ASL
Trees grow by taking CO2 from the air and by absrobing water and minerals from the soil. They use sunlight for energy to change the CO2 into wood and leaves. The tree's growth depends on the type of tree, rainfall, soil conditions, latitude, elevation, competition from other trees etc. Trees also grow slowly. Some trees grow for centuries or even thousands of years. To find how fast trees sequester CO2, we need to look at different combinations of these factors. We would need hundreds of test plots. Since trees grow slowly we would need to wait years to see the results.
ASL
Fortunately, many scientists have been experimenting with trees. One scientist looked at the effect of rainfall; a second scientist looked at soil conditions, etc. Then, the scientists made equations to predict the effects of each factor. If we put these equations together, we can predict how different kinds of forests grow. There are many equations. Doing all of the math would take too long and be too confusing. If we put the equations together in a computer program, the computer will do the math for us. We call this kind of program a model. Doing science using these models is called Computational Science.
ASL
We will use a forest model made by Wageningen University and Research Center . The model simulates a hectare plot. A hectare is about the size of 2 football fields. After all of the variables are put in the model we run it. The model reports on the carbon in the forest for the next 300 years.
ASL
There are 2 sets of data. One set, called stocks, gives the carbon stored in different parts of the forest. For example, roots of the trees make up one part of the forest. The second data set, called flows, gives the carbon that is moving into and out of each part.
ASL
The questions we want to investigate are:
- Where is carbon stored in the forest?
- How do these carbon reservoirs change over time?
- What can we do to increase the carbon stored in the reservoirs?
