This study examines
the potential for feedbacks between the carbon cycle, atmospheric carbon
dioxide (CO2) increases and climate change to affect the
anthropogenic emissions that are required to stabilize future levels of CO2
in the atmosphere. Using a coupled climate-carbon cycle model, I found that
positive carbon cycle-climate feedbacks reduced allowable emissions by an
amount that varied with the model’s climate sensitivity. Emissions were further reduced if CO2
fertilization was assumed to be inactive in the model, as this removed an
otherwise important negative feedback on atmospheric CO2.
Author: H. Damon Matthews (dmatthew at ucalgary dot ca)
Filesize: 62.30 Kb