Biogeochemical Cycles
Research on biogeochemical cycles in agroecosystems
focuses on understanding how the land's major
biogeochemical cycles are affected by human
activities, including agricultural development
and energy production. Research will help
predict the impact of biogeochemical changes
at multiple scales, and to determine if ecosystem
harm can be reduced by modifying human behavior
and agricultural practices and by applying
relevant technologies. For example, research
on the global carbon cycleidentifies the
size, variability, and potential future changes
to reservoirs and fluxes of carbon within
the Earth system; and provides the scientific
underpinning for evaluating options to manage
carbon sources and sinks. Specific programs
and projects focus on:
- North American and oceanic carbon sources
and sinks;
- the impact of land-use change and resource
management practices on carbon sources
and sinks;
- projecting future atmospheric carbon
dioxide and methane concentrations, and
changes in land-based and marine carbon
sinks; and
- the global distribution of carbon sources
and sinks and how they are changing.
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