Document: JOS-3-66-18

The effects of CO₂ and landuse change using synchronously coupled meteorological and plant models.

EASTMAN, J.L* ¹, R.BWAIDE ¹, M.BCOUGHENOUR ² and R.APIELKE ²

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA ¹
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA ²

Abstract:
A meteorological model, the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS), and a plant model, the General Energy and Mass Transfer Model (GEMTM), are synchronously coupled in this study. The modeling system was then used to investigate the regional effects in the central grasslands of the United States when: a) land cover is changed from current to potential vegetation, b) radiative forcing is changed from ambient CO₂ to 2 fold greater CO₂, and c) biological CO₂ partial pressures are doubled. The model results indicate that the biological effect of enriched CO₂, and landuse change exhibit dominant effects on meteorological and biological fields on this regional scale. This was found at daily to seasonal time scales, and grid to regional spatial scales. The radiation impacts of 2 fold CO₂ are minimal, with interactive effects between the three areas of investigation as large as the radiational impact. The model results suggest that the 2 fols CO₂ biological effect would exert significant effects on weather in this region.

Keywords: Landuse, Coupled Models, CO2

This abstract is being presented at: 1:15 PM in session:
Oral Session #30: Effects of Elevated Carbon Dioxide.