Coastal vegetation and estuaries are collectively a greenhouse gas sink

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.

This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01682-9

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Work Title Coastal vegetation and estuaries are collectively a greenhouse gas sink
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Judith A. Rosentreter
  2. Goulven G. Laruelle
  3. Hermann W. Bange
  4. Thomas S. Bianchi
  5. Julius J.M. Busecke
  6. Wei Jun Cai
  7. Bradley D. Eyre
  8. Inke Forbrich
  9. Eun Young Kwon
  10. Taylor Maavara
  11. Nils Moosdorf
  12. Raymond G. Najjar
  13. V. V.S.S. Sarma
  14. Bryce Van Dam
  15. Pierre Regnier
Keyword
  1. coastal vegetation
  2. estuaries
  3. climate change
  4. greenhouse gas budget
  5. radiative balance
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Nature Climate Change
Publication Date May 22, 2023
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01682-9
Deposited July 03, 2024

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Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Added Rosentreter_et_al._accepted_version_NCC.pdf
  • Added Creator Judith A. Rosentreter
  • Added Creator Goulven G. Laruelle
  • Added Creator Hermann W. Bange
  • Added Creator Thomas S. Bianchi
  • Added Creator Julius J.M. Busecke
  • Added Creator Wei Jun Cai
  • Added Creator Bradley D. Eyre
  • Added Creator Inke Forbrich
  • Added Creator Eun Young Kwon
  • Added Creator Taylor Maavara
  • Added Creator Nils Moosdorf
  • Added Creator Raymond G. Najjar
  • Added Creator V. V.S.S. Sarma
  • Added Creator Bryce Van Dam
  • Added Creator Pierre Regnier
  • Published
  • Updated
  • Updated Keyword Show Changes
    Keyword
    • coastal vegetation, estuaries, climate change, greenhouse gas budget, radiative balance