The Impact of Permafrost Change on Soil Organic Carbon Stocks in Northeast China

Climate warming has resulted in significant changes in permafrost in Northeast China, leading to notable alterations in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. These changes are crucial for both the global carbon cycle and climate change, as well as directly impacting the sustainable development of ecosystems. In order to examine the SOC dynamics and the impact of permafrost changes on SOC, we investigate the changes of permafrost extent based on a regression model and TTOP (top temperature of permafrost) model and the relationship between land use and land cover (LULC), SOC stocks, and permafrost changes in Northeast China. The results showing a shrinking permafrost area from 37.43 × 104 km2 to 16.48 × 104 km2 during the period from the 1980s to the 2010s in Northeast China, and the SOC stock decreased by 24.18 Tg C from the 1980s to the 1990s and then rapidly increased by 102.84 Tg C in the 2000s. Permafrost degradation speeds up the succession of LULC, impacting about 90% of the SOC in permafrost regions. The relationship between permafrost changes and SOC in Northeast China shows that permafrost degradation significantly reduces SOC stocks in the short term but increases SOC stocks in the long term, and that LULC play a crucial role in regulating this relationship. The goals of this study are to acquire an understanding of permafrost status and deepening insights into the dynamics of SOC. Simultaneously, the study aims to furnish valuable scientific references for shaping policies on sustainable land use and management in the future, all the while advancing the cause of ecological equilibrium and sustainable development in Northeast China and other areas.