Simple global carbon model: The atmosphere-terrestrial biosphere-ocean interaction

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Global Biogeochemical Cycles

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/94GB00768· OSTI ID:96052

Kwon, O Y; Schnoor, J L ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (United States)

A simple global carbon model has been developed for scenario analysis, and research needs prioritization. CO{sub 2} fertilization and temperature effects are included in the terrestrial biosphere compartment, and the ocean compartment includes inorganic chemistry which, with ocean water circulation, enables the calculation of time-variable oceanic carbon uptake. Model-derived Q{sub 10} values (the increasing rate for every 10{degrees}C increase of temperature) are 1.37 for land biota photosynthesis, 1.89 for land biota respiration, and 1.95 for soil respiration, and feedback temperature is set at 0.01{degrees}C/ppm of CO{sub 2}. These could be the important parameters controlling the carbon cycle in potential global warming scenarios. Scenario analysis, together with sensitivity analysis of temperature feedback, suggests that if CO{sub 2} emissions from fossil fuel combustion continue at the present increasing rate of {approximately}1.5% per year, a CO{sub 2} doubling (to 560 ppm) will appear in year 2060. Global warming would be responsible for 40 Gt as carbon (Gt C) accumulation in the land biota, 88 Gt C depletion from the soil carbon, a 7 Gt C accumulation in the oceans, and a 19 ppm increase in atmospheric CO{sub 2}. The ocean buffering capacity to take up the excess CO{sub 2} will decrease with the increasing atmospheric CO{sub 2} concentration. 51 refs., 8 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 96052
• Journal Information: Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Journal Name: Global Biogeochemical Cycles Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 8; ISSN 0886-6236; ISSN GBCYEP
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR-BIOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CARBON
CARBON CYCLE
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OCEANIC CIRCULATION
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE