Title: Transient Traceability Analysis of Land Carbon Storage Dynamics: Procedures and Its Application to Two Forest Ecosystems

Abstract

Uptake of anthropogenically emitted carbon (C) dioxide by terrestrial ecosystem is critical for determining future climate. However, Earth system models project large uncertainties in future C storage. To help identify sources of uncertainties in model predictions, this study develops a transient traceability framework to trace components of C storage dynamics. Transient C storage (X) can be decomposed into two components, C storage capacity (X_c) and C storage potential (X_p). X_c is the maximum C amount that an ecosystem can potentially store and Xp represents the internal capacity of an ecosystem to equilibrate C input and output for a network of pools. X_c is codetermined by net primary production (NPP) and residence time (τ_N), with the latter being determined by allocation coefficients, transfer coefficients, environmental scalar, and exit rate. X_p is the product of redistribution matrix (τ_ch) and net ecosystem exchange. We applied this framework to two contrasting ecosystems, Duke Forest and Harvard Forest with an ecosystem model. This framework helps identify the mechanisms underlying the responses of carbon cycling in the two forests to climate change. The temporal trajectories of X are similar between the two ecosystems. Using this framework, we found that different mechanisms lead to a similar trajectorymore » between the two ecosystems. Furthermore, this framework has potential to reveal mechanisms behind transient C storage in response to various global change factors. Furthermore, tt can also identify sources of uncertainties in predicted transient C storage across models and can therefore be useful for model intercomparison.« less

Authors:

Jiang, Lifen  ^[1];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-1546-8189"

Shi, Zheng  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Shi, Zheng"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-5067-9977"

Xia, Jianyang ^[3]; Liang, Junyi ^[4]; Lu, Xingjie ^[1]; Wang, Ying ^[5]; Luo, Yiqi ^[6]

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1. Center for Ecosystem Science and Society Northern Arizona University Flagstaff AZ USA
2. Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology University of Oklahoma Norman OK USA
3. School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences East China Normal University Shanghai China
4. Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology University of Oklahoma Norman OK USA, Environmental Science Division and Climate Change Science Institute Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge TN USA
5. Department of Mathematics University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma USA
6. Center for Ecosystem Science and Society Northern Arizona University Flagstaff AZ USA, Department of Earth System Science Tsinghua University Beijing China

Publication Date:

Mon Dec 04 00:00:00 EST 2017

Research Org.:

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1411262

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1411263; OSTI ID: 1468037

Grant/Contract Number:  

DE‐SC0008270; DE‐SC0014085; EF 1137293; OIA‐1301789; AC05-00OR22725

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems Journal Volume: 9 Journal Issue: 8; Journal ID: ISSN 1942-2466

Publisher:

American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

58 GEOSCIENCES; carbon storage capacity; carbon storage potential; model intercomparison; residence time; traceability analysis; transient carbon dynamics