Reference
Ollinger, S.V., Aber, J.D., Reich, P.B. and Freuder, R.J. 2002. Interactive effects of nitrogen deposition, tropospheric ozone, elevated CO2 and land use history on the carbon dynamics of northern hardwood forests. Global Change Biology 8: 545-562.
What was done
The authors used a forest ecosystem model (PnET-CN) to determine the relative importance of anthropogenic change for forest carbon dynamics in the northeastern USA, over the period 1700-2000. Model inputs included increasing atmospheric CO2 and tropospheric ozone concentrations, nitrogen deposition and historical human land use.
What was learned
Although much was learned in this study, we focus on the result that is most germane to our concerns, which is that elevated CO2 and nitrogen deposition stimulated forest growth and carbon uptake in the model simulations, while elevated tropospheric ozone substantially offset those gains.
What it means
Based on their simulations, the authors concluded that intact forests might show relatively little change from current growth rates if anthropogenic activities continue to increase atmospheric CO2 and ozone concentrations and nitrogen deposition in the future.
Reviewed 2 April 2003