Carbon Sequestration
Akilah MartinFall 2005
Outline
Pre-Assessment Student learning goals Carbon Sequestration Background Century Model Overview What is Expected of Students Assignment/Scenario Example Simulation
Student Learning GoalsThrough this project students will be able to:
(1) Understand the use of models in analyzing and predicting solutions to real-world, complex problems
(2) Understand carbon sequestration processes
(3) Correlate tillage practices, soil texture, weather, and cropping sequences with optimal carbon sequestration strategies
(4) Enhance student’s decision-making skills
(5) Be able to use the concepts, generate ideas and apply what was learned in their future environmental careers
Defining Carbon Sequestration
Process of transforming carbon in the air (carbon dioxide or CO2) into soil carbon
Long-term storage of carbon in the terrestrial biosphere, underground, or the oceans so that the buildup of carbon dioxide (the principal greenhouse gas) concentration in the atmosphere will be reduced Removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere
into sinks (i.e. soil) is one way of addressing climate change
Reference: http://cdiac2.esd.ornl.gov/
Carbon Facts
In the past 6060 years, the amount of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted to the atmosphere, primarily because of expanding use of fossil fuels for energy, has risen from pre-industrial levels of 280 parts per million to present levels of over 365 parts per million This increase has been implicated in a gradual increase in the
Earth’s temperature
In 1998, the US released 5.4 tonnes of carbon per capita, European countries averaged around 1.9 tonnes and Africa emitted 0.3 tonnes.
1 tonne = 1,000kg1 tonne = 1,000kg
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3617868.stm
http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/MAPS.html
http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/envscinotes8.html
http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/envscinotes8.html
Carbon Storage Facts
Soils store about 3X as much carbon as does terrestrial vegetation
27% of this carbon is found in tundra and boreal forest ecosystems
The grassland region, which includes arid, transitional and sub-humid grassland, stores considerably less carbon than the more northern regions
Carbon Facts
Plants and trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere by the process photosynthesis.
Carbon is returned to the atmosphere through respiration of plants, microbes, and animals and by natural and human-induced disturbances, such as fire.
Carbon is also released to the atmosphere as Carbon Dioxide (CO2) upon combustion of fossil fuels.
Reference:http://www.scottishforestalliance.org.uk/carbon/factsheets.asp
Atmospheric Carbon
Atmospheric Carbon goes to: Oceans, soil, and plants
Atmospheric Carbon comes from: Burning fossil fuels, soil organic carbon
decomposition, and deforestation
Global Warming
The Earth's surface temperature has risen by 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades.
Atmospheric greenhouse gases water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases Human activities
CO2 accounts for 80% of the greenhouse gas emissions
Reference: http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/climate.html
http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/envscinotes8.html
Global Warming
Industrial revolution atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have increased
nearly 30% methane concentrations have more than doubled nitrous oxide concentrations have risen by about 15%
Enhanced the heat-trapping capability of the earth's atmosphere Sulfate aerosols cool the atmosphere by reflecting light back
into space Sulfates are short-lived in the atmosphere and vary
regionally.
Greenhouse EffectEmissions primarily of CO2 and methane
http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/envscinotes8.html
Processes of the “Greenhouse Effect”
Source of Carbonhttp://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/C/CarbonCycle.html
Greenhouse Gases Facts
Water vapor, nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide, and ozone
Methane traps over 21 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide
Nitrous oxide absorbs 270 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide
Impacts on Agriculture
http://www.fao.org/NEWS/FACTFILE/FF9721-E.HTM
Carbon Sources and Sinks
Sources Sinks
Industry (air pollution)Human Activity (Farming)AutomobilesFossil Fuel Burning
OceansSoilsForests
Reference: http://www.netl.doe.gov/coalpower/sequestration/
Potential Carbon Sinks
Fossil Fuel Burning Emissions
http://www.whrc.org/carbon/
Sources/Sinks of C-sequestration
Reference: http://www.wri.org/wri/climate/carboncy.html
Excessive carbon in the atmosphere has been a major contributor to global warming
Atmospheric Carbon
http://www.met-office.gov.uk/research/hadleycentre/models/carbon_cycle/intro_global.html
World Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Region2001-2025
(Million Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalent)
CENTURY Model (USDA-ARS)
Colorado State University Research Group Model used to analyze carbon sequestration
optimization Web enabled Linked to Purdue ITaP supercomputing facility Century Website
http://www.nrel.colostate.edu/projects/century/
About the Model….
Understanding of the biogeochemistry of Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
Provide a tool for ecosystem analysis to test the consistency of data (i.e. soil carbon) and to
evaluate the effects of changes in management and climate on ecosystems
Simulates….
Long-term and spatial dynamics of Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Sulfur (S) for different Plant-Soil Systems through an annual cycle to centuries and millennia
Features grassland systems agricultural crop systems forest systems savanna systems
Scaling of Site Properties
We are defining the term “scale” in this project as the many combinations of climate, texture, tillage and crops
From location to location, site properties change Those site properties include
Tillage Soil texture Climate Crop
Website
ExpectationsAfter completion of assignment students are expected to:
Understand the concepts of carbon sequestration
Make decisions on carbon sequestration using the tools provided
State a hypothesis, test the hypothesis using the model and make decisions based on results