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State of the Carbon Cycle - Consequences of Rising Atmospheric CO2The rise of atmospheric CO2, largely attributable to human activity through fossil fuel emissions and land-use change, has been dampened by carbon uptake by the ocean and terrestrial biosphere. We outline the consequences of this carbon uptake as direct and indirect effects on terrestrial and oceanic systems and processes for different regions of North America and the globe. We assess the capacity of these systems to continue to act as carbon sinks. Rising CO2 has decreased seawater pH; this process of ocean acidification has impacted some marine species and altered fundamental ecosystem processes with further effects likely. In terrestrial ecosystems, increased atmospheric CO2 causes enhanced photosynthesis, net primary production, and increased water-use efficiency. Rising CO2 may change vegetation composition and carbon storage, and widespread increases in water use efficiency likely influence terrestrial hydrology and biogeochemical cycling. Consequences for human populations include changes to ecosystem services including cultural activities surrounding land use, agricultural or harvesting practices. Commercial fish stocks have been impacted and crop production yields have been changed as a result of rising CO2. Ocean and terrestrial effects are contingent on, and feedback to, global climate change. Warming and modified precipitation regimes impact a variety of ecosystem processes, and the combination of climate change and rising CO2 contributes considerable uncertainty to forecasting carbon sink capacity in the ocean and on land. Disturbance regime (fire and insects) are modified with increased temperatures. Fire frequency and intensity increase, and insect lifecycles are disrupted as temperatures move out of historical norms. Changes in disturbance patterns modulate the effects of rising CO2 depending on ecosystem type, disturbance frequency, and magnitude of events. We discuss management strategies designed to limit the rise of atmospheric CO2 and reduce uncertainty in forecasts of decadal and centennial feedbacks of rising atmospheric CO2 on carbon storage.
Document ID
20170000318
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Moore, David J. (Arizona Univ. AZ, United States)
Cooley, Sarah R. (Ocean Conservancy, Inc. Washington, DC, United States)
Alin, Simone R. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Highlands, NJ, United States)
Brown, Molly (Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Butman, David E. (Washington Univ. Seattle, WA, United States)
French, Nancy H. F. (Michigan Technological Univ. Houghton, MI, United States)
Johnson, Zackary I. (Duke Univ. NC, United States)
Keppel-Aleks (Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Lohrenz, Steven E. (Massachusetts Univ. North Dartmouth, MA, United States)
Ocko, Ilissa (Environmental Defense Fund, Inc. CO, United States)
Shadwick, Elizabeth H. (Virginia Inst. of Marine Science Gloucester Point, VA, United States)
Sutton, Adrienne J. (Joint Inst. for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean Seattle, WA, United States)
Potter, Christopher S. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Yu, Rita M. S. (Washington Univ. Seattle, WA, United States)
Date Acquired
January 11, 2017
Publication Date
December 12, 2016
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN38157
Meeting Information
Meeting: AGU Fall Meeting 2016
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: December 12, 2016
End Date: December 16, 2016
Sponsors: American Geophysical Union
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Carbon Cycle
Consequences
Atmospheric CO2

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