scholarly journals Global cooling induced by biophysical effects of bioenergy crop cultivation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingmeng Wang ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Philippe Ciais ◽  
Laurent Z. X. Li ◽  
Jinfeng Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Temperature ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Aerodynamic Resistance ◽  
Bioenergy Crops ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Bioenergy Crop ◽  
Crop Cultivation ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Cooling Effects ◽  
Biophysical Effects

AbstractBioenergy crop with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is a key negative emission technology to meet carbon neutrality. However, the biophysical effects of widespread bioenergy crop cultivation on temperature remain unclear. Here, using a coupled atmosphere-land model with an explicit representation of lignocellulosic bioenergy crops, we find that after 50 years of large-scale bioenergy crop cultivation following plausible scenarios, global air temperature decreases by 0.03~0.08 °C, with strong regional contrasts and interannual variability. Over the cultivated regions, woody crops induce stronger cooling effects than herbaceous crops due to larger evapotranspiration rates and smaller aerodynamic resistance. At the continental scale, air temperature changes are not linearly proportional to the cultivation area. Sensitivity tests show that the temperature change is robust for eucalypt but more uncertain for switchgrass among different cultivation maps. Our study calls for new metrics to take the biophysical effects into account when assessing the climate mitigation capacity of BECCS.

scholarly journals ORCHIDEE-MICT-BIOENERGY: an attempt to represent the production of lignocellulosic crops for bioenergy in a global vegetation model

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2249-2272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Chao Yue ◽  
Philippe Ciais ◽  
Jinfeng Chang ◽  
Daniel Goll ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lignocellulosic Biomass ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Carbon Allocation ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Bioenergy Crops ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Bioenergy Crop ◽  
Vegetation Model ◽  
Vegetation Models ◽  
Global Vegetation

Abstract. Bioenergy crop cultivation for lignocellulosic biomass is increasingly important for future climate mitigation, and it is assumed on large scales in integrated assessment models (IAMs) that develop future land use change scenarios consistent with the dual constraint of sufficient food production and deep decarbonization for low climate-warming targets. In most global vegetation models, there is no specific representation of crops producing lignocellulosic biomass, resulting in simulation biases of biomass yields and other carbon outputs, and in turn of future bioenergy production. Here, we introduced four new plant functional types (PFTs) to represent four major lignocellulosic bioenergy crops, eucalypt, poplar and willow, Miscanthus, and switchgrass, in the global process-based vegetation model ORCHIDEE. New parameterizations of photosynthesis, carbon allocation, and phenology are proposed based on a compilation of field measurements. A specific harvest module is further added to the model to simulate the rotation of bioenergy tree PFTs based on their age dynamics. The resulting ORCHIDEE-MICT-BIOENERGY model is applied at 296 locations where field measurements of harvested biomass are available for different bioenergy crops. The new model can generally reproduce the global bioenergy crop yield observations. Biases in the model results related to grid-based simulations versus the point-scale measurements and the lack of fertilization and fertilization management practices in the model are discussed. This study sheds light on the importance of properly representing bioenergy crops for simulating their yields. The parameterizations of bioenergy crops presented here are generic enough to be applicable in other global vegetation models.

scholarly journals Managing Plant Microbiomes for Sustainable Biofuel Production

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-13
Author(s):  
Kateryna Zhalnina ◽  
Christine Hawkes ◽  
Ashley Shade ◽  
Mary K. Firestone ◽  
Jennifer Pett-Ridge
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Bioenergy Crops ◽  
Bioenergy Crop ◽  
Ecosystem Impacts

