Agricultural and forestry trade drives large share of tropical deforestation emissions

Deforestation, the second largest source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, is largely driven by expanding forestry and agriculture. However, despite agricultural expansion being increasingly driven by foreign demand, the links between deforestation and foreign demand for agricultural commodities have only been partially mapped. Here we present a pan-tropical quantification of carbon emissions from deforestation associated with the expansion of agriculture and forest plantations, and trace embodied emissions through global supply chains to consumers. We find that in the period 2010–2014, expansion of agriculture and tree plantations into forests across the tropics was associated with net emissions of approximately 2.6 gigatonnes carbon dioxide per year. Cattle and oilseed products account for over half of these emissions. Europe and China are major importers, and for many developed countries, deforestation emissions embodied in imports rival or exceed emissions from domestic agriculture. Depending on the trade model used, 29–39% of deforestation-related emissions were driven by international trade. This is substantially higher than the share of fossil carbon emissions embodied in trade, indicating that efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from land-use change need to consider the role of international demand in driving deforestation. Additionally, we find that deforestation emissions are similar to, or larger than, other emissions in the carbon footprint of key forest-risk commodities. Similarly, deforestation emissions constitute a substantial share (˜15%) of the total carbon footprint of food consumption in EU countries. This highlights the need for consumption-based accounts to include emissions from deforestation, and for the implementation of policy measures that cross these international supply-chains if deforestation emissions are to be effectively reduced.     

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Hydroelectric Reservoirs in Tropical Regions

This paper discusses emissions by power-dams in the tropics. Greenhouse gas emissions from tropical power-dams are produced underwater through biomass decomposition by bacteria. The gases produced in these dams are mainly nitrogen, carbon dioxide and methane. A methodology was established for measuring greenhouse gases emitted by various power-dams in Brazil. Experimental measurements of gas emissions by dams were made to determine accurately their emissions of methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) gases through bubbles formed on the lake bottom by decomposing organic matter, as well as rising up the lake gradient by molecular diffusion.The main source of gas in power-dams reservoirs is the bacterial decomposition (aerobic and anaerobic) of autochthonous and allochthonous organic matter that basically produces CO₂ and CH₄. The types and modes of gas production and release in the tropics are reviewed.     

Forests in a warming world: A time for new policies

Forests contain more than twice as much carbon as the atmosphere and process through their metabolism about 1/7 of the atmospheric carbon annually. Deforestation currently is adding carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide at an increasing rate and causing the impoverishment of soils over large areas in the tropics. But deforestation is also occurring in the temperate and boreal forests. In most cases deforestation is the result of national policies. It proceeds in the United States in response to economic pressures and political weakness, even corruption.The re-establishment of forests has the potential for contributing to the stabilization of the composition of the atmosphere by removing carbon as carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it on land for an indefinite period. Such a transition in land use is difficult to imagine in a world in which the human population is expanding continuously and impoverished land is accumulating.Global interests in management of forests introduce a new element into international relations. Progress in effecting the shifts in controls on land use required to control deforestation in the interests of stabilizing climate and preserving biotic resources will depend on clear definition of the details of the problem by the scientific community and a further definition of how to proceed.     

大气圈碳循环的模拟研究进展

碳元素是地球生命的重要组成元素,而大气中的ＣＯ２是生命物质中碳元素的最主要来源,它也是引起气候长期变化的外强迫作用中最主要的温室气体,观测资料表明,在工业革命后,由于人类工农业活动的影响,大气圈中ＣＯ２含量增加很快。了解碳的源汇分布,大气圈碳循环动力机制以及碳循环与气候系统的相互作用,并进一步了解碳循环在整个地球系统内的作用过程十分重要。本文综合了近年来一关于碳循环在整个地球系统内的作用过程十分重     

A regional and global analysis of carbon dioxide physiological forcing and its impact on climate

An increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has both a radiative (greenhouse) effect and a physiological effect on climate. The physiological effect forces climate as plant stomata do not open as wide under enhanced CO₂ levels and this alters the surface energy balance by reducing the evapotranspiration flux to the atmosphere, a process referred to as ‘carbon dioxide physiological forcing’. Here the climate impact of the carbon dioxide physiological forcing is isolated using an ensemble of twelve 5-year experiments with the Met Office Hadley Centre HadCM3LC fully coupled atmosphere–ocean model where atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are instantaneously quadrupled and thereafter held constant. Fast responses (within a few months) to carbon dioxide physiological forcing are analyzed at a global and regional scale. Results show a strong influence of the physiological forcing on the land surface energy budget, hydrological cycle and near surface climate. For example, global precipitation rate reduces by ~3% with significant decreases over most land-regions, mainly from reductions to convective rainfall. This fast hydrological response is still evident after 5 years of model integration. Decreased evapotranspiration over land also leads to land surface warming and a drying of near surface air, both of which lead to significant reductions in near surface relative humidity (~6%) and cloud fraction (~3%). Patterns of fast responses consistently show that results are largest in the Amazon and central African forest, and to a lesser extent in the boreal and temperate forest. Carbon dioxide physiological forcing could be a source of uncertainty in many model predicted quantities, such as climate sensitivity, transient climate response and the hydrological sensitivity. These results highlight the importance of including biological components of the Earth system in climate change studies.     

