Deep Unsaturated Zone Contributions to Carbon Cycling in Semiarid Environments
Abstract
Abstract Understanding terrestrial carbon cycling has relied primarily on studies of topsoils that are typically characterized to depths shallower than 0.5 m. At a semiarid site instrumented down to 7 m, we measured seasonal‐ and depth‐resolved carbon inventories and fluxes and groundwater and unsaturated zone flow rates. Measurements showed that ~30% of the CO 2 efflux to the atmosphere (60% in winter) originates from below 1 m, contrary to predictions of less than 1% by Earth System Model land modules. Respiration from deeper roots and deeper microbial communities is supported by favorable subsurface temperatures, moisture, and oxygen availability. Below 1 m, dissolved organic carbon fluxes from the overlying soil and C from deep roots and exudates are expected to be important in sustaining microbial respiration. Because these conditions are characteristic of semiarid climate regions, we contend that Earth System Model land modules should incorporate such deeper soil processes to improve CO 2 flux predictions.
- Authors:
-
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1];
[1]
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Earth and Environment Sciences Area
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1479368
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1472185
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231; DE‐AC02‐05CH11231
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 123; Journal Issue: 9; Journal ID: ISSN 2169-8953
- Publisher:
- American Geophysical Union
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; carbon cycling; deep unsaturated zone; semiarid environments; carbon fluxes; ESM land modules; DOC flux
Citation Formats
Wan, Jiamin, Tokunaga, Tetsu K., Dong, Wenming, Williams, Kenneth H., Kim, Yongman, Conrad, Mark E., Bill, Markus, Riley, William J., and Hubbard, Susan S. Deep Unsaturated Zone Contributions to Carbon Cycling in Semiarid Environments. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1029/2018JG004669.
Wan, Jiamin, Tokunaga, Tetsu K., Dong, Wenming, Williams, Kenneth H., Kim, Yongman, Conrad, Mark E., Bill, Markus, Riley, William J., & Hubbard, Susan S. Deep Unsaturated Zone Contributions to Carbon Cycling in Semiarid Environments. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JG004669
Wan, Jiamin, Tokunaga, Tetsu K., Dong, Wenming, Williams, Kenneth H., Kim, Yongman, Conrad, Mark E., Bill, Markus, Riley, William J., and Hubbard, Susan S. Tue .
"Deep Unsaturated Zone Contributions to Carbon Cycling in Semiarid Environments". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JG004669. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1479368.
@article{osti_1479368,
title = {Deep Unsaturated Zone Contributions to Carbon Cycling in Semiarid Environments},
author = {Wan, Jiamin and Tokunaga, Tetsu K. and Dong, Wenming and Williams, Kenneth H. and Kim, Yongman and Conrad, Mark E. and Bill, Markus and Riley, William J. and Hubbard, Susan S.},
abstractNote = {Abstract Understanding terrestrial carbon cycling has relied primarily on studies of topsoils that are typically characterized to depths shallower than 0.5 m. At a semiarid site instrumented down to 7 m, we measured seasonal‐ and depth‐resolved carbon inventories and fluxes and groundwater and unsaturated zone flow rates. Measurements showed that ~30% of the CO 2 efflux to the atmosphere (60% in winter) originates from below 1 m, contrary to predictions of less than 1% by Earth System Model land modules. Respiration from deeper roots and deeper microbial communities is supported by favorable subsurface temperatures, moisture, and oxygen availability. Below 1 m, dissolved organic carbon fluxes from the overlying soil and C from deep roots and exudates are expected to be important in sustaining microbial respiration. Because these conditions are characteristic of semiarid climate regions, we contend that Earth System Model land modules should incorporate such deeper soil processes to improve CO 2 flux predictions.},
doi = {10.1029/2018JG004669},
journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences},
number = 9,
volume = 123,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 04 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Tue Sep 04 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
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