The Congo tropical forest is different
Until now, research assumed that the vast forest area of the Congo Basin, like other tropical forests, releases large amounts of nitrous oxide and binds methane. Researchers at ETH Zurich have now shown that it behaves differently: Methane is released, while nitrous oxide emissions are lower than assumed.
The research was carried out by SPWS member Prof. Johan Six and his team at ETH Zurich together with colleagues.
Reference publication
Barthel M, Bauters M, Baumgartner S, et al. Low N2O and variable CH4 fluxes from tropical forest soils of the Congo Basin. Nat Commun 13, 330 (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-27978-6