Variation in tree mortality and regeneration affect forest carbon recovery following fuel treatments and wildfire in the Lake Tahoe Basin, California, USA     

Carlson CH  Dobrowski SZ  Safford HD 《Carbon balance and management》2012,7(1):7-17

Background

Forest fuel treatments have been proposed as tools to stabilize carbon stocks in fire-prone forests in the Western U.S.A. Although fuel treatments such as thinning and burning are known to immediately reduce forest carbon stocks, there are suggestions that these losses may be paid back over the long-term if treatments sufficiently reduce future wildfire severity, or prevent deforestation. Although fire severity and post-fire tree regeneration have been indicated as important influences on long-term carbon dynamics, it remains unclear how natural variability in these processes might affect the ability of fuel treatments to protect forest carbon resources. We surveyed a wildfire where fuel treatments were put in place before fire and estimated the short-term impact of treatment and wildfire on aboveground carbon stocks at our study site. We then used a common vegetation growth simulator in conjunction with sensitivity analysis techniques to assess how predicted timescales of carbon recovery after fire are sensitive to variation in rates of fire-related tree mortality, and post-fire tree regeneration.

Results

We found that fuel reduction treatments were successful at ameliorating fire severity at our study site by removing an estimated 36% of aboveground biomass. Treated and untreated stands stored similar amounts of carbon three years after wildfire, but differences in fire severity were such that untreated stands maintained only 7% of aboveground carbon as live trees, versus 51% in treated stands. Over the long-term, our simulations suggest that treated stands in our study area will recover baseline carbon storage 10?C35?years more quickly than untreated stands. Our sensitivity analysis found that rates of fire-related tree mortality strongly influence estimates of post-fire carbon recovery. Rates of regeneration were less influential on recovery timing, except when fire severity was high.

Conclusions

Our ability to predict the response of forest carbon resources to anthropogenic and natural disturbances requires models that incorporate uncertainty in processes important to long-term forest carbon dynamics. To the extent that fuel treatments are able to ameliorate tree mortality rates or prevent deforestation resulting from wildfire, our results suggest that treatments may be a viable strategy to stabilize existing forest carbon stocks.  相似文献   

Detection of C₂HD and the D/H ratio on Titan     

Athena Coustenis  Donald E. Jennings  Yves Bénilan  Sandrine Vinatier  Gordon L. Bjoraker  Ronald C. Carlson 《Icarus》2008,197(2):539-548

We report here the first detection of mono-deuterated acetylene (acetylene-d1, C₂HD) in Titan's atmosphere from the presence of two of its emission bands at 678 and 519 cm⁻¹ as observed in CIRS spectral averages of nadir and limb observations taken between July 2004 and mid-2007. By using new laboratory spectra for this molecule, we were able to derive its abundance at different locations over Titan's disk. We find the C₂HD value () to be roughly constant with latitude from the South to about 45° N and then to increase slightly in the North, as is the case for C₂H₂. Fitting the 678 cm⁻¹ν₅ band simultaneously with the nearby C₂H₂ 729 cm⁻¹ν₅ band, allows us to infer a D/H ratio in acetylene on Titan with an average of the modal values of 2.09±0.45×¹⁰⁻⁴ from the nadir observations, the uncertainties being mainly due to the vertical profile used for the fit of the acetylene band. Although still subject to significant uncertainty, this D/H ratio appears to be significantly larger than the one derived in methane from the CH₃D band (upper limit of 1.5×¹⁰⁻⁴; Bézard, B., Nixon, C.A., Kleiner, I., Jennings, D.E., 2007. Icarus, 191, 397-400; Coustenis, A., Achterberg, R., Conrath, B., Jennings, D., Marten, A., Gautier, D., Bjoraker, G., Nixon, C., Romani, P., Carlson, R., Flasar, M., Samuelson, R.E., Teanby, N., Irwin, P., Bézard, B., Orton, G., Kunde, V., Abbas, M., Courtin, R., Fouchet, Th., Hubert, A., Lellouch, E., Mondellini, J., Taylor, F.W., Vinatier, S., 2007. Icarus 189, 35-62). From the analysis of limb data we infer D/H values of (at 54° S), (at 15° S), (at 54° N) and (at 80° N), which average to a mean value of 1.63±0.27×¹⁰⁻⁴.  相似文献   

