Forests in the Global Carbon Cycle

Abstract

Forests play a major role in the global carbon cycle. Deforestation is a major source of carbon to the atmosphere, and forest regrowth is a major sink for carbon from the atmosphere. This understanding comes from several decades of intense research focusing on explaining patterns of variation in atmospheric CO2 over time and space. The observed patterns reflect the influences of industrial humanity, ocean processes and ecosystem dynamics and understanding these patterns required pooling the techniques of many scientific disciplines. Understanding the role of forests in the global carbon cycle required the expertise of atmospheric scientists, oceanographers, remote sensing pioneers, as well as the full range of forest science disciplines, from biometrics to history. Atmospheric measurements, satellite images and automated sensors have become part of the standard tools of forest scientists, leading to the inclusion of forest dynamics in models of the global system. These Earth System models suggest that the future of our planet is inextricably connected to the fate of its forests.