Respiration of a Forest Measured by Carbon Dioxide Accumulation during Temperature Inversions

Abstract

Nocturnal accumulations of carbon dioxide during 40 temperature inversions in 1 year were used as an index of the metabolic activity of a forest. Rates of CO(2) production varied with temperature and with season. Spring and summer rates were 2 to 3 times higher than winter rates at the same temperature. Mean monthly temperatures, averaged over 15 years, were used with the curves of respiration on temperature to compute annual gross respiration of the Brookhaven oak-pine forest. The forest was estimated to have a yearly release of approximately 3400 grams of CO(2) per square meter, theoretically equivalent to 2104 grams of dry matter (carbohydrate).