Carbon regulation

Different sizes of Carbon Sinks

Tundra:
Low rates of Net Primary Productivity (NPP) - uptake of carbon from the atmosphere with most carbon stored in the permafrost

Tundra
Greatest threat to this store is rising temperatures in this areas which may thaw the permafrost and release carbon into the atmosphere

Soils

Tundra
In the Tundra, the main flux of carbon is from the biomass to the litter but very little is lost from the litter as there is little water output

Tundra
As permafrost begins to melt with climate change the tundra may see greater fluxes of carbon as run-off and leaching increases

Boreal forest
Low rates of NPP (2.6-4.6) - most of the carbon is stored in soil

Boreal forest:

  • the greatest threat to this store producing carbon emissions is fires, logging or mining as this would remove trees from the area which is how carbon is stored

Temperate forest - This has a moderate NPP (4.6-9.1) with the majority of the carbon being stored in biomass above and undergrounds (roots of plants)

Temperate forest - the biggest threat to this store is historic losses (which are caused by humans) but these are now mainly ceased

Temperate grasslands - these have intermediate levels of NPP (3.4-7.0) - with the majority of this carbon being stored in soils

Temperate grasslands - the greatest threat is degradation of livestock and crops - essentially animals and crops ruining soils

Deserts and dry shrub land - these have slow rates of NPP (0.5-3.5) - infact the slowest - the majority of this carbon is stored in soils also

The biggest threat to these carbon stores would be fires as this would burn the shrubs and ruin soil preventing crops from growing in the future

Savannah and tropical grasslands - these have high rates of NPP (14.9-19.2) - with most of the carbon being stored in soil

The biggest threat would be fires as it would burn and destroy grasslands, followed by conversion to pasture/crops

Tropical forests - have the higher rates of NPP (16.0-23.1) - with most of the carbon being stored above ground biomass - 547.8 GIGATONNES

The biggest threat would be the deforestation of these forests for land and agriculture, minerals and also hydroelectric power

Wetlands/peatlands - the rates of NPP here are not estimated - most of the carbon is stored in soils - 550 GIGATONNES

The biggest threat here would be drainage for land use, or conversion to agriculture, fire, fuel and fertiliser use - overpopluation - rising middle-class in BRIC countries demanding more meat - CHINA moving from chicken to beef consumption - BIOFUELS

Oceans - also NPP is not estimated - mostly stored in deep oceans

The biggest threat would be a decreasing uptake capacity - adding onto this degrading coastal zones becoming sources of carbon

Deciduous forest EG in the UK - Relative balance in biomass and soil stores - fluxes operate over many years

Selva-tropical rainforest EG Amazonia - Rapid cycling over days and months, the main store in biomass

Desert - EG Sahara - Arid arid and therefore slow fluxes - soil dominates the storage

Steppe - EG Russia and USA - Temperate grasslands and therefore nutrient rich soil