PhysOrg | Earth Sciences | 06 July 2010
New carbon data should produce better climate forecastsTwo recent international studies are poised to change the way scientists view the crucial relationship between Earth's climate and the carbon cycle. These reports explore the global photosynthesis and respiration rates -- the planet's deep "breaths" of carbon dioxide, in and out -- and researchers say that the new findings will be used to update and improve upon traditional models that couple together climate and carbon.
The two reports will be published online by the journal Science at the Science Express Web site today.
Science News | On the Scene | 05 July 2010
Global Convergence in the Temperature Sensitivity of Respiration at Ecosystem LevelMeasurements for carbon dioxide input by plants and carbon dioxide released during respiration will help models.
Climate change forecasts have always been afflicted by multiple sources of uncertainty. Computer models are at the mercy of the data fed to them, and the sources of the data aren’t always so reliable, leading to large variations in forecasts of future temperatures. But now scientists have a little bit better input on two important issues: the amount of carbon dioxide inhaled by land plants and how respiration pumping CO2 back into the air depends on temperature.
- Science (Express 05 July 2010) DOI: 10.1126/science.1189587
- Science (Express 05 July 2010) DOI: 10.1126/science.1184984