Nocturnal CO2 exchange over a tall forest canopy associated with intermittent low-level jet activity

Summary Nocturnal eddy-covariance carbon dioxide fluxes have uncertainties arising from non-stationary atmospheric processes. Low-level jets (LLJ) are one of the prominent nocturnal boundary-layer phenomena observed over non-mountainous terrain, and are capable of generating shear and turbulence close to the ground. The influence of intermittent LLJ activity on nocturnal carbon dioxide exchange measurements is investigated using wind profile observations and eddy-covariance flux measurements over a tall forest canopy. Results suggest that the buildup and venting of CO₂ are closely associated with LLJ activity during the night. Of significance in quantifying nocturnal fluxes, this paper demonstrates how low-level jet activity introduces sporadic coupling between the canopy and the atmosphere.     

A coupled model study on the intensification of the Asian summer monsoon in IPCC SRES Scenarios

The Asian summer monsoon is an important part of the climate system. Investigating the response of the Asian summer monsoon to changing concentrations of greenhouse gases and aerosols will be meaningful to understand and predict climate variability and climate change not only in Asia but also globally. In order to diagnose the impacts of future anthropogenic emissions on monsoon climates, a coupled general circulation model of the atmosphere and the ocean has been used at the Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology. In addition to carbon dioxide, the major well mixed greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, several chlorofluorocarbons, and CFC substitute gases are prescribed as a function of time. The sulfur cycle is simulated interactively, and both the direct aerosol effect and the indirect cloud albedo effect are considered. Furthermore, changes in tropospheric ozone have been pre-calculated with a chemical transport model and prescribed as a function of time and space in the climate simulations. Concentrations of greenhouse gases and anthropogenic emissions of sulfur dioxide are prescribed according to observations （1860-1990） and projected into the future （1990-2100） according to the Scenarios A2 and B2 in Special Report on Emissions Scenarios （SRES, Nakcenovic et al., 2000） developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change （IPCC）. It is found that the Indian summer monsoon is enhanced in the scenarios in terms of both mean precipitation and interannual variability. An increase in precipitation is simulated for northern China but a decrease for the southern part. Furthermore, the simulated future increase in monsoon variability seems to be linked to enhanced ENSO variability towards the end of the scenario integrations.     

Comparative analysis of geo-engineering approaches to climate stabilization

Geo-engineering approaches to modern climate stabilization, irrelative to the Kyoto Protocol measures, are under consideration. Conditionally, these approaches are subdivided into two groups: purposive changes in the Earth radiation balance to compensate the greenhouse gas effect and removal of the excessive amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The first group includes such methods as injection of sulfate and other reflecting aerosols into the stratosphere, creation of orbital reflectors or reflectors at the Lagrange point, an increase in cloudiness over the World Ocean, and a change in the Earth surface albedo. Increased carbon dioxide uptake by forests, ocean, and artificial absorbers are considered within the second group. The methods considered were subject to a comparative analysis using the following criteria: possible fast realization, the ability to counteract the doubling of greenhouse gases, availability of natural analogs, impact on geophysical systems within natural variations, the absence of unacceptable ecological implications, possibility, if necessary, to immediately halt the action. The comparison showed that the use of stratospheric sulfate aerosols can be the most effective. It is emphasized that all geo-engineering directions can be realized simultaneously with the measures stipulated by the Kyoto Protocol.     

