Carbon in live vegetation of major world ecosystems
A computerized data base was developed to make a seven-color global ecology map of 44 land ecosystem mosaics or subdivisions in seven broad groups. Our main objectives are to document this compouter-based global map of vegetation and carbon density for natural and modified complexes of ecosystems and to illustrate some human influences on the global carbon cycle. The map provides a basis for making improved estimates of vegetation areas and carbon quantities, of natural biological exchanges of CO/sub 2/, and eventually of the net historic shifts of carbon between the biosphere and the atmosphere. Estimates of biomass in trees and total carbon in live plants per unit area are tabulated. The results help define the role of the terrestrial biosphere in the global carbon cycle. Results also imply major historic reductions of global carbon for broad regions and most vegetation types. Lowered estimates of carbon due to forest harvest or clearing for crops in the last century imply lowered estimates of input of nonfossil CO/sub 2/ to the atmosphere.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 5963568
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/NBB-0037; ON: DE83015328
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Major World Ecosystem Complexes Ranked by Carbon in Live Vegetation: A Database (NDP-017) (2001 version of original 1985 data)
Olson's Major World Ecosystem Complexes Ranked by Carbon in Live Vegetation: An Updated Database Using the GLC2000 Land Cover Product (NDP-017b, a 2006 update of the original 1985 and 2001 data file)