Abstract
The multi-scale carbon-carbon dioxide (C-CO2) dynamics of subtropical urban forests and other green and grey infrastructure types were explored in an urbanized campus near Shanghai, China. We integrated eddy covariance (EC) C-CO2 flux measurements and the Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon footprint tool to analyze C-CO2 dynamics at the landscape-scale as well as in local-scale urban forest patches during one year. The approach measured the C-CO2 flux from different contributing areas depending on wind directions and atmospheric stability. Although the study landscape was a net carbon source (2.98 Mg C ha−1 yr−1), we found the mean CO2 flux in urban forest patches was −1.32 μmol m−2s−1, indicating that these patches function as a carbon sink with an annual carbon balance of −5.00 Mg C ha−1. These results indicate that urban forest patches and vegetation (i.e., green infrastructure) composition can be designed to maximize the sequestration of CO2. This novel integrated modeling approach can be used to facilitate the study of the multi-scale effects of urban forests and green infrastructure on CO2 and to establish low-carbon emitting planning and planting designs in the subtropics.
Highlights
Urban areas are a complex matrix of different land covers, primarily including green infrastructure (GI; e.g., urban forests and other vegetation patches) and grey infrastructure
Many studies on the role of vegetation on C have used indirect methods such as allometric biomass equations and tree inventory data to assess C stocks and CO2 sequestration in urban areas [6,7]. Other empirical approaches, such as urban metabolism [8] and direct measurements using eddy covariance (EC) flux observation systems [9], are being used to assess these urban C-CO2 dynamics. Of these methods, EC allows for integrated measurements of C-CO2 fluxes between the surface and the atmosphere within a contribution area to measured C fluxes, known as the footprint, which consists of sources and sinks [9,10,11]
The grey and GI areas were selected throughout the footprint and we combined this EC data to characteriz4e was −5.00 Mg seasonal C-CO2 fluxes (Figure 2) [12]
Summary
Urban areas are a complex matrix of different land covers, primarily including green infrastructure (GI; e.g., urban forests and other vegetation patches) and grey infrastructure (e.g., buildings, roads, and impervious). Many studies on the role of vegetation on C have used indirect methods such as allometric biomass equations and tree inventory data to assess C stocks and CO2 sequestration in urban areas [6,7] Other empirical approaches, such as urban metabolism [8] and direct measurements using eddy covariance (EC) flux observation systems [9], are being used to assess these urban C-CO2 dynamics. Of these methods, EC allows for integrated measurements of C-CO2 fluxes between the surface and the atmosphere within a contribution area to measured C fluxes, known as the footprint, which consists of sources and sinks [9,10,11]. The C-CO2 dynamics of smaller localized patches and areas within the footprint are much more difficult to model [4,10]
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