Historic Simulation of Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance for the Great Dismal Swamp
Dataset Identification:
Resource Abstract:
Estimating ecosystem carbon (C) balance relative to natural disturbances and land management strengthens our understanding
of the benefits and tradeoffs of carbon sequestration. We conducted a historic model simulation of net ecosystem C balance
in the Great Dismal Swamp, VA. for the 30-year time period of 1985-2015. The historic simulation of annual carbon flux was
calculated with the Land Use and Carbon Scenario Simulator (LUCAS) model. The LUCAS model utilizes a state-and-transition
simulation model coupled with a carbon stock-flow accounting model to estimate net ecosystem C balance, and long term sequestration
rates under various ecological conditions and management strategies. The historic model simulation uses age-structured forest
growth curves for four forest species, C stock and flow rates for 8 pools and 14 fluxes, and known data for disturbance and
management. The annualized results of C biomass are provided in this data release in the following categories: Growth, Heterotrophic
Respiration (Rh), Net Ecosystem Production (NEP), Net Biome Production (NBP), Below-ground Biomass (BGB) Stock, Above-ground
Biomass (AGB) Stock, AGB Carbon Loss from Fire, BGB Carbon Loss from Fire, Deadwood Carbon Loss from Management, and Total
Carbon Loss. The table also includes the area (annually) of each forest type in hectares: Atlantic white cedar Area (hectares);
Cypress-gum Area (hectares); Maple-gum Area (hectares); Pond pine Area (hectares). Net ecosystem production for the Great
Dismal Swamp (~ 54,000 ha), from 1985 to 2015 was estimated to be a net sink of 0.97 Tg C. When the hurricane and six historic
fire events were modeled, the Great Dismal Swamp became a net source of 0.89 Tg C. The cumulative above and belowground C
loss estimated from the South One in 2008 and Lateral West fire in 2011 totaled 1.70 Tg C, while management activities removed
an additional 0.01 Tg C. The C loss in below-ground biomass alone totaled 1.38 Tg C, with the balance (0.31 Tg C) coming from
above-ground biomass and detritus. The LUCAS model is free and available to download (see source metadata) and can be used
for multiple spatial and temporal scales. For detailed information about the methodology and input parameters, please refer
to the journal article, Sleeter, R., Sleeter, B., Williams, B., Hogan, D., Hawbaker, T., Zhu Z., 2017, A Carbon Balance Model
for the Great Dismal Swamp Ecosystem, Carbon Balance and Management, v. 12, no. 2, p. 20, <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13021-017-0070-4"
style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13021-017-0070-4</a>.
Citation
Title Historic Simulation of Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance for the Great Dismal Swamp
Title Categories > methods > computational methods > mathematical modeling
revision Date
2017-08-01
Theme
Keywords
biota
thesaurus name >
Title ISO 19115 Topic Category
revision Date
2017-08-01
Place
Keywords
Great Dismal Swamp, Virginia
thesaurus name >
Title None
revision Date
2017-08-01
Harvest Set
Keywords
USGS Science Data Catalog (SDC)
USGS Scientific Topic Keyword
Keywords
Geography
purpose:
This data provides results from a historic model simulation covering the period from 1985 to 2015 in the Great Dismal Swamp,
Virginia. The historic simulation of net ecosystem carbon balance (1985 - 2015) was completed in order to test the carbon
stock and flow parameters of the carbon balance model. All input parameters were derived from published sources and described
in detail in the journal paper. The Land Use and Carbon Scenario Simulator (LUCAS) model was used to simulate net ecosystem
carbon balance based on the known ecological conditions during the 30 year time period, The results are provided in a table
and include annual carbon biomass values in tons of carbon per hectare (t C/ha) for the following categories: Growth; Heterotrophic
Respiration (Rh); Net Ecosystem Production (NEP); Net Biome Production (NBP); Belowground Biomass (BGB) Stock ; Aboveground
Biomass (AGB) Stock; AGB Carbon Loss from Fire ; BGB Carbon Loss from Fire; Deadwood Carbon Loss from Management; and Total
Carbon Loss. The table also includes the area (annually) of each forest type in hectares: Atlantic White Cedar Area (hectares);
Cypress Gum Area (hectares); Maple Gum Area (hectares); Pine Pocosin Area (hectares).