Describing alpine lake influence on stream network temperatures: A statistical modelling approach     

Samuel P. Carlson  Geoffrey C. Poole 《水文研究》2021,35(3):e14072

Systematic variations in atmospheric heat exchange, surface residence time, and groundwater influx across montane stream networks commonly produce an increasing stream temperature trend with decreasing elevation. However, complex stream temperature profiles that differ from this common longitudinal trend also exist, suggesting that stream temperatures may be influenced by complex interactions among hydrologic and atmospheric processes. Lakes within stream networks form one potential source of temperature profile complexity due to the spatially variable contribution of lake-sourced water to stream flow. We investigated temperature profile complexity in a multi-season stream temperature dataset collected across a montane stream network containing many alpine lakes. This investigation was performed by making comparisons between multiple statistical models that used different combinations of stream and lake characteristics to represent specific hypotheses for the controls on stream temperature. The compared models included a set of models which used a topographically derived estimate of the hydrologic influence of lakes to separate and quantify the effects of stream elevation and lake source-water contributions to longitudinal stream temperature patterns. This source-water mixing model provided a parsimonious explanation for complex stream-network temperature patterns in the summer and autumn, and this approach may be further applicable to other systems where stream temperatures are influenced by multiple water sources. Simpler models that discounted lake effects were more optimal during the winter and spring, suggesting that complex patterns in stream temperature profiles may emerge and subside temporally, across seasons, in response to diversity of water temperatures from different sources.  相似文献   

Testing electric field models using ring current ion energy spectra from the Equator-S ion composition (ESIC) instrument     

L. M. Kistler  B. Klecker  V. K. Jordanova  E. Möbius  M. A. Popecki  D. Patel  J. A. Sauvaud  H. Rème  A. M. Di Lellis  A. Korth  M. McCarthy  R. Cerulli  M. B. Bavassano Cattaneo  L. Eliasson  C. W. Carlson  G. K. Parks  G. Paschmann  W. Baumjohann  G. Haerendel 《Annales Geophysicae》1999,17(12):1611-1621

During the main and early recovery phase of a geomagnetic storm on February 18, 1998, the Equator-S ion composition instrument (ESIC) observed spectral features which typically represent the differences in loss along the drift path in the energy range (5–15 keV/e) where the drift changes from being E × B dominated to being gradient and curvature drift dominated. We compare the expected energy spectra modeled using a Volland-Stern electric field and a Weimer electric field, assuming charge exchange along the drift path, with the observed energy spectra for H⁺ and O⁺. We find that using the Weimer electric field gives much better agreement with the spectral features, and with the observed losses. Neither model, however, accurately predicts the energies of the observed minima.  相似文献   

Constraints from high-pressure veins in eclogites on the composition of hydrous fluids in subduction zones   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

Harry Becker  Klaus Peter Jochum  Richard W. Carlson 《Chemical Geology》1999,160(4):1207-308

Hydrous high-pressure veins formed during dehydration of eclogites in two paleo-subduction zones (Trescolmen locality in the Adula nappe, central Alps and Münchberg Gneiss Massif, Variscan fold belt, Germany) constrain the major and trace element composition of solutes in fluids liberated during dehydration of eclogites. Similar initial isotopic compositions of veins and host eclogites at the time of metamorphism indicate that the fluids were derived predominantly from the host rocks. Quartz, kyanite, paragonite, phengite, zoisite and omphacite are the dominant minerals in the veins. The major element compositions of the veins are in agreement with experimental evidence indicating that the composition of solutes in such fluids is dominated by SiO₂ and Al₂O₃. Relative to N-MORB, the veins show enrichments of Cs, Rb, Ba, Pb, and K, comparable or slightly lower abundances of Sr, U, and Th, and very low abundances of Nd, Sm, Zr, Nb, Ti and Y. The differential fractionation of highly incompatible elements such as K, U and Th in the veins, as well as the presence of hydrous minerals in the eclogites rule out partial melting as a cause for vein formation. These results confirm previous suggestions that fluids derived from subducted basalt may have low abundances of high field strength elements, rare earth elements and Y. Variable vein-eclogite enrichment factors of incompatible alkalis and to a lesser extent Pb appear to reflect mineralogical controls (phengite, epidote-group minerals) on partitioning of these elements during dehydration of eclogite in subduction zones. However, abundance variations of incompatible elements in minerals from eclogites suggest that the composition of fluids released from eclogites at temperatures <700°C may not reflect true equilibrium partitioning during dehydration. Simple models for the trace elements U and Th indicate the relative importance of the basaltic and sedimentary portions of subducted oceanic crust in producing the characteristic chemical signatures of these elements in convergent plate margin volcanism.  相似文献   

