Research issues in grazing lands under changing climate. Volume 12, Part 16. Environmental and societal consequences of a possible CO/sub 2/-induced climate change

Technical Report · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6585714

Pendleton, D F; Van Dyne, G M

A study has been made of issues and researchable questions regarding the influence of potential CO/sub 2/-induced climatic change on grazing lands. Generalized scenarios of possible changes in climate in grazing land regions of the world were constructed based on published and ongoing investigations. These studies were of two general types: (i) general circulation climate, and (ii) analyses of historical data for periods which were warmer than average current conditions, based on the assumption that global warming can be expected. A review of scenarios derived from recent research suggests that surface temperature may increase and precipitation may decrease in some important grazing land regions of the world. Research needs related specifically to climate in grazing lands were discussed. In the second workship, scientists discussed individual abiotic, autotrophic, and heterotrophic processes. Potential studies of these processes which were discussed included (i) work in the laboratory and the field, (ii) modelling, and (iii) analysis and synthesis of existing data bases and scientific literature. Both biological and socio-economic issues were discussed. Several overall conclusions were derived including the following: a planned, time-phased, and integrated study would be desirable to obtain the greatest amount of information for the least amount of funding in future investigations; a relatively small interdisciplinary group should be assembled consisting of individuals with backgrounds in such areas as meteorology, plant ecology, animal ecology, range science, economics, sociology, and systems analysis, and should operate over perhaps 10 years and draw upon specific short-term contractual inputs.

• Research Organization: Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins (USA). Dept. of Range Science
• DOE Contract Number: AS01-79EV10019
• OSTI ID: 6585714
• Report Number(s): DOE/EV/10019-16-Vol.2; ON: DE83004723
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATES
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GRAZING
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RANGELANDS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS