Carbon cycle uncertainty in the Alaskan Arctic

J. B. Fisher, M. Sikka, W. C. Oechel, D. N. Huntzinger, J. R. Melton, C. D. Koven, A. Ahlström, M. A. Arain, I. Baker, J. M. Chen, P. Ciais, C. Davidson, M. Dietze, B. El-Masri, D. Hayes, C. Huntingford, A. K. Jain, P. E. Levy, M. R. Lomas, B. PoulterD. Price, A. K. Sahoo, K. Schaefer, H. Tian, E. Tomelleri, H. Verbeeck, N. Viovy, R. Wania, N. Zeng, C. E. Miller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

97 Scopus citations

Abstract

Climate change is leading to a disproportionately large warming in the high northern latitudes, but the magnitude and sign of the future carbon balance of the Arctic are highly uncertain. Using 40 terrestrial biosphere models for the Alaskan Arctic from four recent model intercomparison projects - NACP (North American Carbon Program) site and regional syntheses, TRENDY (Trends in net land atmosphere carbon exchanges), and WETCHIMP (Wetland and Wetland CH4 Inter-comparison of Models Project) - we provide a baseline of terrestrial carbon cycle uncertainty, defined as the multi-model standard deviation (σ) for each quantity that follows. Mean annual absolute uncertainty was largest for soil carbon (14.0 ± 9.2 kg C mg-2), then gross primary production (GPP) (0.22 ± 0.50 kg C mg-2 yr -1), ecosystem respiration (Re) (0.23 ± 0.38 kg C mg -2 yr-1), net primary production (NPP) (0.14 ± 0.33 kg C mg-2 yr-1), autotrophic respiration (Ra) (0.09 ± 0.20 kg C mg-2 yr-1), heterotrophic respiration (Rh) (0.14 ± 0.20 kg C mg-2 yr-1), net ecosystem exchange (NEE) (-0.01 ± 0.19 kg C mg-2 yr-1), and CH4 flux (2.52 ± 4.02 g CH4 mg-2 yr -1). There were no consistent spatial patterns in the larger Alaskan Arctic and boreal regional carbon stocks and fluxes, with some models showing NEE for Alaska as a strong carbon sink, others as a strong carbon source, while still others as carbon neutral. Finally, AmeriFlux data are used at two sites in the Alaskan Arctic to evaluate the regional patterns; observed seasonal NEE was captured within multi-model uncertainty. This assessment of carbon cycle uncertainties may be used as a baseline for the improvement of experimental and modeling activities, as well as a reference for future trajectories in carbon cycling with climate change in the Alaskan Arctic and larger boreal region.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4271-4288
Number of pages18
JournalBiogeosciences
Volume11
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 14 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Earth-Surface Processes

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