The development of environmentally sustainable, economical, and reliable sources of energy is one of the great challenges of the 21st century. Large-scale cultivation of cellulosic feedstock crops (henceforth, bioenergy crops) is considered one of the most promising renewable sources for liquid transportation fuels. However, the mandate to develop a viable cellulosic bioenergy industry is accompanied by an equally urgent mandate to deliver not only cheap reliable biomass but also ecosystem benefits, including efficient use of water, nitrogen, and phosphorous; restored soil health; and net negative carbon emissions. Thus, sustainable bioenergy crop production may involve new agricultural practices or feedstocks and should be reliable, cost effective, and minimal input, without displacing crops currently grown for food production on fertile land. In this editorial perspective for the Phytobiomes Journal Focus Issue on Phytobiomes of Bioenergy Crops and Agroecosystems, we consider the microbiomes associated with bioenergy crops, the effects beneficial microbes have on their hosts, and potential ecosystem impacts of these interactions. We also address outstanding questions, major advances, and emerging biotechnological strategies to design and manipulate bioenergy crop microbiomes. This approach could simultaneously increase crop yields and provide important ecosystem services for a sustainable energy future.

scholarly journals ORCHIDEE-MICT-BIOENERGY: an attempt to represent the production of lignocellulosic crops for bioenergy in a global vegetation model

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Chao Yue ◽  
Philippe Ciais ◽  
Jinfeng Chang ◽  
Daniel Goll ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lignocellulosic Biomass ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Carbon Allocation ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Bioenergy Crops ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Bioenergy Crop ◽  
Vegetation Model ◽  
Vegetation Models ◽  
Global Vegetation

Abstract. Bioenergy crop cultivation for lignocellulosic biomass is increasingly important for future climate mitigation, and it is assumed on large scales in Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) that develop future land use change scenarios consistent with the dual constraint of sufficient food production and deep de-carbonization for low climate warming targets. In most global vegetation models, there is no specific representation of crops producing lignocellulosic biomass, resulting in simulation biases of biomass yields and other carbon outputs, and in turn of future bioenergy production. Here, we introduced four new plant functional types (PFTs) to represent four major lignocellulosic bioenergy crops, eucalypt, poplar and willow, Miscanthus, and switchgrass, in the global process-based vegetation model, ORCHIDEE. New parameterizations of photosynthesis, carbon allocation and phenology are proposed based on a compilation of field measurements. A specific harvest module is further added to the model to simulate the rotation of bioenergy tree PFTs based on their age dynamics. The resulting ORCHIDEE-MICT-BIOENERGY model is applied at 296 locations where field measurements of harvested biomass are available for different bioenergy crops. The new model can generally reproduce the global bioenergy crop yield observations. Biases of the model results related to grid-based simulations versus the point-scale measurements and the lack of fertilization and fertilization management practices in the model are discussed. This study sheds light on the importance of properly representing bioenergy crops for simulating their yields. The parameterizations of bioenergy crops presented here are generic enough to be applicable in other global vegetation models.

scholarly journals Determinants of Landowners’ Willingness to Participate in Bioenergy Crop Production: A Case Study from Northern Kentucky

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1052
Author(s):  
Sandhya Nepal ◽  
Liem T. Tran ◽  
Donald G. Hodges
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Bioenergy Crops ◽  
Bioenergy Crop ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Southern Us ◽  
Land Use Decisions

Bioenergy crops are considered as potential biomass feedstocks to support the bioenergy industry in the southern US. Even though there are suitable areas to grow bioenergy crops, commercial scale production of bioenergy crops has not been established to meet the increasing energy demand. Establishing bioenergy crops in the region requires landowners’ participation and it is crucial to understand whether they intend to promote bioenergy crop production. This study evaluated landowners’ perception of bioenergy and their willingness to supply lands for bioenergy crops in northern Kentucky. A questionnaire survey of randomly selected landowners was administered in four selected counties. Results indicated that landowners’ land use decisions for bioenergy crop production were based on their current land management practices, socio-economic and environmental factors. Overall, there was a low willingness of landowners to participate in bioenergy crop production. Those who were interested indicated that a higher biomass price would be required to promote bioenergy crops on their land. This information could be useful to plan for policies that provide economic incentives to landowners for large-scale production of bioenergy crops in the study area and beyond. Further, results showed how landowners’ opinion on bioenergy affected their preferences for land use decisions. Younger landowners with positive attitude towards bioenergy were more willing to promote bioenergy crops. This information could be useful to develop outreach programs for landowners to encourage them to promote bioenergy crops in the study area.

