• \
    Start Submission Become a Reviewer

    Reading: A global-scale simulation of the CO2 exchange between the atmosphere and the terrestrial bio...

    Download

     A- A+
    Alt. Display

    Original Research Papers

    A global-scale simulation of the CO2 exchange between the atmosphere and the terrestrial biosphere with a mechanistic model including stable carbon isotopes, 1953–1999

    Author:

    Akihiko Ito

    Frontier Research System for Global Change, 3173-25 Showa-machi, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0001, JP
    X close

    Abstract

    This paper presents the results of a simulation with a mechanistic terrestrial ecosystem model, focusing on the atmosphere—biosphere exchange and stable isotope composition of carbon. The simulation was performed from 1953 to 1999 on the basis of observed climate data and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration and stable carbon isotope ratio (δ13C). The model, termed Sim-CYCLE, captures carbon dynamics from photosynthetic assimilation to microbial decomposition, including seasonal and interannual variability. Photosynthetic discrimination effect on δ13C was considered at three levels: (1) leaf-level fractionation, (2) canopy-level CO2 recycling and (3) continent-level C3/C4 pattern. The 47-yr simulation estimated that the average gross CO2 flux was 121 Pg C yr−1, and that the average photosynthetic δ13C discrimination coefficient (Δ) was 18.2%. A sensitivity analysis indicated that the estimated Δ depends heavily on the parameterization of stomatal conductance and C3/C4 composition. In spite of their small biomass, C4 plants contributed considerably to the biospheric productivity and belowground carbon supply. The estimated net CO2and isotopic exchange of the terrestrial ecosystems corresponded, at least qualitatively, with observed atmospheric CO2 and its δ13C seasonal patterns in the Northern Hemisphere. The gross CO2 fluxes of photosynthesis and respiration indicated a wide range of interannual variability, which was in a sufficient magnitude to induce anomalies in the atmospheric CO2 growth rate. The estimated Δ showed a wide range of latitudinal and longitudinal variations and seasonal oscillation, but little interannual change. However, during the 47-yr period, the estimated δ13C of carbon pools decreased by 0.3%, while the δ13C of atmospheric CO2 decreased by 0.7%. These results carry implications for the application of a top-down approach, i.e. the double-deconvolution method, to inferring the global terrestrial CO2 budget.

    How to Cite: Ito, A., 2003. A global-scale simulation of the CO2 exchange between the atmosphere and the terrestrial biosphere with a mechanistic model including stable carbon isotopes, 1953–1999. Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 55(2), pp.596–612. DOI: http://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v55i2.16757
      Published on 01 Jan 2003
    Peer Reviewed
     CC BY 4.0
     Accepted on 27 Aug 2002            Submitted on 27 Dec 2001

    References

    1. Agren , G. I. , Bosatta , E. and Balesdent , J. 1996. Isotope dis-crimination during decomposition of organic matter: a the-oretical analysis. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 30, 1121 – 1126.  

    2. Andres , R. J. , Fielding , D. J. , Marland , G. , Boden , T. A. , Kumar , N. and Kearney , A. T . 1999 . Carbon dioxide emis-sions from fossil-fuel use, 1751-1950 . Tellus 51B , 759 – 765 .  

    3. Bakwin , P. S. , Tans , P. P. , White, J. W. C. and Andres, R. J. 1998. Determination of the isotopic (13C/12C) discrimina-tion by terrestrial biology from a global network of obser-vations. Global Biogeochem. Cycles 12, 555 – 562.  

    4. Battle , M. , Bender , M. L. , Tans , P. P. , White , J. W. C. , Ellis , J. T. , Conway , T. and Francey , R. J. 2000. Global carbon sinks and their variability inferred from atmospheric 02 and 313C. Science 287, 2467 – 2470.  

    5. Bazzaz , F. A . 1996 . Plants in changing environment . Cam-bridge University Press , Cambridge .  

    6. Bird , M. I. , Chivas , A. R. and Head , J. 1996. A latitudinal gradient in carbon turnover times in forest soils. Nature 381, 143 – 146.  

