Carbon Dynamics in a Human-Modified Tropical Forest: A Case Study Using Multi-Temporal LiDAR Data

Author(s)

de Moura, Yhasmin Mendes ^[1] ; Balzter, Heiko ^{[1, 2]} ; Galvao, Lenio S. ^[3] ; Dalagnol, Ricardo ^[3] ; Espirito-Santo, Fernando ^[1] ; Santos, Erone G. ^[4] ; Garcia, Mariano ^[5] ; Bispo, Polyanna da Conceicao ^[6] ; Oliveira, Raimundo C. ^[7] ; Shimabukuro, Yosio E. ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Leicester, Ctr Landscape & Climate Res, Sch Geog Geol & Environm, Leicester LE1 7RH, Leics - England

^[2] Univ Leicester, Natl Ctr Earth Observat, Leicester LE1 7RH, Leics - England

^[3] Natl Inst Space Res, Remote Sensing Div, BR-12245970 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Helsinki, Dept Geosci & Geog, Helsinki Inst Sustainabil Sci HELSUS, PL64, Gustaf Hallstromin Katu 2, FI-00014 Helsinki - Finland

^[5] Univ Alcala De Henares, Dept Geol Geog & Environm, Environm Remote Sensing Res Grp, Calle Colegios 2, Alcala De Henares 28801 - Spain

^[6] Univ Manchester, Sch Environm Educ & Dev, Dept Geog, Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PL, Lancs - England

^[7] Empresa Brasileira Pesquisa Agr EMBRAPA, Ctr Pesquisa Agroflorestal Amazonia Oriental, BR-66095903 Belem, Para - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: REMOTE SENSING; v. 12, n. 3 FEB 1 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

Tropical forests hold significant amounts of carbon and play a critical role on Earth ` s climate system. To date, carbon dynamics over tropical forests have been poorly assessed, especially over vast areas of the tropics that have been affected by some type of disturbance (e.g., selective logging, understory fires, and fragmentation). Understanding the multi-temporal dynamics of carbon stocks over human-modified tropical forests (HMTF) is crucial to close the carbon cycle balance in the tropics. Here, we used multi-temporal and high-spatial resolution airborne LiDAR data to quantify rates of carbon dynamics over a large patch of HMTF in eastern Amazon, Brazil. We described a robust approach to monitor changes in aboveground forest carbon stocks between 2012 and 2018. Our results showed that this particular HMTF lost 0.57 myr(-1) in mean forest canopy height and 1.38 MgCha(-1)yr(-1) of forest carbon between 2012 and 2018. LiDAR-based estimates of Aboveground Carbon Density (ACD) showed progressive loss through the years, from 77.9 MgCha(-1) in 2012 to 53.1 MgCha(-1) in 2018, thus a decrease of 31.8%. Rates of carbon stock changes were negative for all time intervals analyzed, yielding average annual carbon loss rates of -1.34 MgCha(-1)yr(-1). This suggests that this HMTF is acting more as a source of carbon than a sink, having great negative implications for carbon emission scenarios in tropical forests. Although more studies of forest dynamics in HMTFs are necessary to reduce the current remaining uncertainties in the carbon cycle, our results highlight the persistent effects of carbon losses for the study area. HMTFs are likely to expand across the Amazon in the near future. The resultant carbon source conditions, directly associated with disturbances, may be essential when considering climate projections and carbon accounting methods. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/22987-7 - Assessment of climate change impacts on the biomass and carbon dynamics in the Amazon
• Grantee: Ricardo Dal'Agnol da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate