Factors controlling long- and short-term sequestration of atmospheric CO2 in a mid-latitude forest

Net uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) measured by eddy covariance in a 60- to 80-year-old forest averaged 2.0 +/- 0.4 megagrams of carbon per hectare per year during 1993 to 2000, with interannual variations exceeding 50%. Biometry indicated storage of 1.6 +/- 0.4 megagrams of carbon per hectare per ye...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2001-11, Vol.294 (5547), p.1688-1691
Main Authors: BARFORD, Carol C, WOFSY, Steven C, GOULDEN, Michael L, MUNGER, J. William, PYLE, Elizabeth Hammond, URBANSKI, Shawn P, HUTYRA, Lucy, SALESKA, Scott R, FITZJARRALD, David, MOORE, Kathleen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Atmosphere - analysis
Biomass
Biometry
Carbon - metabolism
Carbon Dioxide - metabolism
Climate
Earth, ocean, space
Ecosystem
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Meteorology
New England
Nitrogen - analysis
Other topics in atmospheric geophysics
Probability
Seasons
Soil - analysis
Time Factors
Trees - growth & development
Trees - metabolism
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Net uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) measured by eddy covariance in a 60- to 80-year-old forest averaged 2.0 +/- 0.4 megagrams of carbon per hectare per year during 1993 to 2000, with interannual variations exceeding 50%. Biometry indicated storage of 1.6 +/- 0.4 megagrams of carbon per hectare per year over 8 years, 60% in live biomass and the balance in coarse woody debris and soils, confirming eddy-covariance results. Weather and seasonal climate (e.g., variations in growing-season length or cloudiness) regulated seasonal and interannual fluctuations of carbon uptake. Legacies of prior disturbance and management, especially stand age and composition, controlled carbon uptake on the decadal time scale, implying that eastern forests could be managed for sequestration of carbon.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1062962