Biotic Feedbacks in the Warming of the Earth

A positive correlation exists between temperature and atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane over the last 220,000 years of glacial history, including two glacial and three interglacial periods. A similar correlation exists for the Little Ice Age and for contemporary data. Although the dominant processes responsible may be different over the three time periods, a warming trend, once established, appears to be consistently reinforced through the further accumulation of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere; a cooling trend is reinforced by a reduction in the release of heat-trapping gases. Over relatively short periods of years to decades, the correspondence between temperature and greenhouse gas concentrations may be due largely to changes in the metabolism of terrestrial ecosystems, whose respiration, including microbial respiration in soils, responds more sensitively, and with a greater total effect, to changes in temperature than does gross photosynthesis. Despite the importance of positive feedbacks and the recent rise in surface temperatures, terrestrial ecosystems seem to have been accumulating carbon over the last decades. The mechanisms responsible are thought to include increased nitrogen mobilization as a result of human activities, and two negative feedbacks: CO₂ fertilization and the warming of the earth, itself, which is thought to lead to an accumulation of carbon on land through increased mineralization of nutrients and, as a result, increased plant growth. The relative importance of these mechanisms is unknown, but collectively they appear to have been more important over the last century than a positive feedback through warming-enhanced respiration. The recent rate of increase in temperature, however, leads to concern that we are entering a new phase in climate, one in which the enhanced greenhouse effect is emerging as the dominant influence on the temperature of the earth. Two observations support this concern. One is the negative correlation between temperature and global uptake of carbon by terrestrial ecosystems. The second is the positive correlation between temperature and the heat-trapping gas content of the atmosphere. While CO₂ fertilization or nitrogen mobilization (either directly or through a warming-enhanced mineralization) may partially counter the effects of a warming-enhanced respiration, the effect of temperature on the metabolism of terrestrial ecosystems suggests that these processes will not entirely compensate for emissions of carbon resulting directly from industrial and land-use practices and indirectly from the warming itself. The magnitude of the positive feedback, releasing additional CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O, is potentially large enough to affect the rate of warming significantly.     

The carbon-sequestration potential of a global afforestation program

We analyzed the changes in the carbon cycle that could be achieved with a global, largescale afforestation program that is economically, politically, and technically feasible. We estimated that of the areas regarded as suitable for large-scale plantations, only about 345 million ha would actually be available for plantations and agroforestry for the sole purpose of sequestering carbon. The maximum annual rate of carbon fixation (1.48 Gt/yr) would only be achieved 60 years after the establishment of the plantations - 1.14 Gt by above-ground biomass and 0.34 Gt by below-ground biomass. Over the period from 1995 to 2095, a total of 104 Gt of carbon would be sequestered. This is substantially lower than the amount of carbon required to offset current carbon emissions (3.8 Gt/yr) in order to stabilize the carbon content of the atmosphere.     

The steric component of sea level rise associated with enhanced greenhouse warming: a model study

Climate change due to enhanced greenhouse warming has been calculated using the coupled GFDL general circulation model of the atmosphere and ocean. The results of the model for a sustained increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide of 1% per year over a century indicate a marked warming of the upper ocean. Results of the model are used to study the rise in sea level caused by increase in ocean temperatures and associated changes in ocean circulation. Neglecting possible contributions due to changes in the volume of polar ice sheets and mountain glaciers, the model predicts an average rise in sea level of approximately 15 ± 5 cm by the time atmospheric carbon dioxide doubles. Heating anomalies are greatest in subpolar latitudes. This effect leads to a weakening of the ocean thermohaline circulation. Changes in thermohaline circulation redistribute heat within the ocean from high latitudes toward the equator, and cause a more uniform sea level rise than would occur otherwise.     

Emissions, Concentrations, & Temperature: A Time Series Analysis

We use recent advances in time series econometrics to estimate the relation among emissions of CO₂ and CH₄, the concentration of these gases, and global surface temperature. These models are estimated and specified to answer two questions; (1) does human activity affect global surface temperature and; (2) does global surface temperature affect the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide and/or methane. Regression results provide direct evidence for a statistically meaningful relation between radiative forcing and global surface temperature. A simple model based on these results indicates that greenhouse gases and anthropogenic sulfur emissions are largely responsible for the change in temperature over the last 130 years. The regression results also indicate that increases in surface temperature since 1870 have changed the flow of carbon dioxide to and from the atmosphere in a way that increases its atmospheric concentration. Finally, the regression results for methane hint that higher temperatures may increase its atmospheric concentration, but this effect is not estimated precisely.     

Changes in Heat Index Associated with CO2-Induced Global Warming

Changes in Heat Index (a combined measure of temperature and humidity) associated with global warming are evaluated based on the output from four extended integrations of the GFDL coupled ocean-atmosphere climate model. The four integrations are: a control with constant levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂), a second integration in which an estimate of the combined radiative forcing of greenhouse gases and sulfate aerosols over the period 1765–2065 is used to force the model, and a third (fourth) integration in which atmospheric CO₂$ increases at the rate of 1% per year to double (quadruple) its initial value, and is held constant thereafter. While the spatial patterns of the changes in Heat Index are largely determined by the changes in surface air temperature, increases in atmospheric moisture can substantially amplify the changes in Heat Index over regions which are warm and humid in the Control integration. The regions most prone to this effect include humid regions of the Tropics and summer hemisphere extra-tropics, including the southeastern United States, India, southeast Asia and northern Australia.     

