Global SOC, Annual NPP and CO₂ Turnover Time

This new study revised interlinked issues of global soil organic carbon (SOC), annual net primary productivity (NPP) and atmospheric CO₂ turnover time (τ). Soil is confirmed as both the greatest sink and source for excess atmospheric CO₂. Most terrestrial NPP (~218 Gt C/yr) is ultimately processed in topsoil and SOC stocks now total >10,000–12,000 Gt. More excess carbon is released into the air and water from SOC loss (>20 Gt C/yr) due to land clearance for pasture/crops, fires, agrichemical poisoning and erosion, than from fossil fuels (~10 Gt C/yr). NOAA’s Barrow bounce and isotopic analyses support high terrestrial flux up to ~800 Gt C/yr and CO₂ turnover time of ~1–4 years. Earth’s re-humification via compost offers the best and only practical/time-critical fix for climate, strategy for species extinction plus remedy for human health.