A GIS-based study on the estimation of fixed atmospheric CO2 in tropical tree biomass from Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, South India

Nesayyan R Chrips,Bam H.N Razafindrabe,Ben C Williams,Raghavakurup T Vinod

doi:10.1080/19475683.2019.1664632

Nesayyan R Chrips, Bam H.N Razafindrabe + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/19475683.2019.1664632

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Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study aims to estimate the fixed CO2 in tree biomass in the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Ghats, India. The methodology consists of a GIS-based estimation of atmospheric CO2, based on the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimation method. Prior to further analyses such as satellite image classification processes, radiometric and geometric corrections were conducted to remove unwanted artefacts, such as additive effects due to atmospheric scattering, using a set of preprocessing or clean-up routines. Tree vegetation categories – dense evergreen, evergreen, dense semi-evergreen, semi-evergreen, and moist deciduous – were identified. Tree formations were also categorized based on their elevation: high elevation, medium elevation, and low elevation. Findings showed that fixed CO2 per unit area (1 ha) ranged from 356.98 t for high elevation dense evergreen to 205.24 t for low elevation semi-evergreen vegetation. Different elevation ranges in those tree formations also displayed distinct differences in the fixed CO2 per unit area. For dense evergreen formation, fixed CO2 was highest at high elevation, lowest at medium elevation. Evergreen and dense semi-evergreen showed higher values at low elevations compared to those at medium elevations. In semi-evergreen and moist deciduous, medium elevation trees showed higher values than those at low elevations.

Highlights

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report stated that ‘anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have increased since the pre-industrial era driven largely by economic and population growth’ (IPCC 2014, 44)
Over the last three decades, greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions have increased by an average of 1.6% per year, with CO2 emissions from the use of fossil fuels growing at a rate of 1.9% per year, and these emission trends are expected to continue in the absence of additional policy actions (IPCC 2014, 2006; Land et al 2019)
According to Cole et al (1997), land-use change and agricultural activity account for about one-third of the warming effect globally from increased GHG concentrations alone, not counting the enormous waste generated by agro-industry and magnifying the solid waste disposal issues faced by many countries (Jawaduddin et al 2019; Sadh, Duhan, and Duhan 2018)

Summary

Introduction

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report stated that ‘anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have increased since the pre-industrial era driven largely by economic and population growth’ (IPCC 2014, 44). Among the renowned greenhouse gases (GHG) listed by IPCC (2006), which include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), trifluoromethyl sulphur pentafluoride (SF5CF3), and halogenated ethers, concentrations of GHGs, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), are reported to have shown large increases since 1750 (IPCC 2014). These gases enhance the retention of heat by allowing shortwave radiation (light) to pass through but act as a barrier to longwave radiation (heat). According to Cole et al (1997), land-use change (predominantly in the tropics) and agricultural activity account for about one-third of the warming effect globally from increased GHG concentrations alone, not counting the enormous waste generated by agro-industry and magnifying the solid waste disposal issues faced by many countries (Jawaduddin et al 2019; Sadh, Duhan, and Duhan 2018)

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