Articles | Volume 12, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-599-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-599-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Original research article
| 
12 May 2026
Original research article |
| 12 May 2026
| 12 May 2026
Vulnerability of carbon in subalpine soils in the face of warmer temperatures
Dario Püntener
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Philipp Zürcher
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Tatjana C. Speckert
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Carrie L. Thomas
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Department of Ecology, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Guido L. B. Wiesenberg
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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Short summary
We studied how warmer temperatures affect carbon stored in mountain soils. In a year-long experiment with forest and pasture soils, we found that even moderate warming sped up the breakdown of plant material and soil carbon. Microorganisms became less efficient at higher temperatures. This means that rising temperatures could cause mountain soils to release more carbon, reinforcing climate change.
We studied how warmer temperatures affect carbon stored in mountain soils. In a year-long...
