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Quantifying, Understanding and Managing the Carbon Cycle in the Next Decades

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Abstract

The human perturbation of the carbon cycle via the release of fossil CO2 and land use change is now well documented and agreed to be the principal cause of climate change. We address three fundamental research areas that require major development if we were to provide policy relevant knowledge for managing the carbon-climate system over the next few decades. The three research areas are: (i) carbon observations and multiple constraint data assimilation; (ii) vulnerability of the carbon-climate system; and (iii) carbon sequestration and sustainable development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research, Global Carbon Project, Earth Observation Centre, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

    Josep G. Canadell

  2. Laboratorie des Sciences du Climat et du l’Environnement, Centre d’Etudes de l’Orme des Merisiers - Bat 709, Gif sur Yvette, 91191, France

    Philippe Ciais

  3. Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, Met Office, Fitzroy Road, Exeter, Devon EX10 9SQ, United Kingdom

    Peter Cox

  4. Max-Planck-Institut for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knö-str. 10, PF 100164, Jena D-07701, Germany

    Martin Heimann

Authors
  1. Josep G. Canadell
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  2. Philippe Ciais
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  3. Peter Cox
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  4. Martin Heimann
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Correspondence to Josep G. Canadell.

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Canadell, J.G., Ciais, P., Cox, P. et al. Quantifying, Understanding and Managing the Carbon Cycle in the Next Decades. Climatic Change 67, 147–160 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-004-3765-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-004-3765-y

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