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After twenty years of research on soil carbon and climate change, what's left to learn?
Citation:
JOHNSON, M. G. After twenty years of research on soil carbon and climate change, what's left to learn? Presented at 2011 Annual Oregon Society of Soil Scientists, McMinnville, OR, February 24, 2011.
Impact/Purpose:
Much effort over the past 230 years has been directed at investigating the roles that soils and specifically soil carbon play in the global carbon cycle and in climate change.
Description:
Much effort over the past 230 years has been directed at investigating the roles that soils and specifically soil carbon play in the global carbon cycle and in climate change. As we begin another new decade, we ask whether there is anything left to learn on this topic? Do we know all we need to know? Can we finally answer the question that was asked 20 years ago “Can soils be used to store sufficient additional carbon to aid in mitigating global climate Change?” In February of 1990 more than 40 scientists from universities, and federal and private research organizations gathered in Corvallis to address this question. Beginning there, this presentation will provide a retrospective and prospective look at soils and soil carbon and climate change. A summary of what we now know will be presented, and what is still needed will be considered.