Potential significance of tropical organic soils for the carbon balance of the terrestrial biosphere

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5468757

Armentano, T V

A major question concerned with the terrestrial component of the world carbon cycle is the extent to which different carbon pools act as sources or sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide. Emphasis has been placed on tropical and temperate forests which contain over 75% of the carbon stored in the terrestrial biosphere (Ajtay et al. 1979). Although there is considerable uncertainty about rates, increased clearing of tropical forests is probably reducing the total quantity of stored carbon, creating a net carbon source. Other ecosystems such as grasslands, savannahs and wetlands also are contributing to biospheric carbon exchange. Pressures for development of tropical wetlands are mounting as food requirements rise (Thompson 1979, Howard-Williams 1976). In some areas, particularly in Africa and southeast Asia, nearly all well-drained, arable lands are already fully utilized. Thus whether tropical wetlands are operating as net carbon sinks or net carbon sources depends on the extent to which they are being altered. This paper reviews available data on tropical wetlands in relation to the carbon cycle and identifies organic soil deposits for which additional data are needed for a complete analysis of the present and future carbon balance.

• Research Organization: Institute of Ecology, Indianapolis, IN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-81EV10725
• OSTI ID: 5468757
• Report Number(s): DOE/EV/10725-2; CONF-8110167-1; ON: DE82011827
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON CYCLE
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ECOSYSTEMS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
LAND USE
ORGANIC MATTER
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION SOURCES
SINKS
SOILS
TROPICAL REGIONS
WETLANDS