CO2-induced Climate Change and Forest Resources

Résumé du livre

The objective of this paper is to examine potential forest responses to increases in atmospheric CO/sub 2/ and to CO/sub 2/-induced climate change. Forests both affect and respond to changes in atmospheric CO/sub 2/ and climate. Forests directly affect climate at the global scale by altering the earth's albedo, hydrological regimes, and atmospheric CO/sub 2/. At a local scale they can alter air temperature, humidity, and solar radiation. In turn, forests are affected by CO/sub 2/ and climate at many spatial and temporal scales. Forest responses to CO/sub 2/ and climate may be examined by using five biotic paradigms. Each paradigm has its own spatial and temporal scale and its own set of unique phenomena responsive to CO/sub 2/ and climate changes. We will first use these paradigms to review forest responses to CO/sub 2/ and climate. We will then describe the linkages between these paradigms and the implications of these linkages for future research on the impact of elevated atmospheric CO/sub 2/ and climate change on forest resources.