Modelling Global Vegetation Patterns and Terrestrial Carbon Storage at the Last Glacial Maximum

Global patterns of potential natural vegetation were simulated for present and last glacial maximum (LGM) climates. The LGM simulation showed good agreement with available evidence, most importantly in the humid tropics. Simple calculations based on these simulations indicate that terrestrial carbon storage increased by 300-700 Pg C after the LGM. The range is due to uncertainties in the mean carbon storage values for different biomes, and in the amount of carbon in boreal peats. These results are consistent with the global change in ocean 8'3C, inferred from measurements on benthic foraminifera, reflecting the increased storage of isotopically light carbon on land.

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