Contribution of increasing CO2 and climate to carbon storage by ecosystems in the United States

Journal Article
Contribution of increasing CO2 and climate to carbon storage by ecosystems in the United States
Schimel, D., J. Melillo, H. Tian, D. McGuire, D. Kicklighter, et al. (2000)
Science, 287: 2004-2006

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Abstract/Summary:

The effects of increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) and climate on net carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems of the conterminousUnited States for the period 1895-1993 were modeled with new,detailed historical climate information. For the period 1980-1993,results from an ensemble of three models agree within 25%, simulatinga land carbon sink from CO2and climate effects of 0.08 gigatonof carbon per year. The best estimates of the total sink frominventory data are about three times larger, suggesting that processessuch as regrowth on abandoned agricultural land or in forestsharvested before 1980 have effects as large as or larger thanthe direct effects of CO2and climate. The modeled sink variesby about 100% from year to year as a result of climate variability.

© 2000 American Association for the Advancement of Science

Citation:

Schimel, D., J. Melillo, H. Tian, D. McGuire, D. Kicklighter, et al. (2000): Contribution of increasing CO2 and climate to carbon storage by ecosystems in the United States. Science, 287: 2004-2006 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.287.5460.2004)
  • Journal Article
Contribution of increasing CO2 and climate to carbon storage by ecosystems in the United States

Schimel, D., J. Melillo, H. Tian, D. McGuire, D. Kicklighter, et al.

Science
287: 2004-2006

Abstract/Summary: 

The effects of increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) and climate on net carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems of the conterminousUnited States for the period 1895-1993 were modeled with new,detailed historical climate information. For the period 1980-1993,results from an ensemble of three models agree within 25%, simulatinga land carbon sink from CO2and climate effects of 0.08 gigatonof carbon per year. The best estimates of the total sink frominventory data are about three times larger, suggesting that processessuch as regrowth on abandoned agricultural land or in forestsharvested before 1980 have effects as large as or larger thanthe direct effects of CO2and climate. The modeled sink variesby about 100% from year to year as a result of climate variability.

© 2000 American Association for the Advancement of Science

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