Program:
Wisconsin Focus on Energy
Environmental Research program
Abstract:
The objectives of the study are: (1) quantify the carbon content in forest
vegetation, detritus, and mineral soil for forests in Wisconsin, (2) model and
evaluate the carbon budgets for three model forests, (3) conduct life cycle
analyses of forest product chains to identify management and industrial
processes that can be modified to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and/or
increase carbon sequestration, (4) expand previous analyses to include all
forests in Wisconsin, and (5) incorporate ecophysiological elevated CO2 and
warming mechanisms into an ecosystem process model and simulate forest C budgets
and forest product chains for future environment. We will simulate future forest
carbon budgets using a modified version of the ecosystem process model, IBIS. We
will incorporate cutting-edge forest ecosystem net CO2 exchange responses from
results obtained by the Free Air CO2 Exchange (FACE) and forest ecosystem
warming studies that Gower directs or has participated in. We will use the
Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest, Northern Highland American Legion (NHAL)
State Forest, and StoraEnso North America (SENA) forests in Northern Wisconsin
as model forests in Year 1 to evaluate all aspects of the study because they are
representative of the major source of timber for Wisconsin and include a broad
range of forest ownership. We have extensive experience with field measurements
(Haynes and Gower 1994, Fassnacht and Gower 1997, 1998, 1999, Burrows et al.
2002), ecosystem modeling (Running and Gower 1991), and remote sensing (Fassnacht
et al. 1997, Ahl et al. 2003) for these forests. The modeling and remote sensing
tools we propose to use were developed during the Chequamegon Ecosystem
Atmosphere Study - a multi-organizational research effort funded by NASA and
NOAA to quantify carbon and water exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and
the atmosphere. We will model forest ecosystem carbon budgets using IBIS, that
Gower helped develop (Kucharik et al. 1999), and has been for forests in
northern Wisconsin. We will address objective 3 using life cycle analysis (LCA);
Gower has just completed a LCA study funded by a major paper and dimensional
lumber company, a magazine publisher and a retail do-it-yourself store that
sells dimensional lumber. LCA studies quantify the sources and magnitudes of GHG
emissions. Objectives 3 & 4 will be used to identify opportunities for forest
and forest product chains where GHG emissions can be mitigated, carbon
sequestration can be increased, and waste disposal practices of end products can
be modified.