Radiolysis of sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid monohydrate, and sulfuric acid tetrahydrate and its relevance to Europa     

M.J. Loeffler  R.L. Hudson  R.W. Carlson 《Icarus》2011,215(1):370-380

We report laboratory studies on the 0.8 MeV proton irradiation of ices composed of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), sulfuric acid monohydrate (H₂SO₄·H₂O), and sulfuric acid tetrahydrate (H₂SO₄·4H₂O) between 10 and 180 K. Using infrared spectroscopy, we identify the main radiation products as H₂O, SO₂, (S₂O₃)_x, H₃O⁺, , and . At high radiation doses, we find that H₂SO₄ molecules are destroyed completely and that H₂SO₄·H₂O is formed on subsequent warming. This hydrate is significantly more stable to radiolytic destruction than pure H₂SO₄, falling to an equilibrium relative abundance of 50% of its original value on prolonged irradiation. Unlike either pure H₂SO₄ or H₂SO₄·H₂O, the loss of H₂SO₄·4H₂O exhibits a strong temperature dependence, as the tetrahydrate is essentially unchanged at the highest irradiation temperatures and completely destroyed at the lowest ones, which we speculate is due to a combination of radiolytic destruction and amorphization. Furthermore, at the lower temperatures it is clear that irradiation causes the tetrahydrate spectrum to transition to one that closely resembles the monohydrate spectrum. Extrapolating our results to Europa’s surface, we speculate that the variations in SO₂ concentrations observed in the chaotic terrains are a result of radiation processing of lower hydration states of sulfuric acid and that the monohydrate will remain stable on the surface over geological times, while the tetrahydrate will remain stable in the warmer regions but be destroyed in the colder regions, unless it can be reformed by other processes, such as thermal reactions induced by diurnal cycling.  相似文献   

H₂O₂ production by high-energy electrons on icy satellites as a function of surface temperature and electron flux     

Kevin P. Hand  Robert W. Carlson 《Icarus》2011,215(1):226-233

Chemistry on the icy surface of Europa is heavily influenced by the incident energetic particle flux from the jovian magnetosphere. The majority (>75%) of this energy is in the form of high energy electrons (extending to >10 MeV). We have simulated the electron irradiation environment of Europa with a vacuum system containing a high-energy electron gun for irradiation of ice samples formed on a gold mirror cooled with a cryostat. Pure water films of ∼2.6 μm thickness were grown at 100 K and then either cooled (to 80 K), warmed (to 120 K) or left at 100 K and subsequently irradiated with 10 keV electrons. The production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was monitored by observation of the 2850 cm⁻¹ (3.5 μm) band. Equilibrium concentrations of H₂O₂, in units of percent by number H₂O₂ relative to water, were found to be 0.043% (80 K), 0.029% (100 K), and 0.0063% (120 K). These values are 33%, 22%, and 5%, respectively, that of the reported surface concentration on the leading hemisphere of Europa (Carlson, R.W., Anderson, M.S., Johnson, R.E., Smythe, W.D., Hendrix, A.R., Barth, C.A., et al. [1999]. Science 283(5410), 2062-2064) and less than the equilibrium concentrations formed by ion irradiation. In addition to the ice film temperature, the current of electrons was varied between different experiments to determine the production and destruction of H₂O₂ as a function of both electron flux and ice temperature. Variation in current was found to have little effect on the results other than accelerating arrival at radiolytic equilibrium.  相似文献   

