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https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-7-5997-2010
© Author(s) 2010. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-7-5997-2010
© Author(s) 2010. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
13 Aug 2010
Status: this preprint was under review for the journal BG. A revision for further review has not been submitted.
The greenhouse gas balance of European grasslands
Abstract. The long-term carbon balance (NBP) of grasslands is estimated by combining scarce multi-year eddy-covariance observations at ecosystem observation sites where information on carbon inputs and harvesting removals is available. Following accounting for carbon leached to rivers, we estimated grasslands to be net carbon sinks of 74±10 g C m−2 yr−1. Uncertainties arise from the small number of sites and the short measurement period. Only 11 sites, out of a total of 20 grassland sites in Europe where eddy covariance systems are installed, were set-up for estimating NBP. These 11 selected sites are representative of intensive management practice and we lack information on disturbance history, such as plowing. This suggests that the grassland NBP estimate is likely biased towards overestimating the sink, compared to the European average. Direct measurements of Net Primary Productivity (NPP) are not possible in grasslands given permanent biomass removal by grazing and mowing, uncertainties in rhizodeposition and production of volatile organic carbon compounds lost to the atmosphere. Therefore, the grassland process-based ecosystem model PASIM was used to estimate the spatial-temporal distribution of NPP, providing a European average value of 750±150 g C across extensively grazed, intensively grazed pastures, and forage production systems. In Europe the NPP of grasslands seems higher than that of croplands and forests. The carbon sequestration efficiency of grasslands, defined as the ratio of NBP to NPP, amounts to 0.09±0.10. Therefore, per unit of carbon input, grasslands sequester 3–4 times more carbon in the soil than forests do, making them a good candidate for managing onsite carbon sinks. When using the 100 yr greenhouse warming potential for CH4 and N2O, their emissions due to management of grasslands together offset roughly 70–80% of the carbon sink. Uncertainties on the European grassland greenhouse gas balance, including CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes are likely to be reduced in the near future, with data being collected from more sites, and improved up-scaling methods.
How to cite. Ciais, P., Soussana, J. F., Vuichard, N., Luyssaert, S., Don, A., Janssens, I. A., Piao, S. L., Dechow, R., Lathière, J., Maignan, F., Wattenbach, M., Smith, P., Ammann, C., Freibauer, A., Schulze, E. D., and the CARBOEUROPE Synthesis Team: The greenhouse gas balance of European grasslands, Biogeosciences Discuss., 7, 5997–6050, https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-7-5997-2010, 2010.
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RC C3131: 'Review of “The greenhouse gas balance of European grasslands” by P. Ciais et al., bgd-7-5997-2010', Anonymous Referee #1, 04 Oct 2010
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RC C3149: 'comments & recommendation', Anonymous Referee #2, 05 Oct 2010
Status: closed (peer review stopped)
Status: closed (peer review stopped)
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
- Printer-friendly version
- Supplement
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RC C3131: 'Review of “The greenhouse gas balance of European grasslands” by P. Ciais et al., bgd-7-5997-2010', Anonymous Referee #1, 04 Oct 2010
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RC C3149: 'comments & recommendation', Anonymous Referee #2, 05 Oct 2010
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Latest update: 23 Apr 2024
P. Ciais
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CEA CNRS UVSQ, UMR 1572, 91191 Gif sur Yvette, France
J. F. Soussana
Grassland Ecosystem Research, INRA, 234, Av. du Brézet, Clermont-Ferrand, 63039, France
N. Vuichard
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CEA CNRS UVSQ, UMR 1572, 91191 Gif sur Yvette, France
Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement, Nogent-sur-Marne, France
S. Luyssaert
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CEA CNRS UVSQ, UMR 1572, 91191 Gif sur Yvette, France
Department of Biology, University of Antwerpen, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
A. Don
Department of Biology, University of Antwerpen, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
I. A. Janssens
Department of Biology, University of Antwerpen, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
S. L. Piao
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CEA CNRS UVSQ, UMR 1572, 91191 Gif sur Yvette, France
Department of Ecology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
R. Dechow
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knoell-Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
J. Lathière
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CEA CNRS UVSQ, UMR 1572, 91191 Gif sur Yvette, France
F. Maignan
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CEA CNRS UVSQ, UMR 1572, 91191 Gif sur Yvette, France
M. Wattenbach
Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
P. Smith
Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK
C. Ammann
Fed. Research Station ART, Reckenholzstr. 191, 8046 Zürich, Switzerland
A. Freibauer
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knoell-Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
E. D. Schulze
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knoell-Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
the CARBOEUROPE Synthesis Team
G. Abril, O. Bouriaud, C. Beer, G. Churkina, J. Grace, M. Jung, I. Levin, G.-J. Nabuurs, J.-D. Paris, D. Papale, P. Peylin, M. Reichstein, M.-J. Schellhaas, M. Vetter, G.-R. van der Werf, K. Van Oost, N. Viovy, S. Zaehle