title: Impacts of urbanization on carbon balance in terrestrial ecosystems of the Southern United States.
abstract: Using a process-based Dynamic Land Ecosystem Model, we assessed carbon dynamics of urbanized/developed lands in the Southern United States during 1945-2007. The results indicated that approximately 1.72 (1.69-1.77) Pg (1P = 10(15)) carbon was stored in urban/developed lands, comparable to the storage of shrubland or cropland in the region. Urbanization resulted in a release of 0.21 Pg carbon to the atmosphere during 1945-2007. Pre-urbanization vegetation type and time since land conversion were two primary factors determining the extent of urbanization impacts on carbon dynamics. After a rapid decline of carbon storage during land conversion, an urban ecosystem gradually accumulates carbon and may compensate for the initial carbon loss in 70-100 years. The carbon sequestration rate of urban ecosystem diminishes with time, nearly disappearing in two centuries after land conversion. This study implied that it is important to take urbanization effect into account for assessing regional carbon balance.
authors.affiliation: Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China.
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hanqin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Guangsheng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chappelka
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Dafeng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Mingliang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chaoqun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shufen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lockaby
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D057486:Carbon Cycle; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007629:Kentucky; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009825:Oklahoma; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013781:Texas; D014507:Urbanization
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon