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Using remote sensing to model carbon source/sink dynamics in the sahel

Seaquist, J. W. LU ; Ardö, Jonas LU orcid and Olsson, Lennart LU (2005) 31st International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, ISRSE 2005: Global Monitoring for Sustainability and Security
Abstract

Recent research has identified the grasslands of the Sahel as a potential carbon sink, but regional carbon stock accounting in such biomes is undermined by the poorly recognized role they play in the carbon cycle as well as lack of data. In this paper, we demonstrate the feasibility of coupling the satellite data-driven light use efficiency model (Lund University Light Use Efficiency Model - LULUE) with Roth-C, a dynamic model that estimates the turnover of carbon in non-waterlogged soils for a 10560 km2 test area in the Sahel. LULUE is used to estimate the rate and amount of carbon drawdown into the vegetative carbon pool while Roth-C is used to estimate soil respiration from a number of well-defined pools, ranging from... (More)

Recent research has identified the grasslands of the Sahel as a potential carbon sink, but regional carbon stock accounting in such biomes is undermined by the poorly recognized role they play in the carbon cycle as well as lack of data. In this paper, we demonstrate the feasibility of coupling the satellite data-driven light use efficiency model (Lund University Light Use Efficiency Model - LULUE) with Roth-C, a dynamic model that estimates the turnover of carbon in non-waterlogged soils for a 10560 km2 test area in the Sahel. LULUE is used to estimate the rate and amount of carbon drawdown into the vegetative carbon pool while Roth-C is used to estimate soil respiration from a number of well-defined pools, ranging from labile to inert. Running the ensemble requires the parameterisation of Roth-C using NPP from LULUE, with the aid of a land cover/use map. The result is an estimate of NEP (Net Ecosystem Production). Our results show that total annual area-averaged NPP ranges from 1.8 tCha-1 in 1987, to 4.1 tCha-1 in 1992, and increases steadily throughout the period (r2 = 0.44). Total annual area averaged soil respiration ranges from 2.5 tCha-1 in 1986, to 5.0 tCha-1 in 1993, with no appreciable trend observed. Our NEP trend analysis (r2 = 0.14) suggests that this ecosystem became a carbon sink around 1994 with a total 5.14 tCha-1 sequestered throughout the period. This approach holds promise for quantifying carbon sink/source dynamics in a spatially explicit manner for grasslands, though a full sensitivity analysis should be implemented before geographically extending the method.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Carbon dynamics, Carbon stocks, Light-use efficiency, Remote sensing, Roth-C, Sahel
host publication
Proceedings, 31st International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, ISRSE 2005: Global Monitoring for Sustainability and Security
conference name
31st International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, ISRSE 2005: Global Monitoring for Sustainability and Security
conference location
St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
conference dates
2005-06-20 - 2005-06-24
external identifiers
  • scopus:84879734628
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
32969cd6-c315-41b4-8f15-20ca837e4eb2
date added to LUP
2016-04-07 13:49:29
date last changed
2022-01-30 02:28:17
@inproceedings{32969cd6-c315-41b4-8f15-20ca837e4eb2,
  abstract     = {{<p>Recent research has identified the grasslands of the Sahel as a potential carbon sink, but regional carbon stock accounting in such biomes is undermined by the poorly recognized role they play in the carbon cycle as well as lack of data. In this paper, we demonstrate the feasibility of coupling the satellite data-driven light use efficiency model (Lund University Light Use Efficiency Model - LULUE) with Roth-C, a dynamic model that estimates the turnover of carbon in non-waterlogged soils for a 10560 km<sup>2</sup> test area in the Sahel. LULUE is used to estimate the rate and amount of carbon drawdown into the vegetative carbon pool while Roth-C is used to estimate soil respiration from a number of well-defined pools, ranging from labile to inert. Running the ensemble requires the parameterisation of Roth-C using NPP from LULUE, with the aid of a land cover/use map. The result is an estimate of NEP (Net Ecosystem Production). Our results show that total annual area-averaged NPP ranges from 1.8 tCha<sup>-1</sup> in 1987, to 4.1 tCha<sup>-1</sup> in 1992, and increases steadily throughout the period (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.44). Total annual area averaged soil respiration ranges from 2.5 tCha<sup>-1</sup> in 1986, to 5.0 tCha<sup>-1</sup> in 1993, with no appreciable trend observed. Our NEP trend analysis (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.14) suggests that this ecosystem became a carbon sink around 1994 with a total 5.14 tCha<sup>-1</sup> sequestered throughout the period. This approach holds promise for quantifying carbon sink/source dynamics in a spatially explicit manner for grasslands, though a full sensitivity analysis should be implemented before geographically extending the method.</p>}},
  author       = {{Seaquist, J. W. and Ardö, Jonas and Olsson, Lennart}},
  booktitle    = {{Proceedings, 31st International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, ISRSE 2005: Global Monitoring for Sustainability and Security}},
  keywords     = {{Carbon dynamics; Carbon stocks; Light-use efficiency; Remote sensing; Roth-C; Sahel}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  title        = {{Using remote sensing to model carbon source/sink dynamics in the sahel}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}