    7. Buchmann , N. and Kaplan , J . 0. 2001. Carbon isotope dis-crimination of terrestrial ecosystems—How well do ob-served and modeled results match? In: Global biogeo-chemical cycles in the climate system (eds. E.-D. Schulze, M. Heimann, S. Harrison, E. Holland, J. Lloyd, I. C. Prentice and D. Schimel). Academic Press, San Diego, 253 – 266  

    8. Caldwell , M. M. , White , R. S. , Moore , R. T. and Camp , L. B . 1977 . Carbon balance, productivity, and water use of cold-winter desert shrub communities dominated by C3 and C4 species . Oecologia 29 , 275 – 300 .  

    9. Cavagnaro , J. B . 1988 . Distribution of C3 and C4 grasses at different altitudes in a temperate arid region of Argentina . Oecologia 76 , 273 – 277 .  

    10. Ciais , P. , Tans , P. R , White , J. W. C. , Trolier , M. , Francey , R. J. , Berry , J. A. , Randall , D. R. , Sellers , P. J. , Collatz , J. G. and Schimel , D. S . 1995 . Partitioning of ocean and land uptake of CO2 as inferred by 313C measurements from the NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Labora-tory Global Air Sampling Network . J. Geophys. Res . 100 , 5051 – 5070 .  

    11. Ciais , R , Friedlingstein , R , Schimel , D. S. and Tans , P. P . 1999 . A global calculation of the 313C of soil respired carbon: implications for the biospheric uptake of anthro-pogenic CO2 . Global Biogeochem. Cycles 13 , 519 – 530 .  

    12. Collatz , G. J. , Berry , J. A. and Clark , J. S . 1998 . Effects of climate and atmospheric CO2 partial pressure on the global distribution of C4 grasses: present, past, and future . Oecologia 114 , 441 – 454 .  

    13. Cramer , W. , Kicklighter , D. W. , Bondeau , A. , Moore, B. Churkina , G. , Nemry , B. , Ruimy , A. , Schloss , A. L. and Potsdam NPP model intercomparison participants 1999. Comparing global NPP models of terrestrial net pri-mary productivity (NPP): overview and key results. Global Change Biol. 5 (suppl. 1), 1 – 15  

    14. Ehleringer , J. R. and Cerling , T. E . 1995 . Atmospheric CO2 and the ratio of intercellular to ambient CO2 concentration in plants . Tree Physiol . 15 , 105 – 111 .  

    15. Ehleringer , J. R. , Cerling , T. E. and Helliker , B. R . 1997 . C4 photosynthesis, atmospheric CO2, and climate . Oecologia 112 , 285 – 299 .  

    16. Ehleringer , J. R. , Buchmann , N. and Flanagan , L. B . 2000 . Carbon isotope ratios in belowground carbon cycle pro-cesses . EcoL Appl . 10 , 412 – 422 .  

    17. Epstein , H. E. , Lauenroth , W. K. , Burke , I. C. and Coffin , D. P . 1997 . Productivity patterns of C3 and C4 functional types in the U.S. Great Plains . Ecology 78 , 722 – 731 .  

    18. Etheridge , D. M. , Steele , L. P. , Langenfelds , R. L. , Francey , R. J. , Barnola , J.-M. and Morgan , V. I . 1996 . Natural and anthropogenic changes in atmospheric CO2 over the last 1000 years from air in Antarctic ice and firn . J. Geophys. Res . 101 , 4115 – 4128 .  

    19. Farquhar , G. D. , Ehleringer , J. R. and Hubick , K. T . 1989 . Carbon isotope discrimination and photosynthesis . Annu. Rev. Plant PhysioL Plant MoL Biol . 40 , 503 – 537 .  

    20. Francey , R. J. and Farquhar , G. D . 1982 . An explanation of 13 C/12 C variations in tree rings . Nature 297 , 28 – 31 .  

    21. Francey , R. J. , Tans , P. P. , Allison , C. E. , Enting , I. G. , White , J. W. C. and Trolier , M . 1995 . Changes in oceanic and terrestrial carbon uptake since 1982 . Nature 373 , 326 – 330 .  

