Open AccessEstimating carbon release caused by land use changes over Canada's north during 1985–1990 and 1990–2000 using satellite Earth observation
Author(s) -
Chen Wenjun,
Blain Dominique,
Li Junhua,
Fraser Robert,
Zhang Yu,
Leblanc Sylvain,
Koehler Klause,
Olthof Ian,
Wang Jixin,
McGovern Mark
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: biogeosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2007jg000631
Subject(s) - subarctic climate , environmental science , greenhouse gas , arctic , biomass (ecology) , united nations framework convention on climate change , climate change , physical geography , soil carbon , atmospheric sciences , forestry , geography , oceanography , soil science , geology , kyoto protocol , soil water
This study estimates the greenhouse gas removal/emission due to land use changes (LUC) over Canada's arctic and subarctic landmass to meet Canada's reporting obligation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Using Landsat scenes circa 1985, 1990, and 2000, as well as GIS information, we estimated the rate of LUC over Canada's north being 548 ha a −1 during 1985–1990 and 725 ha a −1 during 1990–2000. We then developed circa 2000 baseline aboveground biomass maps for the areas affected by these LUC by applying the relationships between measured aboveground biomass and a combination of Landsat and JERS‐1 data. From these aboveground biomass maps and LUC estimates, we calculated that the LUC activities over Canada's north released 29,000 ± 4400 t CO 2 a −1 during 1985–1990 and 41,000 ± 6200 t CO 2 a −1 during 1990–2000. Only aboveground biomass was considered. Monte Carlo simulation method was used to quantify the overall error caused by uncertainties in estimates of LUC area and CO 2 emission. Because soil carbon stock over Canada's arctic and subarctic ecosystems can be 10–100 time larger than that of aboveground biomass, accurately quantifying soil carbon stock change caused by LUC should be a priority in future studies.