Global ecosystem carbon losses from earthquakes

Earthquakes disrupt terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage by triggering landslides and altering land cover, yet a global quantification of these carbon losses has been lacking. Here we quantify the global earthquake-induced carbon losses by combining vegetation models, land cover, carbon density, and earthquake records. Focusing on strong earthquakes worldwide between 2006 and 2018, we find that these events cause a cumulative loss of 38.86 ± 6.23 teragrams of carbon by 2022. Forest ecosystems require at least six years to begin recovery. These carbon losses are unevenly distributed across countries, with 84.6% of affected countries being emerging and developing economies. In Nepal and Ecuador, cumulative earthquake-induced carbon losses exceed half of their cumulative land-use change emissions during the post-earthquake period. Our study establishes a global benchmark for carbon losses from geophysical disturbances, offering a crucial reference for national carbon accounting and disaster resilience strategies.