- Location: Ireland
- Institution: Trinity College Dublin
- Status: Active
- Type: Independent
- Theme: Projections
- Timeframe: 2024-2029
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Land ecosystems play a key role in the global carbon cycle because they store large amounts of carbon in plants and soil. However, scientists do not yet know exactly how much carbon ecosystems can absorb over the long term or how vulnerable they are to climate change. Using ecosystems to store carbon or restoring them to support biodiversity depends on knowing that they will stay healthy and stable in the future.
Global models estimate how much carbon ecosystems can store, but these models are very broad and miss important local details, such as plant and soil types or land use. As a result, they cannot guide decision-making at local or national levels.
This project is producing more accurate predictions for the UK and Ireland, showing how much carbon different ecosystems can absorb and store under future climate conditions. The predictions take into account local factors, including land use, management practices, and ecosystem types. This makes making them more useful for planning and conservation.
Project Goals
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Combine information about carbon storage and plant growth from different sources to improve models and evaluations.
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Predict how much carbon will be stored in soil and plants in the future in different climate scenarios.
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Identify risks and weaknesses for different types of ecosystem restoration in a changing climate.
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