Hydraulic and flood-loss modeling of levee,floodplain, and river management strategies,Middle Mississippi River,USA   总被引：4，自引：2，他引：2  

Jonathan W. F. Remo  Megan Carlson  Nicholas Pinter 《Natural Hazards》2012,61(2):551-575

In this investigation, four scenarios were used to quantify the balance between the benefits of levees for flood protection and their potential to increase flood risk using Hazards U.S. Multi-Hazard flood-loss software and hydraulic modeling of the Middle Mississippi River (MMR). The goals of this study were (1) to quantify the flood exposure under different flood-control configurations and (2) to assess the relative contributions of various engineered structures and flood-loss strategies to potential flood losses. Removing all the flood-control structures along the MMR, without buyouts or other mitigation, reduced the average flood stages between 2.3 m (100-year flood) and 2.5 m (500-year), but increased the potential flood losses by $4.3–6.7 billion. Removing the agricultural levees downstream of St. Louis decreased the flood stages through the metro region by ~1.0 m for the 100- and 500-year events; flood losses, without buyouts or other mitigation, were increased by $4.3–6.7 billion. Removing the agricultural levees downstream of St. Louis decreased the flood stages through the metro region by ~1.0 m for the 100- and 500-year events; flood losses, without buyouts or other mitigation, were increased by 155 million for the 100-year flood, but were decreased by $109 million for the 500-year flood. Thus, agricultural levees along the MMR protect against small- to medium-size floods (up to the ~100-year flood level) but cause more damage than they prevent during large floods such as the 500-year flood. Buyout costs for the all the buildings within the 500-year floodplain downstream of urban flood-control structures near St. Louis are ~40% less than the cost of repairing the buildings damaged by the 500-year flood. This suggests large-scale buyouts could be the most cost-effective option for flood loss mitigation for properties currently protected by agricultural levees.  相似文献   

International viewpoint and news     

David Carlson 《Environmental Earth Sciences》2012,65(6):1917-1920

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Extreme Cr-rich nano-oxides in the CI chondrite Orgueil - Implication for a late supernova injection into the solar system     

L. Qin  L.R. Nittler  J. Wang  R.W. Carlson 《Geochimica et cosmochimica acta》2011,75(2):629-7828

Systematic variations in ⁵⁴Cr/⁵²Cr ratios between meteorite classes ( [Trinquier et al., 2007] and [Qin et al., 2010a]) point to large scale spatial and/or temporal isotopic heterogeneity in the solar protoplanetary disk. Two explanations for these variations have been proposed, with important implications for the formation of the Solar System: heterogeneous seeding of the disk with dust from a supernova, or energetic-particle irradiation of dust in the disk. The key to differentiating between them is identification of the carrier(s) of the ⁵⁴Cr anomalies. Here we report the results of our recent NanoSIMS imaging search for the ⁵⁴Cr-rich carrier in the acid-resistant residue of the CI chondrite Orgueil. A total of 10 regions with extreme ⁵⁴Cr-excesses (δ⁵⁴Cr values up to 1500‰) were found. Comparison between SEM, Auger and NanoSIMS analyses showed that these ⁵⁴Cr-rich regions are associated with one or more sub-micron (typically less than 200 nm) Cr oxide grains, most likely spinels. Because the size of the NanoSIMS primary O⁻ ion beam is larger than the typical grain size on the sample mount, the measured anomalies are lower limits, and we estimate that the actual ⁵⁴Cr enrichments in three grains are at least 11 times Solar and in one of these may be as high as 50 times Solar. Such compositions strongly favor a Type II supernova origin. The variability in bulk ⁵⁴Cr/⁵²Cr between meteorite classes argues for a heterogeneous distribution of the ⁵⁴Cr carrier in the solar protoplanetary disk following a late supernova injection event. Such a scenario is also supported by the O-isotopic distribution and variable abundances in different planetary materials of other presolar oxide and silicate grains from supernovae.  相似文献