GLOBAL WARMING MITIGATION POTENTIAL OF THREE TREE PLANTATION SCENARIIOS
Citation:
Peer, R., D. Campbell, AND W. Hohenstein. GLOBAL WARMING MITIGATION POTENTIAL OF THREE TREE PLANTATION SCENARIIOS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/7-91/003 (NTIS PB91-159608), 1991.
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The report gives results of an analysis of three alternative uses of forests in the U.S. to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2)concentrations: (1) planting trees with no harvesting, (2) traditional forestry, and (3) short-rotation intensive culture of trees for biomass. ncreasing concentrations of CO2 and other radiatively important trace gases (RITGs) are of concern due to their potential to alter the Earth's climate. Some scientists, after reviewing the results of general circulation models, predict rising average temperatures and alterations in the Earth's hydrologic cycle. While the debate continues over the actual magnitude of global warming, most scientists agree that some change will occur over the next century. This places a burden on policymakers to address global warming and to develop mitigation measures. ince forests provide a sink for carbon by fixing CO2 to produce biomass halting deforestation and creating new forests have been proposed as ways to slow the buildup of carbon in the Earth's atmosphere.