| 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 (CO 2) and methane (CH 4) 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 355×10 9 tC, being 23.7% 32.3% of global soil carbon pool. At present the Arctic terretrial ecosystem is functioning as a sink of atmospheric CO 2. The rising global temperature resulting from an increase in atmospheric CO 2 would influence markedly the Arctic soil carbon and CO 2 source/sink relation of the Arctic ecosystems. |
