a Numerical Model of the Global Carbon Cycle to Predict Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentrations
Abstract
A numerical model of the global carbon cycle is presented which includes the effects of anthropogenic CO_2 emissions (CO_2 produced from fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning, and deforestation) on the global carbon cycle. The model is validated against measured atmospheric CO_2 concentrations. Future levels of atmospheric CO_2 are then predicted for the following scenarios: (1) Business as Usual (BaU) for the period 1990 -2000; (2) Same as (1), but with no biomass burning; (3) Same as (1), but with no fossil fuel combustion; (4) Same as (1), but with a doubled atmospheric CO_2 concentration and a 2 K warmer surface temperature associated with the doubled atmospheric CO_2 concentration. The global model presented here consists of four different modules which are fully coupled with respect to CO_2. These modules represent carbon cycling by the terrestrial biosphere and the ocean, anthropogenic CO_2 emissions, and atmospheric transport of CO_2.. The prognostic variable of interest is the atmospheric CO_2 concentration field. The CO_2 concentration field depends on both the sources and sinks of CO_2 as well as the atmospheric circulation. In addition, the sources and sinks vary significantly as a function of both time and geographic location. The model output agrees well with measured data at the equatorial and mid latitudes, but this agreement weakens at higher latitudes. This is due to the less adequate representation of the terrestrial ecosystem models at these latitudes. In the first scenario, the predicted concentration of atmospheric CO_2 is 362 parts per million by volume (ppmv) at the end of the 10 year model run. This establishes a baseline for the next three scenarios, which predict that biomass burning will contribute 3 ppmv of CO_2 to the atmosphere by the year 2000, while fossil fuel combustion will contribute 5 ppmv. The net effect of a 2 K average global warming was to increase the atmospheric CO_2 concentration by approximately 1 ppmv, due to enhanced respiration by the terrestrial biosphere.
- Publication:
-
Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- January 1995
- Bibcode:
- 1995PhDT.......132K
- Keywords:
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- FOSSIL FUELS;
- Environmental Sciences; Physics: Atmospheric Science; Biogeochemistry