16
October 2003
Soil carbon: Down to ozone
Over the past century increases in ozone concentrations in the lowermost part of the atmosphere, the troposphere, have accompanied increases in carbon dioxide levels across much of North America and Europe. Elevated ozone levels can reduce plant growth and reduce allocation of carbon to roots and hence have an impact on the terrestrial carbon cycle. Now a study performed in experimental aspen and mixed aspen-rich stands in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, examines the effect of elevated ozone and carbon dioxide levels on carbon cycling below ground. The results show that with double the ambient concentrations of ozone and carbon dioxide there is a 50% reduction in soil carbon formation. Soil carbon cycling appears to be altered by simultaneous exposure to elevated levels of these two trace gases.
Reduction of soil carbon formation by tropospheric
ozone under increased carbon dioxide levels
WENDY M. LOYA, KURT S. PREGITZER, NOAH J. KARBERG,
JOHN S. KING & CHRISTIAN P. GIARDINA
Nature 425, 705–707 (2003); doi:10.1038/nature02047
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