Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dynamics of soil carbon during deglaciation of the laurentide ice sheet

January 1, 1992

Deglaciation of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in North America was accompanied by sequestration of organic carbon in newly exposed soils. The greatest rate of land exposure occurred around 12,000 to 8,000 years ago, and the greatest increase in the rate of carbon sequestration by soils occurred from 8,000 to 4,000 years ago. Sequestration of carbon in deglaciated peat lands continues today, and a steady state has not been reached. The natural rate of carbon sequestration in soils, however, is small relative to the rate of anthropogenic carbon dioxide production.

Publication Year 1992
Title Dynamics of soil carbon during deglaciation of the laurentide ice sheet
Authors J. W. Harden, E.T. Sundquist, R.F. Stallard, R. K. Mark
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Science
Index ID 70016769
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse