A review of the role of temperate forests in the global CO sub 2 balance
- Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station USDA Forest Service, Fort Collins, CO (United States)
The role of temperate forests in the global carbon balance is difficult to determine because many uncertainties exist in the data, and many assumptions must be made in these determinations. Still, there is little doubt that increases in atmospheric CO{sub 2} and global warming would have major effects on temperate forest ecosystems. Increases in atmospheric CO{sub 2} may result in increases in photosynthesis, changes in water and nitrogen use efficiency, and changes in carbon allocation. Indirect effects of changes in global carbon balance on regional climate and on microenvironmental conditions, particularly temperature and moisture, may be more important then direct effects of increased CO{sub 2} on vegetation. Increased incidence of forest perturbations might also be expected. The evidence suggests that conditions favorable to forest growth and development may exist in the northern latitudes, while southern latitude forests may undergo drought stress. Current harvest of temperate and world forests contributes substantial amounts of carbon to the atmosphere, possibly as much as 3 gigatons (Gt) per year. Return of this carbon to forest storage may require decades. Forest managers should be aware of the global as well as local impact their management decisions will have on the atmospheric carbon balance of the ecosystems they oversee.
- OSTI ID:
- 5146704
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (United States), Vol. 41:8; ISSN 1047-3289
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
BIOSPHERE
CARBON CYCLE
CARBON DIOXIDE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
DECISION MAKING
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
FORESTS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PLANT GROWTH
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLIMATIC CHANGE
EARTH PLANET
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GROWTH
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PLANETS
SYNTHESIS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety