Articles | Volume 18, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-131-2026
© 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/essd-18-131-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Data description paper
| 
06 Jan 2026
Data description paper |
| 06 Jan 2026
| 06 Jan 2026
A global dataset of soil organic carbon mineralization in response to incubation temperature changes
Shuai Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Control and Safety, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Mingming Wang
State Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Control and Safety, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Jinyang Zheng
State Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Control and Safety, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
State Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Control and Safety, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Information Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Freezing and thawing can speed soil carbon loss in cold regions, and climate change is altering how often these events occur. We incubated soils from different depths under freeze–thaw patterns and measured carbon dioxide release and dissolved carbon. Thaw bursts weakened with repeated cycles, yet higher frequency produced more total carbon loss. Dissolved carbon best predicted losses at all depths, while deeper soils relied more on enzymes and surface soils on organic matter protection.
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Short summary
We compiled a global dataset of soil carbon release rates from lab incubations across 721 soils and various temperatures. Many experiments did not reflect real-world conditions, especially for deeper soils and realistic temperature ranges. Simulation experiments showed that both carbon properties and environmental constraints equally drive temperature sensitivity. Current climate models miss these patterns, but our findings can help improve predictions of soil carbon responses to warming.
We compiled a global dataset of soil carbon release rates from lab incubations across 721 soils...
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