Examining spatial carbon metabolism: Features, future simulation, and land-based mitigation

Xuezhu Cui, Shaoying Li and Feng Gao

Ecological Modelling, 2020, vol. 438, issue C

Abstract: A comprehensive understanding of the spatial carbon metabolism distribution is essential for future mitigation policies from a land-based perspective. This study develops a methodological framework for carbon metabolism measurement and future simulation. An assessment of carbon sequestration and emission is conducted based on land use components within the biosphere. Carbon scenarios in accordance with the governmental mitigation policy were then established, and these were coupled with future multiple-type land use transitions to simulate the future spatial carbon distribution. This future carbon distribution map can help us understand the carbon dynamics in specific locations with possible land-based mitigation for policy making. Guangzhou, which is a rapid urbanization metropolis in China, was taken as a case study to conduct the proposed methodological framework and models. The results revealed that high-density carbon emissions dominated in the city center and expanded in the east-west direction, while carbon sequestration diminished in the middle and southern areas, with a decreased total sequestration amount. The carbon distribution in the 2030 scenarios highlighted different mitigation implications for different locations in the north, south, and central areas. Projections of emission reductions in northern outskirts and southern sub-center, as well as the projections of sequestration increases in the city center and northern mountainous area are then proposed to support mitigation. The established framework is proven to be effective for examining spatial carbon features at an urban scale, and the empirical findings can provide valuable insight into carbon mitigation strategies for rapid urbanization areas in developing countries.

Keywords: Carbon mitigation; Land use change; Policy making; Carbon metabolism; FLUS model; Guangzhou (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030438002030394X
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:438:y:2020:i:c:s030438002030394x

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2020.109325

Access Statistics for this article

Ecological Modelling is currently edited by Brian D. Fath

More articles in Ecological Modelling from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().