How Does Climate Change Affect Biomass Accumulation in Boreal

Ecosystems?

Earth Science B Period2012

• CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere are rising due to human activity (IPCC 2007)

Introduction

Temperature Anomaly animation from http://studentclimatedata.unh.edu

(www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/)

• Climate models predict a large increase in temperature in the boreal regions of Canada by 2099

Research Question:

How does climate change affect biomass accumulation in boreal ecosystems?

Hypothesis

As temperature and precipitation increase in boreal ecosystems (due to climate change), the biomass accumulation will also increase.

MODEL INPUTS:Temperature

Current: -6.85°CFuture: -0.716°C

PrecipitationCurrent: 851.92 mmFuture: 1066.53 mm

Biome (turnover rate)Boreal Forest/Taiga (0.01)

Methods•Used the Biomass Accumulation Model to determine biomass accumulation and carbon storage

•Model uses temperature, precipitation, and turnover rate to determine biomass and productivity

•Latitude: 55.08 Longitude: -71.37

Biomass Accumulation Model Map

Results

•Under current conditions, final biomass was 20609 g/m2 and carbon storage was 10304.5 g C/m2

•Under future conditions, final biomass was 31403 g/m2 and carbon storage was 15701.5 g C/m2

Future conditions

Current conditions

Discussion

•Hypothesis was supported by the modeling investigation

•Model results showed an increase in biomass and carbon storage under elevated temperature and precipitation in boreal regions

•Changes in temperature and precipitation may alter the species composition of boreal ecosystems, influencing the carbon storage of this region

•Including more factors (e.g., species type, soil, human impacts) in the model would likely improve our predictions of biomass and carbon storage

Questions?

Works Cited:

IPCC. 2007. Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report.

Martin, ME et al. 2012. Student Climate Data. Available from: http://studentclimatedata.unh.edu. Accessed April 12, 2012.