Observing a vulnerable carbon cycle

• Main Authors: M. R. Raupach, J. G. Canadell
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: permafrost
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.172.5079; http://www.globalcarbonproject.org/global/pdf/pep/ObservingVulnerableC.2007.pdf

Abstract: This chapter sketches an analysis of the implications of carbon-climate vulnerability for carbon observation. Carbon-climate vulnerability is defined as a positive or disturbanceamplifying feedback between an aspect of the carbon cycle (a pool or flux) and physical climate, including atmosphere, oceans and the hydrological cycle. Focussing on processes influencing the atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and CH4, we survey the vulnerabilities of the terrestrial part of the global carbon cycle to perturbation under climate change. Important processes include respiration, fire, land use changes, peatlands, permafrost, and the effects of nutrient limitations. Together, these processes create a significant potential climate change impact (expressed as an estimated positive feedback between changes in temperature and atmospheric CO2 and CH4 concentrations) which is not negligible in comparison with projected direct consequences of anthropogenic emissions. An important requirement for a global carbon observation system is to track and quantify these vulnerabilities.