Australian carbon dust emission: a carbon accounting omission?

Chappell, Adrian and Webb, Nicholas P. and Butler, Harry and Strong, Craig and McTainsh, Grant and Leys, John (2012) Australian carbon dust emission: a carbon accounting omission? In: 5th Joint Australian and New Zealand Soil Science Conference (SSA 2012): Soil Solutions for Diverse Landscapes, 2-7 Dec 2012, Hobart, Australia.

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Abstract

Erosion preferentially removes the finest carbon- and nutrient-rich soil fractions, and consequently its role may be significant within terrestrial carbon (C) cycles. However, the impacts of wind erosion on soil organic carbon redistribution are not considered in most SOC models, or within the Australian national carbon accounting scheme. Although SOC can be redistributed locally by water and wind erosion, dust emission can remove surface SOC from vast areas of inland and agricultural areas of Australia and transport it quickly offshore; representing a net loss of SOC from terrestrial systems. Estimates of the carbon dust emission magnitude require information on the spatial and temporal variation of SOC enrichment in dust emissions (P). We developed a process-based approximation of P within the Computational Environmental Management System (CEMSYS v5) national wind erosion model. It enabled the prediction of carbon dust emissions at a 50km spatial resolution across Australia every month from 2000-2010. Carbon dust emissions were summed for all months in the study period and across
Australia to generate a time series of national carbon dust emissions. The magnitude, frequency and spatial variation of carbon dust emissions and their implications for Australian national carbon accounts will be discussed.

Statistics for this ePrint Item

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Commonwealth Reporting Category E) (Paper)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Author retains copyright.
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Current - USQ Other
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2013 05:53
Last Modified:	11 Apr 2017 04:26
Uncontrolled Keywords:	erosion; dust; topsoil; carbon dust
Fields of Research :	07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 0701 Agriculture, Land and Farm Management > 070108 Sustainable Agricultural Development 14 Economics > 1402 Applied Economics > 140201 Agricultural Economics 05 Environmental Sciences > 0503 Soil Sciences > 050301 Carbon Sequestration Science
Socio-Economic Objective:	B Economic Development > 91 Economic Framework > 9199 Other Economic Framework > 919901 Carbon and Emissions Trading
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/22152

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