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The current state of CO2 flux chamber studies in the Arctic tundra : a review

Virkkala, Anna Maria ; Virtanen, Tarmo ; Lehtonen, Aleksi ; Rinne, Janne LU and Luoto, Miska (2018) In Progress in Physical Geography 42(2). p.162-184
Abstract

The Arctic tundra plays an important role in the carbon cycle as it stores 50% of global soil organic carbon reservoirs. The processes (fluxes) regulating these stocks are predicted to change due to direct and indirect effects of climate change. Understanding the current and future carbon balance calls for a summary of the level of knowledge regarding chamber-derived carbon dioxide (CO2) flux studies. Here, we describe progress from recently (2000–2016) published studies of growing-season CO2 flux chamber measurements, namely GPP (gross primary production), ER (ecosystem respiration), and NEE (net ecosystem exchange), in the tundra region. We review the study areas and designs along with the explanatory... (More)

The Arctic tundra plays an important role in the carbon cycle as it stores 50% of global soil organic carbon reservoirs. The processes (fluxes) regulating these stocks are predicted to change due to direct and indirect effects of climate change. Understanding the current and future carbon balance calls for a summary of the level of knowledge regarding chamber-derived carbon dioxide (CO2) flux studies. Here, we describe progress from recently (2000–2016) published studies of growing-season CO2 flux chamber measurements, namely GPP (gross primary production), ER (ecosystem respiration), and NEE (net ecosystem exchange), in the tundra region. We review the study areas and designs along with the explanatory environmental drivers used. Most of the studies were conducted in Alaska and Fennoscandia, and we stress the need for measuring fluxes in other tundra regions, particularly in more extreme climatic, productivity, and soil conditions. Soil respiration and other greenhouse gas measurements were seldom included in the studies. Although most of the environmental drivers of CO2 fluxes have been relatively well investigated (such as the effect of vegetation type and soil microclimate on fluxes), soil nutrients, other greenhouse gases and disturbance regimes require more research as they might define the future carbon balance. Particular attention should be paid to the effects of shrubification, geomorphology, and other disturbance effects such as fire events, and disease and herbivore outbreaks. An improved conceptual framework and understanding of underlying processes of biosphere–atmosphere CO2 exchange will provide more information on carbon cycling in the tundra.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Arctic, chamber, ecosystem respiration, gross primary production, net ecosystem exchange, tundra
in
Progress in Physical Geography
volume
42
issue
2
pages
162 - 184
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:85041518115
ISSN
0309-1333
DOI
10.1177/0309133317745784
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
831f2a71-e7ec-4697-aeca-6e2e572da204
date added to LUP
2018-02-22 12:29:11
date last changed
2022-04-25 05:49:28
@article{831f2a71-e7ec-4697-aeca-6e2e572da204,
  abstract     = {{<p>The Arctic tundra plays an important role in the carbon cycle as it stores 50% of global soil organic carbon reservoirs. The processes (fluxes) regulating these stocks are predicted to change due to direct and indirect effects of climate change. Understanding the current and future carbon balance calls for a summary of the level of knowledge regarding chamber-derived carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) flux studies. Here, we describe progress from recently (2000–2016) published studies of growing-season CO<sub>2</sub> flux chamber measurements, namely GPP (gross primary production), ER (ecosystem respiration), and NEE (net ecosystem exchange), in the tundra region. We review the study areas and designs along with the explanatory environmental drivers used. Most of the studies were conducted in Alaska and Fennoscandia, and we stress the need for measuring fluxes in other tundra regions, particularly in more extreme climatic, productivity, and soil conditions. Soil respiration and other greenhouse gas measurements were seldom included in the studies. Although most of the environmental drivers of CO<sub>2</sub> fluxes have been relatively well investigated (such as the effect of vegetation type and soil microclimate on fluxes), soil nutrients, other greenhouse gases and disturbance regimes require more research as they might define the future carbon balance. Particular attention should be paid to the effects of shrubification, geomorphology, and other disturbance effects such as fire events, and disease and herbivore outbreaks. An improved conceptual framework and understanding of underlying processes of biosphere–atmosphere CO<sub>2</sub> exchange will provide more information on carbon cycling in the tundra.</p>}},
  author       = {{Virkkala, Anna Maria and Virtanen, Tarmo and Lehtonen, Aleksi and Rinne, Janne and Luoto, Miska}},
  issn         = {{0309-1333}},
  keywords     = {{Arctic; chamber; ecosystem respiration; gross primary production; net ecosystem exchange; tundra}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{162--184}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Progress in Physical Geography}},
  title        = {{The current state of CO<sub>2</sub> flux chamber studies in the Arctic tundra : a review}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0309133317745784}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0309133317745784}},
  volume       = {{42}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}