Soil stores 80 percent of carbon on earth. With increasing cycles of drought that crucial reservoir is cracking and breaking down, releasing even more greenhouse gases, and creating an amplified feedback loop that could accelerate climate change well beyond current predictions. Drought leads to cracking in fine-grained soils, sometimes extending meters below the surface. The cracks result in more exposure to air, increased microbial activity and breakdown of organic matter, released carbon dioxide, and loss of nutrients and ability to support plant growth, reducing CO2 sequestering. Deep cracks expose much older reserves of carbon previously stable and protected. Nitrous oxide is also released.
Climate Crisis Blog
