Abstract:

The relationship between the global warming and carbon cycle in the Arctic terrestrial ecosystem was discussed based on a literature survey. As a result, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) concentrations increased markedly during the past few centuries. The increase in concentration of these greenhouse gases was coupled with the global warming. Summer temperature in the Arctic regions showed a rapid rising. The Arctic soil is a huge organic carbon pool, with a mean estimate of 355×10⁹ tC, being 23.7%-32.3% of global soil carbon pool. At present the Arctic terretrial ecosystem is functioning as a sink of atmospheric CO₂. The rising global temperature resulting from an increase in atmospheric CO₂ would influence markedly the Arctic soil carbon and CO₂ source/sink relation of the Arctic ecosystems.

Key words: Arctic, terrestrial ecosystem, carbon cycle, global warming, soil carbon pool