[Terrapreta] CO2 rising

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Dave,

I have read something like this too, but it was in regard to "old growth" or mature forests.  Mature forests have more decaying matter in them than younger, faster growing forests.  Also, "old growth" forests grow slower, taking in less CO2.  On balance an "old growth" forests may become a "net emitter" of CO2 into the atmosphere.

I think there are some questions remaining, though.  Jon Frank just said this eloquently, that even though CO2 emissions might increase, the ecology may still be storing more carbon into the soil, than is emitted as CO2.  I think too, that there is a possibility that environmental temperatures could play an important part in regulating the fluxes of carbon from/to the biome and to/from the atmosphere.

Frank Teuton, Tom Miles, and/or Lou Gold might be able to shed more light on this subject for you.  I believe that they all have had substantial experience in forestry.  Please forgive me, Frank, Tom, or Lou, if I am wrong about that.


Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: code suidae<mailto:codesuidae at gmail.com> 
  To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:16 AM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] CO2 rising


  I read an article sometime in the past year or so that described how
  forest can become net carbon emitters as global temperatures rise. I
  have been unable to find the article again, but IIRC they were
  describing research done on European forests.

  Unfortunately I don't recall the description of how the rising
  temperatures caused the forests to become net emitters.

  Anyone familiar with this idea?

  Dave K
  -- 
  "Our ignorance is not so vast as our failure to use what we know." -
  M. King Hubbert

  On 9/20/07, Sean K. Barry <sean.barry at juno.com<mailto:sean.barry at juno.com>> wrote:
  > The ever increasing rate of increase is what is called an "exponential
  > growth curve".  Exponential growth curves are very common in natural
  > systems.
  >
  > From: David Yarrow
  > > not only is CO2 rising, but the rate of increase is increasing.  the CO2
  > > graph is an upturning curve, not a flat line.  and we have entered the phase
  > > when the vertical component of the curve exceeds the horizontal -- the
  > > "knee" of the curve.

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