THE ABSORPTION OF SOLAR RADIATION BY AEROSOL ATMOSPHERE

The two-stream approximation is applied to solve the multiple scattered radiation transfer equationsfor an inhomogeneous aerosol atmosphere.The accurate absorption of water vapor,ozone,carbon dioxideand molecular oxygen is calculated.Calculations have been carried out band by band for the beating rateof atmosphere.The results show that the effect of aerosols on solar heating of the atmosphere is significant.     

北京大气中主要温室气体近10年变化趋势

对1993～2002年10年间北京市大气中三种主要温室气体的监测数据进行分析,研究二氧化碳、甲烷和氧化亚氮这三种温室气体浓度的变化趋势,并初步探讨了造成这种变化的原因.分析结果表明:北京市大气二氧化碳浓度总体是上升趋势,且后5年增长较快;大气甲烷浓度前5年缓慢上升,后5年转为下降,总体已是下降趋势;与大气二氧化碳变化趋势相似,大气氧化亚氮总体也是上升趋势,后5年增长较快.     

Public support for carbon dioxide removal strategies: the role of tampering with nature perceptions

Climatic Change - Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) describes a suite of controversial approaches to mitigating climate change that involve removing existing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Through...     

Global change strategy options in the extensive agriculture regions of the world

The extensive agricultural regions contain relatively little of the world's carbon and their main influence on atmospheric composition is via biomass burning in the more humid regions of the tropics, and methane from cattle production. In terms of direct feedback influence on climate their effects are via opaqueness of the atmosphere (dust and aerosols) and the albedo of the surface. Change in these regions is brought about by the separate and (especially) interactive effects of climate, fire and herbivory. Likely changes in productivity, vegetation structure and soil erosion will lead to some changes in stored carbon and feedback effects. Possible increased cultivation of marginal areas is an important unknown.Management options include livestock numbers, type and distribution, fire regimes, woody vegetation clearing, subsistence cropping and rehabilitation measures. Response strategies in line with IPCC goals include reducing stocking rates, halting clearing of woody plants, reducing fire frequencies and (where cropping is practised) use of zero-tillage. A modelling approach is suggested as a basis for examining which responses are appropriate, given that most managers in these regions have very few options and the regions contribute relatively little to the control of the world's climate.     

Modeling Methane Emissions from Paddy Rice Fields under Elevated Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Conditions

Methane(CH4 ) emissions from paddy rice fields substantially contribute to the dramatic increase of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.Due to great concern about climate change,it is necessary to predict the effects of the dramatic increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide(CO2 ) on CH4 emissions from paddy rice fields.CH4MOD 1.0 is the most widely validated model for simulating CH4 emissions from paddy rice fields exposed to ambient CO2(hereinafter referred to as aCO2 ).We upgraded the model to CH4MOD 2.0 b...     

An investigation into the mechanisms of changes in mid-latitude mean sea level pressure as greenhouse gases are increased

When greenhouse gases are increased in coupled GCM experiments there is both a direct effect and an indirect effect due to changes in the surface conditions. In this study we carry out experiments with a perpetual winter atmosphere only model in order to investigate the influence of changes to the surface conditions (sea surface temperatures, sea-ice and snow amount) on the Northern Hemisphere winter mid-latitude mean sea level pressure response. The surface conditions for the perpetual winter model experiments are prescribed from time averages of the HadCM2 control and greenhouse gas experiments. Forcing the perpetual winter model with the HadCM2 greenhouse gas surface conditions produces a negative mean sea level pressure (MSLP) response across both Northern Hemisphere ocean basins, as was found in the coupled model HadCM2 experiment. Additional PW model experiments show that the sea surface temperature forcing from the HadCM2 greenhouse gas experiment dominates the snow and soil moisture content forcings. The sea-ice forcing from the HadCM2 greenhouse gas experiment reduces MSLP at high latitudes. In the north Pacific region MSLP decreases when the global mean warming is applied to the sea surface temperature forcing field at all open sea points. In the north Atlantic region the increased tropics to mid-latitude meridional sea surface temperature gradient is required for MSLP to decrease. These experiments show that the MSLP response in the Northern Hemisphere mid-latitude storm track regions is sensitive to the non-local sea surface temperature anomaly pattern.     

北京市两种主要温室气体浓度的日变化

通过对北京地区CH4和CO2浓度日变化将近一年的连续监测和数据分析,发现它们日变化从总体上来看具有较强的规律性,CO2的日变化有明显的双峰结构,而CH4则是单峰的结构。化石燃料的燃烧,对CO2日变化峰值出现的时间有着明显的影响,且CH4和CO2的日变化具有较好的相关性。源汇强度的变化和昼夜气象因素的周期变化,是两种温室气体形成稳定日变化形式的主要因子。