Date of Award

Fall 2006

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Natural Resources

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

George Hurtt

Abstract

A better understanding of carbon stocks and fluxes is a priority of many national and international agencies, including NASA, NACP, IPCC, and IGBP. (Asrar et al. 2001, IGBP Annual Report, 2003, IPCC Third Assessment Report: Climate Change 2001). Patterns of carbon stocks and fluxes on the land surface are important for studies of the carbon cycle, climate change, and terrestrial ecology. One source of heterogeneity is associated with elevation. In systems around the world, patterns in carbon stocks, fluxes, and the factors that underlie them have well documented relationships with elevation (Korner 1999, Schwarz et al. 2003, Waide et al. 1998, Whittaker and Neiring 1975, Weaver 1990). One system well suited to study these patterns and their causes is Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF), where field data and remote sensing data demonstrate that forests exhibit decreased height and aboveground biomass (AGB) with elevation. Here, we address the relative importance of various factors that contribute to these patterns. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

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