    22. Francey , R. J. , Allison , C. E. , Etheridge , D. M. , Trudinger , C. M. , Enting , I. G. , Leuenberger , M. , Langenfelds , R. L. , Michel , E. and Steele , L. P . 1999 . A 1000-year high precision record of 313C in atmospheric CO2 . Tellus 51B , 170 – 193 .  

    23. François , L. M. , Godderis , Y. , Warnant , P. , Ramstein , G. , de Noblet , N. and Lorenz , S . 1999 . Carbon stocks and isotopic budgets of the terrestrial biosphere at mid-Holocene and last glacial maximum times . Chem. Geol . 159 , 163 – 189 .  

    24. Friedli , H. , Lotscher , H. , Oeschger , H. , Siegenthaler , U. and Stauffer , B . 1986 . Ice core record of the 13C/12C ratio of atmospheric CO2 in the past two centuries . Nature 324 , 237 – 238 .  

    25. Fung , I. , Field , C. B. , Berry , J. A. , Thompson , M. V. , Randerson , J. T. , Malmstrom , C. M. , Vitousek , P. M. , Collatz , G. J. , Sellers , P. J. , Randall , D. A. , Denning , A. S. , Badeck , F. and John , J. 1997. Carbon-13 exchanges be-tween the atmosphere and biosphere. Global Biogeochem. Cycles 11 , 507 – 533.  

    26. GLOBALVIEW- 0O2 2000. Atmospheric CO2 concentration dataset. NOAA/CMDL.  

    27. Hanba , Y. T. , Mori , S. , Lei , T. T. , Koike , T. and Wada , E . 1997 . Variations in leaf 313C along a vertical profile of irradiance in a temperate Japanese forest . Oecologia 110 , 253 – 261 .  

    28. Hattersley , P. W. 1983. The distribution of C3 and C4 grasses in Australia in relation to climate. Oecologia 57, 113 – 128.  

    29. Heimann , M. and Maier-Reimer , E . 1996 . On the relations between the oceanic uptake of CO2 and its carbon isotopes . Global Biogeochem. Cycles 10 , 89 – 110 .  

    30. Heimann , M. , Esser , G. , Haxeltine , A. , Kaduk , J. , Kicklighter , D. W. , Knorr , W. , Kohlmaier , G. H. , McGuire , A. D. , Melillo , J. , Moore , B. I. , Otto , R. D. , Prentice , I. C. , Sauf , W. , Schloss , A. , Sitch , S. , Wittenberg , U. and Wurth , G. 1998. Evaluation of terrestrial carbon cycle model through simulations of the seasonal cycle of atmospheric CO2: First results of a model intercomparison study. Global Bio-geochem. Cycles 12, 1 – 24.  

    31. Hemming , D. L. , Switsur , V. R. , Waterhouse , J. S. , Heaton , T. H. E. and Carter , A. H. C . 1998 . Climate variation and the stable carbon isotope composition of tree ring cellulose : and intercomparison of Quercus robut; Fagus sylvatica and Pinus silvestris. Tellus 50 , 25 – 33 .  

    32. Ito , A. and Oilcawa , T . 2000a . The large carbon emission from terrestrial ecosystems in 1998: a model simulation . J. MeteoroL Soc. Jpn . 78 , 103 – 110 .  

    33. Ito , A. and Oilcawa , T . 2000b . A model analysis of the re-lationship between climate perturbations and carbon bud-get anomalies in global terrestrial ecosystems: 1970-1997 . Clim. Res . 15 , 161 – 183 .  

    34. Ito , A. and Oilcawa , T . 2002 . A simulation model of the car-bon cycle in land ecosystems (Sim-CYCLE): A descrip-tion based on dry-matter production theory and plot-scale validation . EcoL Model . 151 , 143 – 176 .  

    35. Keeling , C. D . 1961 . A mechanism for cyclic enrichment of carbon-12 by terrestrial plants . Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 24 , 299 – 313 .  

    36. Keeling , C. D. and Whorf , T. P . 2000 . Atmospheric CO2 concentrations-Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii, 1958-1999 . Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN , USA .  

