Showing papers by "Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research published in 1993"
TL;DR: In this article, a number of studies have estimated current and future patterns of terrestrial carbon storage and the potential role of forest management and landuse practices on carbon conservation and sequestration.
Abstract: There is great uncertainty with regard to the future role of the terrestrial biosphere in the global carbon cycle. The uncertainty arises from both an inadequate understanding of current pools and fluxes as well as the potential effects of rising atmospheric concentrations of CO2 on natural ecosystems. Despite these limitations, a number of studies have estimated current and future patterns of terrestrial carbon storage. Future estimates focus on the effects of a climate change associated with a doubled atmospheric concentration of CO2. Available models for examining the dynamics of terrestrial carbon storage and the potential role of forest management and landuse practices on carbon conservation and sequestration are discussed.
126 citations
TL;DR: The processes controlling total carbon (C) storage and release from the terrestrial biosphere are still poorly quantified as discussed by the authors, but they are known to be dominated by slow processes of C sequestration in soils, possibly modified by C starvation and reduced water use efficiency of trees.
Abstract: The processes controlling total carbon (C) storage and release from the terrestrial biosphere are still poorly quantified. We conclude from analysis of paleodata and climate-biome model output that terrestrial C exchanges since the last glacial maximum (LGM) were dominated by slow processes of C sequestration in soils, possibly modified by C starvation and reduced water use efficiency of trees during the LGM. Human intrusion into the C cycle was immeasurably small. These processes produced an averaged C sink in the terrestrial biosphere on the order of 0.05 Pg yr-1 during the past 10,000 years.
57 citations
TL;DR: The relationship of the Central European temperature distribution field to large-scale circulation, represented by the North Atlantic sea-level pressure (SLP) field, is investigated by means of a Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The Central European temperature distribution field, as given by 11 stations [Fana, Hamburg, Potsdam, Jena , Frankfurt Uccle, Hohenpeioenberg, Praha (Prague) Wien (Vienna), Zunch and Geneve (Geneva)] , IS analyzed rwth respect to its year-to-year vanab~l i ty January-February (JF) average temperatures are considered for the interval 1901-1980 An Empirical Orthogonal Functlon (EOF) analys~s reveals that the J F temperature variability is almost entirely controlled by one entlrely positive EOF The second EOF represents only 7 % of the total vanance and descnbes a north-south gradlent The time coefficient of the first EOF IS almost stationary whereas the second pattern describes a slight downward trend at the northern statlons and a slight upward trend at the southern stations The relationship of the temperature field to large-scale circulation, represented by the North At lant~c/ European sea-level pressure (SLP) field, is investigated by means of a Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA). Two CCA pairs are Identified which account for most of the temperature year-to-year variance and w h c h suggest plaus~ble mechanisms The CCA pairs fail, however, to consistently link the long-term temperature trends to changes in the large-scale circulation In the output of a 100 yr run with a coupled atmosphere-ocean model (ECHAMl/LSG), the same CCA pairs are found, but the strength of the link between Central European temperature and North Atlantic SLP is markedly weaker than in the observed data.
41 citations