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6.4: Data Dive- Biome Carbon Storage

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    Overview

    Carbon sequestration is the process by which atmospheric carbon dioxide is taken up by trees, grasses, and other plants through photosynthesis and stored as carbon in biomass (trunks, branches, foliage, and roots). Carbon storage can also occur in soil formed from organic matter found in decomposing litter. Terrestrial carbon sequestration has been a recent topic of interest because of its implications for use in climate change mitigation. The carbon storage in terrestrial biomes helps to offset sources of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, such as deforestation, wildfires, and fossil fuel emissions. As such, carbon storage in each biome can be altered by both natural and human caused events. The figure below indicates the estimated storage above (plants) and below (soil) ground by terrestrial biomes:

    Stacked bar graph illustrating carbon storage above and below ground for various biomes.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{a}\): Carbon storage (in metric tons of CO2 per hectare) above (plant) and below (soil) ground in various biomes. Graph by Rachel Schleiger (CC-BY-NC) modified from data in Islam KK, Sato N 2012.

     

    Questions

    1. What kind of graph is this?
    2. What is the independent (explanatory) variable and the dependent (response) variable?
    3. Which biome has the greatest storage in plants? What about soil?
    4. What are the top three terrestrial biomes in terms of their carbon storage?
    5. How can the results of this graph to inform future conservation efforts?
    6. What do the results of this graph make you curious about?

     

    Raw Data From Above Graph(s)

    Table \(\PageIndex{a}\): Raw data of carbon storage (in metric tons of CO2 per hectare) above (plant) and below (soil) ground in various biomes. Graph by Rachel Schleiger (CC-BY-NC) modified from data in Islam KK, Sato N 2012.

    Biome Plant Carbon Soil Carbon Total Carbon
    Tropical Forests 442 450 892
    Temperate Forests 208 352 561
    Taiga Forests 236 1260 1496
    Tundra 23 467 490
    Tropical Savannas 108 430 538
    Temperate Grasslands 26 865 892
    Deserts/Semi-Desert Lands 6 154 160

     

    Attribution

    Rachel Schleiger (CC-BY-NC)

    This page titled 6.4: Data Dive- Biome Carbon Storage is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Melissa Ha and Rachel Schleiger (ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative) .

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