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The role of the terrestrial biosphere in Holocene carbon cycle dynamics
Author(s) -
Beerling D. J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
global ecology and biogeography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.164
H-Index - 152
eISSN - 1466-8238
pISSN - 1466-822X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2699.2000.00202.x
Subject(s) - biosphere , carbon cycle , terrestrial ecosystem , holocene , isotopes of carbon , earth science , environmental science , biota , terrestrial plant , ecosystem , geology , carbon fibers , carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere , ecology , climate change , oceanography , total organic carbon , biology , materials science , composite number , composite material
Measurements of atmospheric CO 2 concentration, and its stable carbon isotope composition, from gas samples trapped in ice at Taylor Dome, Antarctica, indicate that the global carbon cycle has not been in steady state during the Holocene epoch. Inverse carbon cycle modelling has led to the hypothesized cumulative release from the terrestrial biosphere of 195 Gt C between 7 and 1 kyr before present ( bp ). Here, three independent lines of evidence testing this hypothesis are critically examined: global reconstructions of terrestrial carbon reservoirs, vegetation–climate modelling, and high latitude subfossil plant stable carbon isotope records. Despite inherent uncertainties associated with each approach, it emerges that none strongly upholds the suggestion that terrestrial ecosystems released large amounts of carbon between 7 and 1 kyr bp . Consequently, our understanding of the processes involved in the exchange of CO 2 between the atmosphere, oceans and land biota continues to remain incomplete and to require further investigation.