    37. Keeling , C. D. , Bacastow , R. B. , Carter , A. F. , Piper , S. C. , Whorf , T. P. , Heimann , M. , Mook , W. G. and Roeloffzen , H . 1989 . A three-dimensional model of atmospheric CO2 transport based on observed winds: 1. Analysis of obser-vational data . Geophys. Monogr . 55 , 165 – 236 .  

    38. Keeling , C. D. , Whorf , T. P. , Wahlen , M. and van der Plicht , J . 1995 . Interannual extremes in the rate of atmospheric carbon dioxide since 1980 . Nature 375 , 666 – 670 .  

    39. Knorr , W. and Heimann , M . 2001a . Uncertainties in global terrestrial biosphere modeling 1. A comprehensive sen-sitivity analysis with a new photosynthesis and energy balance scheme . Global Biogeochem. Cycles 15 , 207 – 225 .  

    40. Knorr , W. and Heimann , M . 2001b . Uncertainties in global terrestrial biosphere modeling Part IL Global constraints for a process-based vegetation model . Global Biogeochem. Cycles 15 , 227 – 246 .  

    41. Körner , C. , Farquhar , G. D. and Wong , S. C . 1991 . Carbon isotope discrimination by plants follows latitudinal and altitudinal trends . Oecologia 88 , 30 – 40 .  

    42. Leavitt , S. W . 1994 . South American tree rings show declin-ing 3 13C trend . Tellus 46B , 152 – 157 .  

    43. Leuning , R . 1990 . Modelling stomatal behavior and photo-synthesis of Eucalyptus grandis. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 17 , 159 – 175 .  

    44. Lin , G. and Ehleringer , J. R. 1997. Carbon isotopic fraction-ation does not occur during dark respiration in C3 and C4 plants. Plant Physiol. 114, 391 – 394.  

    45. Lloyd , J. and Farquhar, G. D. 1994. 13C discrimination during CO2 assimilation by the terrestrial biosphere. Oecologia 99, 201 – 215.  

    46. Lloyd , J., Kruijt, B., Hollinger, D. Y., Grace, J., Francey, R. J., Wong, S.-C., Kelliher, F. M., Miranda, A. C., Farquhar, G. D., Gash, J. H. C., Vygodskaya, N. N., Wright, I. R., Miranda, H. S. and Schulze, E.-D. 1996. Vegeta-tion effects on the isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2 at local and regional scales: theoretical aspects and a comparison between rain forest in Amazonia and a bo-real forest in Siberia. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 23, 371 – 399.  

    47. Maisongrande , R , Ruimy , A. , Dedieu , G. and Saugier , B . 1995 . Monitoring seasonal and interannual variations of gross primary productivity, net primary productivity and net ecosystem productivity using a diagnostic model and remotely-sensed data . Tellus 47B , 178 – 190 .  

    48. Matthews , E . 1983 . Global vegetation and land use: new high resolution data bases for climate studies . J. Clint. App. Meteorol . 22 , 474 – 487 .  

    49. Monserud , R. A. and Marshall , J. D. 2001. Time-series anal-ysis of 313C from tree rings. I. Time trends and autocorre-lation. Tree Physiol. 21, 1087 – 1102.  

    50. Morimoto , S. , Nakazawa , T. , Higuchi , K. and Aoki , S . 2000 . Latitudinal distribution of atmospheric CO2 sources and sinks inferred by 313C measurements from 1985 to 1991 . J. Geophys. Res . 105 , 24315 – 24326 .  

    51. Nakazawa , T. , Morimoto , S. , Aoki , S. and Tanaka , M . 1997 . Temporal and spatial variations of the carbon isotopic ra-tio of atmospheric carbon dioxide in the western Pacific region . J. Geophys. Res . 102 , 1271 – 1285 .  

    52. O'Leary , M. H. , Treichel , I. and Rooney , M. 1986. Short-term measurement of carbon isotope fractionation in plants. Plant Physiol. 80, 578 – 582.  

