North America is both a source and sink of atmospheric CO2. Sources, predominately fossil-fuel combustion in the United States along with contributions from deforestation in Mexico, add CO2 to the atmosphere. Most North America ecosystems, particularly regrowing forests in the United States, are sinks for atmospheric CO2. CO2 is removed from the atmosphere in photosynthesis, converted into biomass and stored as carbon in vegetation, soil and wood products. Fossil-fuel emissions dominate the North American source-sink balance. North America is a net source of atmospheric CO2 with ecosystem sinks balancing approximately 35% of fossil-fuel CO2 emissions from North America.
Revised: December 18, 2012 |
Published: December 1, 2012
Citation
King A.W., D.J. Hayes, D.N. Huntzinger, T.O. West, and W.M. Post. 2012.North America carbon dioxide sources and sinks: magnitude, attribution, and uncertainty.Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10, no. 10:512-519.PNNL-SA-89672.doi:10.1890/120066