Organic carbon in Icelandic Andosols: Geographical variation and impact of erosion

Hlynur Óskarsson; Ólafur Arnalds; Jón Gudmundsson; Grétar Gudbergsson

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2003.10.013

Organic carbon in Icelandic Andosols: Geographical variation and impact of erosion

Agricultural University of Iceland

Agricultural University of Iceland, Other Icelandic Research Institutions

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The extensive soil erosion in Iceland during the past millennium has led to an irregular distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC). Intact and fully vegetated areas typically have Andosols with large amounts of organic carbon, whereas eroded areas are barren deserts with little organic carbon. We estimate the amount of organic carbon eroded during the past millennium is 120-500×10⁶ t, whereas the total organic carbon in Icelandic soils is 2.1×10⁹ t. Approximately half of the eroded organic carbon (60-250×10⁶ t C) has been oxidized and released to the atmosphere. Current ongoing losses of SOC are estimated to be 50-100×10³ t C yr^-1. We also consider procedures for sequestering carbon to restore the carbon dynamics of denuded areas.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	225-238
Number of pages	14
Journal	Catena
Volume	56
Issue number	1-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2003.10.013
Publication status	Published - 21 Apr 2004

Bibliographical note

Funding Information: This paper is built on a synthesis of data derived from various studies and we gratefully acknowledge the work done by the following: Berglind Orradóttir, Elı́n Ásgeirsdóttir, Barbara Duran, Rannveig Guicharnaud and the staff of the Icelandic Soil Conservation Service. We are also grateful for the encouragement and inspiration of the European COST-622 group, and for permission to use their data. Some of the studies on which this paper is built were funded by grants from the National Power Company (Landsvirkjun) and Rala Government funds.

Other keywords

Andosol
Carbon sequestration
Erosion
Iceland
Soil organic carbon
Volcanic soils

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10.1016/j.catena.2003.10.013

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title = "Organic carbon in Icelandic Andosols: Geographical variation and impact of erosion",

abstract = "The extensive soil erosion in Iceland during the past millennium has led to an irregular distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC). Intact and fully vegetated areas typically have Andosols with large amounts of organic carbon, whereas eroded areas are barren deserts with little organic carbon. We estimate the amount of organic carbon eroded during the past millennium is 120-500×106 t, whereas the total organic carbon in Icelandic soils is 2.1×109 t. Approximately half of the eroded organic carbon (60-250×106 t C) has been oxidized and released to the atmosphere. Current ongoing losses of SOC are estimated to be 50-100×103 t C yr-1. We also consider procedures for sequestering carbon to restore the carbon dynamics of denuded areas.",

keywords = "Andosol, Carbon sequestration, Erosion, Iceland, Soil organic carbon, Volcanic soils",

author = "Hlynur {\'O}skarsson and {\'O}lafur Arnalds and J{\'o}n Gudmundsson and Gr{\'e}tar Gudbergsson",

note = "Funding Information: This paper is built on a synthesis of data derived from various studies and we gratefully acknowledge the work done by the following: Berglind Orrad{\'o}ttir, Elı\&\#x0301;n {\'A}sgeirsd{\'o}ttir, Barbara Duran, Rannveig Guicharnaud and the staff of the Icelandic Soil Conservation Service. We are also grateful for the encouragement and inspiration of the European COST-622 group, and for permission to use their data. Some of the studies on which this paper is built were funded by grants from the National Power Company (Landsvirkjun) and Rala Government funds.",

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doi = "10.1016/j.catena.2003.10.013",

language = "English",

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AU - Óskarsson, Hlynur

AU - Arnalds, Ólafur

AU - Gudmundsson, Jón

AU - Gudbergsson, Grétar

N1 - Funding Information: This paper is built on a synthesis of data derived from various studies and we gratefully acknowledge the work done by the following: Berglind Orradóttir, Elı́n Ásgeirsdóttir, Barbara Duran, Rannveig Guicharnaud and the staff of the Icelandic Soil Conservation Service. We are also grateful for the encouragement and inspiration of the European COST-622 group, and for permission to use their data. Some of the studies on which this paper is built were funded by grants from the National Power Company (Landsvirkjun) and Rala Government funds.

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N2 - The extensive soil erosion in Iceland during the past millennium has led to an irregular distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC). Intact and fully vegetated areas typically have Andosols with large amounts of organic carbon, whereas eroded areas are barren deserts with little organic carbon. We estimate the amount of organic carbon eroded during the past millennium is 120-500×106 t, whereas the total organic carbon in Icelandic soils is 2.1×109 t. Approximately half of the eroded organic carbon (60-250×106 t C) has been oxidized and released to the atmosphere. Current ongoing losses of SOC are estimated to be 50-100×103 t C yr-1. We also consider procedures for sequestering carbon to restore the carbon dynamics of denuded areas.

AB - The extensive soil erosion in Iceland during the past millennium has led to an irregular distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC). Intact and fully vegetated areas typically have Andosols with large amounts of organic carbon, whereas eroded areas are barren deserts with little organic carbon. We estimate the amount of organic carbon eroded during the past millennium is 120-500×106 t, whereas the total organic carbon in Icelandic soils is 2.1×109 t. Approximately half of the eroded organic carbon (60-250×106 t C) has been oxidized and released to the atmosphere. Current ongoing losses of SOC are estimated to be 50-100×103 t C yr-1. We also consider procedures for sequestering carbon to restore the carbon dynamics of denuded areas.

KW - Andosol

KW - Carbon sequestration

KW - Erosion

KW - Iceland

KW - Soil organic carbon

KW - Volcanic soils

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DO - 10.1016/j.catena.2003.10.013

M3 - Article

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EP - 238

JO - Catena

JF - Catena

IS - 1-3

ER -

Organic carbon in Icelandic Andosols: Geographical variation and impact of erosion

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Other keywords

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