    53. Paruelo , J. M. and Lauenroth, W. K. 1996. Relative abundance of plant functional types in grassland and shrublands of North America. EcoL AppL 6, 1212 – 1224.  

    54. Prentice , I. C . 2001. The carbon cycle and atmospheric car-bon dioxide. In: Climate Change 2001: The scientific basis (eds. J. T. Houghton, Y. Ding, D. J. Griggs, M. Noguer, P. J. van der Linden, X. Dai, K. Maskell and C. W. Johnson). Cambridge University Press , Cambridge , 183 – 237  

    55. Rayner , P. J. , Enting , I. G. , Francey , R. J. and Langenfelds , R. 1999. Reconstructing the recent carbon cycle from at-mospheric CO2,313 C and 02/N2 observations. Tellus 51B, 213 – 232.  

    56. Sage , R. F. , Wedin , D. A. and Li , M . 1999 . The biogeography of C4 photosynthesis: patterns and controlling factors . In: C4 plant biology (eds. R. E Sage and R. K. Monson). Academic Press , San Diego , 313 – 373 .  

    57. Saigusa , N. , Liu , S. , Oilcawa , T. and Watanabe , T . 1996 . Sea-sonal change in CO2 and H20 exchange between grassland and atmosphere . Ann.Geophys . 14 , 342 – 350 .  

    58. Sitch , S . 2000 . The role of vegetation dynamics in the con-trol of atmospheric CO2 content. Ph.D. dissertation , Lund University , Lund , Sweden .  

    59. Sternberg , L. d. S. L. , Moreira , M. Z. , Martinelli , L. A. , Victoria , R. L. , Barbosa , E. M. , Bonates , L. C. M. and Nepstad , D. C . 1997 . Carbon dioxide recycling in two Amazonian tropical forests . Agr For Meteorol . 88 , 259 – 268 .  

    60. Stuiver , M. , Burk , R. L. and Quay, P. D. 1984. 13 C/12C ratios in tree rings and the transfer of biospheric carbon to the atmosphere . J. Geophys. Res . 89 , 11731 – 1 1748 .  

    61. Takeda , T. , Talcilcawa , T. , Agata , W. and Hakoyama , S . 1985 . Studies on the ecology and geographical distribution of C3 and C4 grasses. IL Geographical distribution of C3 and C4 grasses in Far East and South East Asia . Jpn. J. Crop Sci . 54 , 65 – 71 .  

    62. Tans , P. P. , Berry , J. A. and Keeling , R. F. 1993. Oceanic 13C/12C observations: a new window on oceanic CO2 up-take. Global Biogeochem. Cycles 7, 353 – 368.  

    63. Teeri , J. A. and Stowe , L. G . 1976 . Climatic patterns and the distribution of C4 grasses in North America . Oecologia 23 , 1 – 12 .  

    64. Tieszen , L. L. , Senyimba , M. M. , Imbamba , S. K. and Throughton , J. H . 1979 . The distribution of C3 and C4 grasses and carbon isotope discrimination along an altitu-dinal and moisture gradient in Kenya . Oecologia 37 , 337 – 350 .  

    65. Tieszen , L. L. , Reed , B. C. , Bliss , N. B. , Wylie , B. K. and DeJong , D. D. 1997. NDVI, C3 and C4 production, and distributions in Great Plains grassland land cover classes. EcoL Appl. 7, 59 – 78.  

    66. Winter , K . 1981 . C4 plants of high biomass in arid regions of Asia-occurrence of C4 photosynthesis in Chenopodi-acea and Polygonaceae from the Middle East and USSR . Oecologia 48 , 100 – 106 .  

    67. Wittenberg , U. and Esser , G . 1997 . Evaluation of the isotopic disequilibrium in the terrestrial biosphere by a global car-bon isotope model . Tellus 49B , 263 – 269 .  

    68. Zhao , E.-J. , Spiro , B. and McGrath , S. P. 2001. Trends in 13C/12C ratios and C isotope discrimination of wheat since 1845. Oecologia 128, 336 – 342.  

    Jump to Discussions Related content
    comments powered by Disqus