Last modified 11/09/2005
Birdsey, R.A.; Heath, L.S. 1995.
Carbon changes in U.S. forests. P. 56-70 in: Joyce, L.A., ed. Productivity of America’s forests and climate change.
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, General Technical Report RM-271, Ft. Collins, CO.
Global concern about increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), and the possible consequences of future climate changes, has generated interest in understanding and quantifying the role of terrestrial ecosystems in the global carbon cycle. Recent efforts to quantify the global carbon budget have revealed an unknown carbon sink of 2.0-3.4 billion metric tons/yr, of which some may be accounted for by changes in northern temperate forests (Tans et al. 1990). Estimates for European forests show a possible contribution of 5-9% of the “missing” carbon (Kauppi et al. 1992), and similar estimates for U.S. forests show a possible contribution of 12-21% of the unexplained flux since 1952 (Birdsey et al, 1993).
Return to Previous Screen:
HIT YOUR BROWSER'S BACK BUTTON