Age-Dependent Demographic Rates of the Bioenergy Crop Miscanthus × giganteus in Illinois

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Matlaga ◽  
Brian J. Schutte ◽  
Adam S. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
The United States ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Bioenergy Crops ◽  
High Survival ◽  
Bioenergy Crop ◽  
The North ◽  
Demographic Rates ◽  
Miscanthus Giganteus ◽  
Age Dependent

AbstractSome plants being considered as bioenergy crops share traits with invasive species and have histories of spreading outside of their native ranges, highlighting the importance of evaluating the invasive potential before the establishment of large-scale plantings. The Asian grass Miscanthus × giganteus is currently being planted as a bioenergy crop in the north central region of the United States. Our goal was to understand the demographic rates and vegetative spread of this species in unmanaged arable lands in Illinois to compare with those of large-statured invasive grasses (LSIGs). We collected data from 13 M. × giganteus plantings in Illinois, ranging in age from 1 to 7 yr, recording tiller number, plant spatial extent, spikelet production, and plant survival over 4 yr. Additionally, to understand recruitment potential, we conducted a greenhouse germination experiment, and, to estimate establishment from rhizome fragments, field trials were performed. Miscanthus × giganteus demographic rates were age dependent. Spikelet production was high, with 1- and 4-yr plants producing an annual average of more than 10,000 and 180,000 spikelets plant−1, respectively; however, data from our germination trial suggested that none of these spikelets had the potential to yield seedlings. On average, plants expanded vegetatively 0.15 m yr−1. Tiller density within the center of a clone decreased with age, possibly leading to a “dead center” found among some LSIGs. Rhizome establishment increased with weight, ranging from 0 to 42%. Survival was low, 24%, for first-year plants but quickly climbed to an asymptote of 98% survival for 4-yr-old plants. Our results suggest that efforts should be made to eradicate plants that escape biomass production fields within a year of establishment, before the onset of high survival. Future work is needed to determine what types of natural and anthropogenic disturbances can fragment rhizomes, leading to regeneration.

scholarly journals On the Long-Term Hydroclimatic Sustainability of Perennial Bioenergy Crop Expansion over the United States

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 2535-2557 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Wang ◽  
M. Wagner ◽  
G. Miguez-Macho ◽  
Y. Kamarianakis ◽  
A. Mahalov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Bioenergy Crops ◽  
Bioenergy Crop ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Bioenergy Cropping Systems

Large-scale cultivation of perennial bioenergy crops (e.g., miscanthus and switchgrass) offers unique opportunities to mitigate climate change through avoided fossil fuel use and associated greenhouse gas reduction. Although conversion of existing agriculturally intensive lands (e.g., maize and soy) to perennial bioenergy cropping systems has been shown to reduce near-surface temperatures, unintended consequences on natural water resources via depletion of soil moisture may offset these benefits. The hydroclimatic impacts associated with perennial bioenergy crop expansion over the contiguous United States are quantified using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model dynamically coupled to a land surface model (LSM). A suite of continuous (2000–09) medium-range resolution (20-km grid spacing) ensemble-based simulations is conducted using seasonally evolving biophysical representation of perennial bioenergy cropping systems within the LSM based on observational data. Deployment is carried out only over suitable abandoned and degraded farmlands to avoid competition with existing food cropping systems. Results show that near-surface cooling (locally, up to 5°C) is greatest during the growing season over portions of the central United States. For some regions, principal impacts are restricted to a reduction in near-surface temperature (e.g., eastern portions of the United States), whereas for other regions deployment leads to soil moisture reduction in excess of 0.15–0.2 m3 m−3 during the simulated 10-yr period (e.g., western Great Plains). This reduction (~25%–30% of available soil moisture) manifests as a progressively decreasing trend over time. The large-scale focus of this research demonstrates the long-term hydroclimatic sustainability of large-scale deployment of perennial bioenergy crops across the continental United States, revealing potential hot spots of suitable deployment and regions to avoid.

scholarly journals 1.5 °C degrowth scenarios suggest the need for new mitigation pathways

