Sensitivity of ecosystem CO₂ flux in the boreal forests of interior Alaska to climatic parameters

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Proceedings of the International Conference on the Role of the Polar Regions in Global Change

OSTI ID:7263877

Bonan, Gordon B. ^[1]

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1. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States)

An ecophysiological model of carbon uptake and release was used to examine CO₂ fluxes in 17 mature forests near Fairbanks, Alaska. Under extant climatic conditions, ecosystem CO₂ flux ranged from a loss of 212 g CO₂ m^-2 yr^-1 in a black spruce stand to an uptake of 2882 g CO₂ m^-2 yr^-1 in a birch stand. Increased air temperature resulted in substantial soil warming. Without concomitant increases in nutrient availability, large climatic warming reduced ecosystem CO₂ uptake in all forests. Deciduous and white spruce stands were still a sink for CO₂, but black spruce stands became, on average, a net source of CO₂. With increased nutrient availability that might accompany soil warming, enhanced tree growth increased CO₂ uptake in conifer stands.

• Research Organization: National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF)
• OSTI ID: 7263877
• Report Number(s): AD-P-007314/8/XAB
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the International Conference on the Role of the Polar Regions in Global Change, Vol. 2; Conference: International Conference on the Role of the Polar Regions in Global Change , Fairbanks, AK (United States), 11-15 Jun 1990; Other Information: This article is from 'Proceedings of the International Conference on the Role of the Polar Regions in Global Change Held in Fairbanks, Alaska on 11-15 June 1990. Volume 2', AD-A253 028, p391-395. See also Volume 1, AD-A253 027; Related Information: ISBN-13: 978-0915360109
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Alaska
carbon cycle
carbon dioxide
ecological concentration
ambient temperature
arctic regions
boreal regions
carbon sinks
climatic change
forests
mathematical models
nutrients
soils
terrestrial ecosystems
trees
tundra
carbon compounds
carbon oxides
chalcogenides
developed countries
ecosystems
North America
oxides
oxygen compounds
plants
polar regions
sinks
USA
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)