Carbon Dynamics in Forest Ecosystems

The accumulation of carbon within a forest growth cycle can be considered in four stages. The initial establishment stage involves low global carbon cycle accumulation and may even experience net carbon loss (particularly from soil) as a result of site preparation and low biomass and bioenergy inputs. A rapid uptake of carbon is then experienced during the second phase, known as the full vigor stage, which subsequently levels off as the stand reaches the mature stage. Finally, the forest reaches old growth and the carbon is in steady state with accumulation associated with new growth balanced by mortality and disturbances. (more…)

Greenhouse Gases Sources and Climate Change

climate change greenhouse gases
It is of interest to examine potential sources of greenhouse gases sources or atmospheric CO2 by analysis of the global distribution of carbon in all its forms. Atmospheric carbon, which can be assumed to be essentially all in the form of CO2 (i.e., 700 Gt carbon equals 2570 Gt of CO2) comprises only about 1.6% of total global carbon, excluding lithospheric carbon. Obvious greenhouse gases sources of direct or indirect additions of CO2 to the atmosphere are therefore fossil fuel deposits, since portions of them are combusted each year as fuels, and terrestrial biomass. (more…)

Global Carbon Cycle and Photosynthetic Considerations

global carbon cycle
The global carbon cycle involves both biological and physical processes. Only the biological components are discussed here. Plants and other photosynthetic organisms assimilate CO2 and eventually convert the CO2 to simple sugars. From simple sugars, (more…)

Atmospheric CO2 Level and Global Climate System Implications

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The flux of carbon among terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric pools is at least partially controlled by photosynthetic processes. The relative carbon pool sizes have major effects on global climate system. The CO2 flux among land, sea, and atmosphere has, since the industrial revolution, been disturbed by a rapid injection of (more…)