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenz T. Keyßer ◽  
Manfred Lenzen
Keyword(s):  
Technological Change ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Economic Output ◽  
Integrated Assessment Modelling ◽  
Negative Emissions ◽  
Energy Emissions

Abstract1.5  °C scenarios reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) rely on combinations of controversial negative emissions and unprecedented technological change, while assuming continued growth in gross domestic product (GDP). Thus far, the integrated assessment modelling community and the IPCC have neglected to consider degrowth scenarios, where economic output declines due to stringent climate mitigation. Hence, their potential to avoid reliance on negative emissions and speculative rates of technological change remains unexplored. As a first step to address this gap, this paper compares 1.5  °C degrowth scenarios with IPCC archetype scenarios, using a simplified quantitative representation of the fuel-energy-emissions nexus. Here we find that the degrowth scenarios minimize many key risks for feasibility and sustainability compared to technology-driven pathways, such as the reliance on high energy-GDP decoupling, large-scale carbon dioxide removal and large-scale and high-speed renewable energy transformation. However, substantial challenges remain regarding political feasibility. Nevertheless, degrowth pathways should be thoroughly considered.

scholarly journals Cities Exacerbate Climate Warming

Urban Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Lahouari Bounoua ◽  
Kurtis Thome ◽  
Joseph Nigro
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Warming Trend ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Temperature Changes ◽  
Surface Warming ◽  
The Us

Urbanization is a complex land transformation not explicitly resolved within large-scale climate models. Long-term timeseries of high-resolution satellite data are essential to characterize urbanization within land surface models and to assess its contribution to surface temperature changes. The potential for additional surface warming from urbanization-induced land use change is investigated and decoupled from that due to change in climate over the continental US using a decadal timescale. We show that, aggregated over the US, the summer mean urban-induced surface temperature increased by 0.15 °C, with a warming of 0.24 °C in cities built in vegetated areas and a cooling of 0.25 °C in cities built in non-vegetated arid areas. This temperature change is comparable in magnitude to the 0.13 °C/decade global warming trend observed over the last 50 years caused by increased CO2. We also show that the effect of urban-induced change on surface temperature is felt above and beyond that of the CO2 effect. Our results suggest that climate mitigation policies must consider urbanization feedback to put a limit on the worldwide mean temperature increase.

scholarly journals Analog Downscaling of Seasonal Rainfall Forecasts in the Murray Darling Basin

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (3) ◽  
pp. 1099-1117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Charles ◽  
Bertrand Timbal ◽  
Elodie Fernandez ◽  
Harry Hendon
Keyword(s):  
General Circulation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Seasonal Prediction ◽  
General Circulation Models ◽  
Meridional Wind ◽  
Seasonal Forecasts ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Predictive Skill ◽  
Murray Darling Basin

Abstract Seasonal predictions based on coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation models (GCMs) provide useful predictions of large-scale circulation but lack the conditioning on topography required for locally relevant prediction. In this study a statistical downscaling model based on meteorological analogs was applied to continental-scale GCM-based seasonal forecasts and high quality historical site observations to generate a set of downscaled precipitation hindcasts at 160 sites in the South Murray Darling Basin region of Australia. Large-scale fields from the Predictive Ocean–Atmosphere Model for Australia (POAMA) 1.5b GCM-based seasonal prediction system are used for analog selection. Correlation analysis indicates modest levels of predictability in the target region for the selected predictor fields. A single best-match analog was found using model sea level pressure, meridional wind, and rainfall fields, with the procedure applied to 3-month-long reforecasts, initialized on the first day of each month from 1980 to 2006, for each model day of 10 ensemble members. Assessment of the total accumulated rainfall and number of rainy days in the 3-month reforecasts shows that the downscaling procedure corrects the local climate variability with no mean effect on predictive skill, resulting in a smaller magnitude error. The amount of total rainfall and number of rain days in the downscaled output is significantly improved over the direct GCM output as measured by the difference in median and tercile thresholds between station observations and downscaled rainfall. Confidence in the downscaled output is enhanced by strong consistency between the large-scale mean of the downscaled and direct GCM precipitation.

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