Edmonds
Jae
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Role of carbon cycle observations and knowledge in carbon management
Edmonds
Jae
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Agriculture and industrial development have led to inadvertent changes
in the natural carbon cycle. As a consequence, concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have increased in the atmosphere and may lead to changes in
climate. The current challenge facing society is to develop options for future management
of the carbon cycle. A variety of approaches has been suggested: direct reduction
of emissions, deliberate manipulation of the natural carbon cycle to enhance sequestration,
and capture and isolation of carbon from fossil fuel use. Policy development to
date has laid out some of the general principles to which carbon management should
adhere. These are summarized as: how much carbon is stored, by what means, and
for how long. To successfully manage carbon for climate purposes requires increased
understanding of carbon cycle dynamics and improvement in the scientific capabilities
available for measurement as well as for policy needs. The specific needs for scientific
information to underpin carbon cycle management decisions are not yet broadly
known. A stronger dialogue between decision makers and scientists must be developed
to foster improved application of scientific knowledge to decisions. This review focuses
on the current knowledge of the carbon cycle, carbon measurement capabilities
(with an emphasis on the continental scale) and the relevance of carbon cycle science
to carbon sequestration goals.