Open AccessInvestigators share improved understanding of the North American Carbon Cycle
Author(s) -
Birdsey Richard A.,
Cook Robert,
Denning Scott,
Griffith Peter,
Law Beverly,
Masek Jeffrey,
Michalak Anna,
Ogle Stephen,
Ojima Dennis,
Pan Yude,
Sabin Christopher,
Sheffner Edwin,
Sundquist Eric
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2007eo240004
Subject(s) - carbon cycle , earth system science , diversity (politics) , carbon fibers , environmental science , environmental resource management , political science , computer science , ecology , algorithm , ecosystem , composite number , law , biology
The U.S. North American Carbon Program (NACP) sponsored an “all‐scientist” meeting to review progress in understanding the dynamics of the carbon cycle of North America and adjacent oceans, and to chart a course for improved integration across scientific disciplines, scales, and Earth system boundaries. The meeting participants also addressed the need for better decision support tools for managing the carbon cycle of North America, so that strong science can inform policy as interest in taking action increases across the nation. Herein we report on themes to integrate the diversity of NACP science and fill significant gaps for understanding and managing the North American carbon cycle: integration among disciplines involving land, atmosphere, and ocean research; strengthening data management infrastructure to support modeling and analysis; identification of study regions that are critical for reducing uncertainties in the North American carbon balance; and integrating biophysical science with the human dimensions of carbon management and decision support.