Journal Article

Carbon and nitrogen cycle dynamics in the O-CN land surface model: 2. Role of the nitrogen cycle in the historical terrestrial carbon balance

Friend, A. D., Schulz, M., Friedlingstein, P., Dentener, F., Peylin, P., Zaehle, S.

2010

Overview

Global-scale results of the new O-CN terrestrial biosphere model coupling the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles show that the model produces realistic estimates of present-day C and N stocks and fluxes, despite some regional biases. N availability strongly affects high-latitude foliage area and foliage N, limiting vegetation productivity and present-day high-latitude net C uptake. Anthropogenic N deposition is predicted to have increased net primary productivity due to increases in foliage area and foliage N, contributing 0.2-0.5 Pg C yr-1 to the 1990s global net C uptake. While O-CN's modeled global 1990s terrestrial net C uptake (2.4 Pg C yr-1) is similar to the estimate not accounting for anthropogenic N inputs and N dynamics (2.6 Pg C yr-1), its latitudinal distribution and the sensitivity of the terrestrial C balance to its driving factors are substantially altered by N dynamics, with important implications for future trajectories of the global carbon cycle.

• Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd,American Geophysical Union
• Subject: Anthropogenic factors / Biogeochemistry / Biosphere / Carbon / Carbon cycle / Climate change / Continental interfaces, environment / Earth / Foliage / Geobiology / latitude / leaves / Nitrogen / Nitrogen cycle / nitrogen deposition / Ocean, Atmosphere / primary productivity / Sciences of the Universe / terrestrial biosphere modeling / terrestrial carbon balance / Terrestrial environments / vegetation