Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of 21st century. Rapid changes in Earths’s climate raises serious concerns about human and ecosystem health and economic security. There has been persistent increase in the atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the last 250 years, particularly in carbon dioxide concentrations, mostly because of anthropogenic activities such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation. Recent studies show a strong relationship in enhanced GHGs concentration and climate warming. Forests play a major role in removing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Planting forests on cleared and abandoned lands (afforestation) is an effective and ecologically viable means to sequester atmospheric CO2 and reduce greenhouse gas warming effects. Kyoto Protocol, which Canada has already rectified, requires each participating country to report its carbon sequestration and loss activities as a result of deforestation, reforestation and afforestation.

The McMaster University, Climate Change Research Program has initiated a long-term field experiment to measure energy, water vapour and CO2 exchanges over a chronosequence of planted conifer forests in southern Ontario. This initiative focus on studying carbon sink and source strength, and water use efficiency of plantation (afforested) stands. Long-term flux measurements, in combination with ecosystem productivity models and high-resolution remote sensing data will provide accurate estimates of net carbon sequestration by plantation forests. The information about carbon sequestration potential of afforestation will help Canadian and international policy makers in planing and developing realistic strategies to offset fossil fuel CO2 emissions to improve environmental quality.

Research Sites:

Research Objectives:
Objectives of this research are to determine how much carbon dioxide is being removed from the atmosphere by planted coniferous forests as they grow in temperate climate of the southern Ontario and how seasonal and annual climate variability affect this forest uptake. Specific objectives include:

• to make continuous measurements of energy, water vapour and CO2 fluxes and other meteorological variables over chronosequence of afforested white pine.
• to relate gross photosynthesis and respiration of these stands to environmental controls.
• to parameterize and test process-based ecosystems models.
• to develop a verifiable methodology to estimate carbon sink and source strength of afforested stands.
• train highly-qualified personnel and increase public understanding of C cycling science and environmental issues.
  

Research Approach:

Four towers (one 28m walkup scaffolding and three triangular) have been erected at 60-year, 30-year, 15-year and 1-year old stands. Eddy covariance (EC) technique is being used to make continuous, multi-year measurements of CO2, water vapour, and energy fluxes. A closed-path EC system is continuously making flux measurements at 60-yr old mature site, while an open-path EC system is being rotated every 20-days among three younger sites. Meteorological measurements are being made continuously at all four sites using four automatic weather stations. An Li-6400 photosynthesis and respiration is being used to measure canopy photosynthesis and plant and soil respiration. All four sites have A/C power and phone lines. A 4-wheel drive truck is dedicated for fieldwork. Field sites are about 100 km south of McMaster Univesity, Hamilton.

Acknowledgement:

Turkey Point Carbon Cycle Research has being funded by:

• Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
• Canadian Innovation Fund (CFI)
• Ontario Innovation Trust (OIT)
• McMaster University

In-kind Support by:

• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR)
• Norfolk County
• L ong Point Conservation Authority (LPCA)
• Whitside Family (private land owners)
• Bahula Family (private land owners)