Forests and Woodlands

Global Carbon Cycle and Distribution of Ecosystem Carbon

Pool - standing stock of Carbon

Flux - Movement of Carbon between pools

CO2 is 27% Carbon, plant biomass is around 50% Carbon

Soil organic Carbon declines upon conversion of natural soil to agriculture

Ecophysiological basis of ecosystem carbon sequestration/climate feedbacks

Soil organic carbon is long-term and large carbon storage.

Leaf area controls the amount of light absorbed.

Forests/Woodland responses

Massive mortality due to increasingly frequent drought

Increased risk of catastrophic fires

Increasingly severe storms/winds

Drought

Kills forests outright and makes forests more susceptible to other stresses (insects, disease, nutrient limitation, invasive species)