[Terrapreta] Global Carbon Cycle

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the offer.  I think we can work with that.

More later.

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tom Miles<mailto:tmiles at trmiles.com> 
  To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Friday, June 01, 2007 2:49 PM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Global Carbon Cycle


  Ron,

   

  One technique we can use is to put the data and text into a collaborative book. That is, each topic would have its own web section that could be added to and edited. Data can be attached in spreadsheets or tables. Either Sean could edit it overall or individuals could login and edit pages. Either way the information for each topic could be accumulated ad commented on. 

   

  I can set up a draft online if someone will provide a list of topics, topic descriptions, intial content and a list of references. 

   

  Tom

   

   

   

  From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org [mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Ron Larson
  Sent: Friday, June 01, 2007 11:59 AM
  To: Sean K. Barry; terrapreta at bioenergylists.org; Christoph Steiner
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Global Carbon Cycle

   

  Sean -

   

      1.  Thanks for taking the lead on this.  In response to your request below,  I'd like to work on this data summary exercise with you (including the subject of rationales that should enter the economic calculations).

   

      2.  I haven't found anything wrong with any of your numbers - but have seen some that differ a tad.  I think it will be helpful to show most everyone's numbers, if we can.

   

      3.  As an example, Tom Miles has quoted the "official" US future cellulosic biomass availability of about 1 GT/yr.  I have read (actually closer to skimming that full report), and believe that number was pretty conservative.  The idea of terra preta is nowhere in that document - so they are avoiding counting many residues, which if going to TP would improve the soil they are (justifuably) trying to protect. I believe energy plantations are largely excluded, and the forestry contribution seems (intuitively) low-balled.   I wouldn't be surprised if we could double or triple the 1 GT annual biomass availability figure for the US.  I am sure we can find other experts who will dispute the US availability statistic.  We must if we are to get close to the Lehmann upper value of 9+ GT/yr of "wedge" C-offset.

   

     4.  The area I have found most confusing and I have not seen in your summary so far relates to the multiplier that we should place on added future biomass growth due to charcoal sequestration.  In one of Johannes Lehmann's papers (details from me coming later), he attributes a multiplier of three to eleven to work by his collaborator at Cornell: John Gaunt.  I talked to John at the IAI conference - and believe the result to be likely credible - but no details on the methodology used have yet appeared.  This is a huge factor, with probably the greatest present level of uncertainty.  But the TP in Brazil tells me that over thousands of years that a factor of 11 is on the low side.

   

      5.  I like what you have said recently about NOx emissions - and can report this was a bombshell announcement in Australia - enough (without CO2 ever being discussed) to justify TP.  We saw several examples in Australia of sensors to detect NOx and CO2 emissions reductions after charcoal sequestration - so I think you data base has to get into this area as well (as I think you indicated).

   

     6.  I will make a better effort at re-reading your nice start - but don't recall enough emphasis on the employment topic.  I believe this can be a huge impact in selling the TP area in political circles - as demonstrated by the way Bill Clinton justifies RE emphasis.  So data on employment and income may be needed and useful.  This result will vary by country a lot - so we are talking about a world-wide data base in many ways.  (It is pretty hard even to find the current price of charcoal anywhere in any part of the production-sales chain.)

   

  Again - thanks for volunteering to take on this hard task - and I look forward to working with you on it.     Ron

   

  (ps - I'll bet Tom Miles has a preferred way of posting and updating this data set that we need to keep in mind. Tom?)

   

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