579-587, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:13:y:2023:i:6:d:10.1038_s41558-023-01682-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01682-9
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