Simulating the Potential Sequestration of Three Major Greenhouse Gases in China’s Natural Ecosystems

Abstract

The greenhouse gases sequestrated by ecosystems are of great relevance to global carbon cycle and climate regulation. However, it is time-consuming and laborious to conduct sampling analysis, and it is also difficult to analyze the variation of potential sequestration of various ecosystems for greenhouse gases in China. This study used six 5-year periods of land use data for China between 1990 and 2015 to analyze the changes of three natural ecosystems (forest, grassland, and wetland). Correspondingly, the potential sequestration of the three ecosystems for three major greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide) during the 25 years were simulated through a greenhouse gas value (GHGV) model. The GHGV model was found to be a reliable alternative to calculating the carbon sequestration of natural ecosystems in China. The total greenhouse gas sequestration of China’s natural ecosystems remained at around 267 Pg CO2-equivalent; however, the greenhouse gas sequestration had decreased by 3.3 Pg CO2-equivalent between 1990 and 2015. Comparison of the simulation results of the GHGV model based on the localized parameters and the model default parameters revealed that the simulated potential sequestration of the greenhouse gases for forest and wetland ecosystems (but not the grassland ecosystem) were smaller when run with localized parameters than the model default parameters. Moreover, the carbon sequestration of natural ecosystems was greater than the amount of anthropogenic carbon emissions, but the potential sequestration of natural ecosystems for greenhouse gas has become increasingly limited. Our study reveals the model can act as an important supplement for assessing the potential sequestration of the greenhouse gases for ecosystems at a regional scale.

Assessment of Forest Biomass and Carbon Storage in Habitat 9340 Quercus ilex L. to Support Management Decisions for Climate Change Mitigation

“…Today, an in-depth study of the impact of increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations on forest ecosystems, through the process of photosynthesis, necessitates the estimation of their above-ground and below-ground biomass [5,6]. Biomass estimation is one of the key variables in comprehending the photosynthesis process.…”

Modeling carbon uptake by vegetation of grassland ecosystems and its associated factors in China based on remote sensing

“…In the context of global climate change, studying the carbon sequestration potential of terrestrial ecosystems is not only an important indicator for estimating the Earth's supporting capacity, but also helps to understand the global carbon balance and evaluate the sustainable development of terrestrial ecosystems (Christopher et al, 1998;Carraro and Massetti, 2011;Shen et al, 2016;Chen et al, 2017;Li et al, 2020).Grassland ecosystem is one of the most important and widely distributed ecosystem types in terrestrial ecosystems, and it is also one of the most important carbon stocks and carbon sources/sinks on land. China's grasslands cover almost 41.17% of national territorial area, it accounts for 6%-8% of the total grassland area in the world, and plays a pivotal role in the global carbon cycle and climate regulation, and plays an important role in developing animal husbandry, maintaining biodiversity, conserving soil and water, and maintaining ecosystem balance (Xie et al, 2001;Yang et al, 2012;Li et al, 2014;Tang et al, 2014;Xu et al, 2020).…”

Estimating the Impact of Ecological Migrants on the South-to-North Water Diversion in China

“…The expansion of the water ecosystem brought some ecological benefits to the provinces along its line, significantly improving ecology and the local climate [ 12 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. The SNWD plays an important role in promoting water security and improving the ecological environment, sustainable agricultural development, and social economy of northern cities [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. It has also been a prominent example of Chinese capabilities and solutions for groundwater management and sustainable agricultural development worldwide [ 13 , 25 ].…”