Aspects of spatial and temporal aggregation in estimating regional carbon dioxide fluxes from temperate forest soils

Journal Article · Thu Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93JD02964· OSTI ID:81541

Kicklighter, D W; Melillo, J M; Peterjohn, W T; Rastetter, E B; McGuire, A D; Steudler, P A ^[1]; Aber, J D ^[2]

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1. Ecosystems Center, Woods Hole, MA (United States)
2. Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (United States)

We examine the influence of aggregation errors on developing estimates of regional soil-CO{sub 2} flux from temperate forests. We find daily soil-CO{sub 2} fluxes to be more sensitive to changes in soil temperatures (Q{sub 10} = 3.08) than air temperatures (Q{sub 10} = 1.99). The direct use of mean monthly air temperatures with a daily flux model underestimates regional fluxes by approximately 4%. Temporal aggregation error varies with spatial resolution. Overall, our calibrated modeling approach reduces spatial aggregation error by 9.3% and temporal aggregation error by 15.5%. After minimizing spatial and temporal aggregation errors, mature temperate forest soils are estimated to contribute 12.9 Pg C yr{sup {minus}1} to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Georeferenced model estimates agree well with annual soil-CO{sub 2} fluxes measured during chamber studies in mature temperate forest stands around the globe. 75 refs., 8 figs., 5 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 81541
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 99, Issue D1; Other Information: PBD: 20 Jan 1994
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CARBON DIOXIDE
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
ABUNDANCE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SOILS
CARBON SOURCES
TEMPERATE ZONES
FORESTS
SPATIAL RESOLUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE