Post on 14-Jan-2016
Carbon Dioxide in Watershed
Peter Li
Professor, Earth Sciences
Tennessee Technological University
Stanford University, 2007
Who Put Most CO2 to the air?
Government policy?
Source:http://intellectualize.org/images/cartoon20050605.gif
What can happen if we don’t produce less CO2 ?
• Warmer temperature………
Source: http://j-walkblog.com/index.php?/weblog/2006/02/17/
What can happen if we don’t produce
less CO2 ?
• Glaciers and ice sheets in Artic will melt (Polar Bears hunt on ice sheets)
Source: www.ens-newswire.com/.../20070102_polarbears.jpg
What can happen if we don’t produce less CO2 ?
• Sea levels will rise. Instead of going to Myrtle Beach, you boys will head to Knoxville Beach for your spring break..
What can happen if we don’t produce
less CO2 ?
• More violent weather
Source: www.davidosler.com/flood.jpg
Cane Creek Watershed -Geographic Location
• 24.1 mi2
• Developed, Open Space 8.0%• Developed, Low Density 7.8%• Developed, Medium Density1.6%• Deciduous Forest 24.8%• Pasture 17.9%• Crops 36.8%• Others 3.1%
Source: Peter Li, 2007
Warming Trend Upper Cumberland Area
Minimum Temperature over 54 Years
y = 0.0001x + 43.601
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
80
100
0 5000 10000 15000 20000
day
Te
mp
era
ture
(F
ah
ren
he
it)
Source: Peter Li, 2007
Source: Peter Li, 2007
Our dedicated research assistant
Source: Peter Li, 2007
Source: Peter Li, 2007
CO2 Emission RateFigure 5. Soil Carbon Emission
-3500
-3000
-2500
-2000
-1500
-1000
-500
0
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Year
CO
2 (k
gC
/ha) CO2 Emission
Source: Peter Li, 2007
Drill for Winter Wheat
Qubit Soil CO2 Analyzer
Source: Peter Li, 2007
Land Use Change
Source: Peter Li, 2007
Conclusion
• Carbon Inventory is computed using GIS• Agricultural Practices have major impact
on carbon released to the air• Land use and cover change will pose a
major challenge to the carbon sequestration.
• Acknowledgement: NRCS, TTU, my dedicated students…Greg, Whitney, Derrick, Roshan, Drew….
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/naked-glacier-tunick-08182007