Can we accurately predict plant and ecosystem response to elevated carbon dioxide and climate change?
- Duke Univ., Durham, NC (United States). Dept. of Botany
Society`s ability to prepare ecological policy and mitigation strategies depends largely on the ability of climate and ecosystem researchers to provide reasonable predictions of regional-level ecosystem responses with sufficient confidence and adequate lead time. However, global change issues, such as the effects of increased CO{sub 2} on ecosystems--and even broader questions, e.g., how much CO{sub 2} will increase and how the various biogeospheric pools of carbon will change--are extremely complex ones that involve translating information across a variety of spatial and temporal scales. While the direct effects of a particular change may be focused primarily at a single scale (e.g., leaf), the potential ramifications of the change are likely to be seen at many higher, and possibly, lower scales (e.g., herbivory, soil carbon, etc.). Can ecosystem models be coupled to climate models to produce meaningful predictions? How does one account for unknowns and uncertainties in one`s understanding?
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG05-92ER61493
- OSTI ID:
- 182833
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940426-; ISBN 0-923204-11-3; TRN: IM9608%%198
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International conference on global climate change: science, policy and mitigation strategies, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 5-8 Apr 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Global climate change: Science, policy, and mitigation strategies. Proceedings of the Air and Waste Management Association international specialty conference; Mathai, C.V. [ed.] [Arizona Public Service Co., Phoenix, AZ (United States)]; Stensland, G. [ed.] [Illinois State Water Survey, Champaign, IL (United States)]; PB: 1117 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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