Function: Carbon balance

Carbon balances have been studied in ecosystem level for a long time but still there are great differences between results depending on the used methods.

Research on Finnish mires on carbon balances haven't been done much. The results seem to vary at differrent times and space.

Carbon balances in soils also vary greatly. Different years soils can be either carbon sink or source. Soils are mainly considered as carbon sink, storing estimately ca. 20 million tons of carbon a year.

In inland water ecosystems it is estimated that estimatedly 60 000 tons of carbon is stored in sediments. However, the amount of released carbon is studied to be bigger, making inland waters merely a carbon source.