Carbon in Amazon Forests: Unexpected Seasonal Fluxes and Disturbance-Induced Losses
Planetary Science Institute · Harvard University · +5 more institutions
Abstract
The net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide was measured by eddy covariance methods for 3 years in two old-growth forest sites near Santarém, Brazil. Carbon was lost in the wet season and gained in the dry season, which was opposite to the seasonal cycles of both tree growth and model predictions. The 3-year average carbon loss was 1.3 (confidence interval: 0.0 to 2.0) megagrams of carbon per hectare per year. Biometric observations confirmed the net loss but imply that it is a transient effect of recent disturbance superimposed on long-term balance. Given that episodic disturbances are characteristic of old-growth forests, it is likely that carbon sequestration is lower than has been inferred from recent…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 36.71
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 40
Authors
18- SRS. R. SaleskaCorresponding
Planetary Science Institute, Harvard University, University of New Hampshire, Universidade de São Paulo, University of California, Irvine, Irvine University, Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento
- SDS. D. Miller
Planetary Science Institute, Harvard University, University of New Hampshire, Universidade de São Paulo, University of California, Irvine, Irvine University, Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento
- DMD. M. Matross
Planetary Science Institute, Harvard University, University of New Hampshire, Universidade de São Paulo, University of California, Irvine, Irvine University, Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento
- MLMichael L. Goulden
Planetary Science Institute, Harvard University, University of New Hampshire, Universidade de São Paulo, University of California, Irvine, Irvine University, Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento
- SCSteven C. Wofsy
Planetary Science Institute, Harvard University, University of New Hampshire, Universidade de São Paulo, University of California, Irvine, Irvine University, Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento
Topics & keywords
- Eddy covariance
- Environmental science
- Amazon rainforest
- Disturbance (geology)
- Carbon sequestration
- Ecosystem
- Carbon cycle
- Atmospheric sciences
- Life in Land