Soils are capable of storing carbon in the atmosphere. Therefore, they can be a vital weapon in the fight against climate change. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) indicated in World Soil Day that increasing the role of surface area “could significantly offset the rapid increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.”
What effects can it have on soil on climate change?
Organic carbon distribution
When we talk about greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, we cannot ignore the fact that there are carbon sinks distributed all over the planet. We start with the plants. These are capable of retaining carbon during the photosynthesis process, Therefore, all the carbon they use for this is not returned to the atmosphere. In this sense, it is also important to consider how the climate change affects plants and its carbon absorption capacity.
On the other hand, we have the seabed. Carbon is introduced into them and fixed to the substrate, completely leaving the carbon cycle. This means that carbon cannot be re-incorporated into the atmosphere and, therefore, decreases the amount of carbon in it that can retain heat.
Finally, there are the soils. The soils of the world. are able to assimilate carbon in the atmosphere and convert it into nutrients for plants and organisms. Thanks to this, soils can be a good tool in the fight against climate change. By strengthening our understanding of climate change and global warming, new opportunities are opening up to improve soil health. Furthermore, it is important to note that conservation agriculture can be key in this process.
World carbon map
To identify the areas of the world where the soils that absorb the most carbon are distributed, a map showing their concentration has been created. To date, World Map of Soil Organic Carbon illustrates that the world's natural areas that are capable of retaining the most carbon must be protected. It is crucial to protect these areas, as discussed in the article on the effects of climate change in Germany.
Obviously, not all soils are capable of retaining the same amount of carbon. Depending on the soil type and the conditions under which it is formed, some are able to retain more than others. If areas that are capable of retaining more carbon are protected from construction, agriculture, livestock farming, or any type of activity that alters land use, this can be used as a tool to reduce the effects of climate change. It is therefore essential to consider which soils are most effective in this regard.
It must be taken into account that, the less amount of greenhouse gases there is in the atmosphere, less heat retention. Furthermore, if we reduce emissions by promoting renewable energy, we will be attacking this phenomenon from two angles. Likewise, climate change can be studied from a broader perspective.
Effects of soil destruction
Due to land use changes and the destruction and degradation of one-third of the world's soils, a huge amount of carbon has been released into the atmosphere. This is alarming, as soil restoration can help remove up to 63.000 tons of carbon from the atmosphere. This would contribute significantly to the fight against climate change, as mentioned in the analysis on deserts threatened by global warming.
The map mentioned above was designed for World Soil Day and shows that worldwide the top 30 centimeters of the surface contain about 680.000 million tons of carbon, almost twice that present in the atmosphere.
60% of those tons It is found in Russia, Canada, the United States, China, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, Argentina, Kazakhstan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Therefore, measures must be implemented to protect those soils that are capable of retaining more carbon and avoid more emissions into the atmosphere.
A major advantage to consider is that carbon-rich soils are more productive and better able to purify water, providing plants with optimal moisture conditions. This relationship is crucial, as sustainable soil management becomes essential in the context of climate change.
As you can see, soils are a good tool to reduce the effects of climate change and it is essential to promote their conservation.
