Carbon storage in subalpine forests and meadows of the Olympic Mountains, Washington

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America

OSTI ID:95868

Prichard, S J; Peterson, D L ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)

We investigated carbon storage in high elevation ecosystems of the Olympic Mountains. A sharp precipitation gradient created by the Olympic mountain range allows for comparison of carbon storage in different climatic regimes and vegetation types. Carbon in soils, vegetation, and woody debris was examined in subalpine forests and meadows of the northeast (dry) and southwest (wet) Olympics. Soil carbon storage in high elevation sites appears to be considerably greater than most low elevation forests. Above-ground carbon storage is generally greater in southwest sites. Meadow soils contained high carbon concentrations in upper horizons, while forests also stored a substantial amount of carbon in lower horizons. Information gained from this study will provide a better understanding of soil-vegetation relationships in subalpine ecosystems, especially with respect to potential climatic change impacts.

• OSTI ID: 95868
• Report Number(s): CONF-9507129--
• Journal Information: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, Journal Name: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 76; ISSN BECLAG; ISSN 0012-9623
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CARBON
CLIMATIC CHANGE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
MOUNTAINS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS