Biogeochemistry of CO2 exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere

Conference · Fri Oct 28 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6787676

Dale, V H; Houghton, R A

Changes in the amount of carbon stored in terrestrial ecosystems are, in part, responsible for the increase in atmospheric CO2levels. The most important changes due to shifts in global forest biomass as a result of land clearing or other changes in land use. The pattern of land-use change and its effects on carbon release from terrestrial ecosystems have varied over time. Carbon releases from terrestrial ecosystems which result from land-use changes are difficult to quantify accurately because of uncertainties in (1) rates of land clearing and abandonment, (2) estimates of the carbon stored in biomass of managed and unmanaged ecosystems, and (3) rates of change in carbon storage following conversion from one land use to another. Furthermore, a feedback loop exists between atmospheric CO2 levels and forests because elevated CO2 and its accompanying climate change are likely to alter global forest growth and, consequently, carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems. 48 refs., 7 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6787676
• Report Number(s): CONF-880912-25; ON: DE89005122
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
140504 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOMASS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON CYCLE
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
CLIMATES
DISTRIBUTION
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEEDBACK
FORESTS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
LAND USE
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS