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Natural Sinks of CO2 pp 365–383Cite as

The Transient Response of Vegetation to Climate Change: A Potential Source of CO2 to the Atmosphere

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Abstract

Global climate change as currently simulated could result in the broad-scale redistribution of vegetation across the planet. Vegetation change could occur through drought-induced dieback and fire. The direct combustion of vegetation and the decay of dead biomass could result in a release of carbon from the biosphere to the atmosphere over a 50- to 150- year time frame. A simple model that tracks dieback and regrowth of extra-tropical forests is used to estimate the possible magnitude of this carbon pulse to the atmosphere. Depending on the climate scenario and model assumptions, the carbon pulse could range from 0 to 3 Gt of C yr-1. The wide range of pulse estimates is a function of uncertainties in the rate of future vegetation change and in the values of key model parameters.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ManTech Environmental Technology Inc., USA

    George A. King

  2. U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR, 97333, USA

    Ronald P. Neilson

Authors
  1. George A. King
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  2. Ronald P. Neilson
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Wisniewski and Associates, Inc., 6862 McLean Province Circle, Falls Church, VA, 22043, USA

    Joe Wisniewski

  2. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Call Box 25000, 00928-2500, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

    Ariel E. Lugo

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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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King, G.A., Neilson, R.P. (1992). The Transient Response of Vegetation to Climate Change: A Potential Source of CO2 to the Atmosphere. In: Wisniewski, J., Lugo, A.E. (eds) Natural Sinks of CO2 . Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2793-6_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2793-6_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5240-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-2793-6

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