Perspectives on New Data I

Forest age improves understanding of the global carbon sink

Data revolution
Changing biodiversity
PNAS 2019 (a Commentary)
Authors

Kai Zhu

Yiluan Song

Clara Qin

Published

February 19, 2019

Keywords

environmental data science, forest age, carbon, global database

Paper

Highlights

  • Pugh et al., 2019 utilized a new global database of forest age to inform a vegetation model.
  • Regrowth forests constitute a carbon sink that is even greater than that of old-growth forests.
  • This study underscored the importance of forest age data and demographic processes in terrestrial biosphere modeling.
  • They challenged the traditional equilibrium view and revealed that much of the current global forest carbon sink is transient.
  • In light of their estimate of a smaller carbon sink than previously anticipated, even more immediate action on CO2 emission reduction may be justified.

History of changing forests in New England.