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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 4, NUMBER 9, SEPTEMBER 1991

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...
EFFECTS OF WARMING, CO₂ AND UV

Item #d91sep28

"Effects of Snowpack on Timing and Abundance of Flowering in Delphinium nelsonii (Ranunculaceae): Implications for Climate Change," D.W. Inouye (Dept. Zool., Univ. Maryland, College Pk. MD 20742), A.D. McGuire, Amer. J. Bot., 78(7), 997-1001, July 1991.

Examined the effects of variation in annual snowfall in dry subalpine meadows of the Colorado Rocky Mountains on the timing and abundance of flowering. If climate change results in decreased mean annual snowfall, seed production will probably be adversely affected. Decreased snowfall also may reduce the number and relative proportions of species in the herbaceous flora in the study area.

Item #d91sep29

Clim. Change, 18(4), June 1991.

"Modeling Interactive Effects of Climate Change, Air Pollution and Fire on a California Shrubland," G.P. Malanson (Dept. Geog., Univ. Iowa, Iowa City IA 52242), W.E. Westman, 363-376. A computer model simulated the separate and combined effects of altered precipitation, temperature, ambient ozone levels, and fuel loads and fire intensity on species composition. Changes attributed to climate variation alone were markedly accentuated when the indirect effects of climate change on fire intensity and ozone pollution were considered. Inclusion of secondary interactions and species competition will be important in realistically predicting vegetation change.

"Implications of CO₂ Global Warming on Great Lakes Ice Cover," R.A. Assel (Great Lakes Environ. Res. Lab., NOAA, 2205 Commonwealth Blvd., Ann Arbor MI 48105), 377-395. Statistical ice cover models, used to project daily mean basin ice cover and annual ice cover duration for doubled CO₂ scenarios produced by three general circulation models, predicted substantial ice cover reductions to varying degrees. Potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts include year-round navigation, change in abundance of some fish species, discontinuation or reduction of winter recreational activities and increased winter lake evaporation.

"Influence of the Greenhouse Effect on Yields of Wheat, Soybean and Corn in the United States for Different Energy Scenarios," K. Okamoto (Dept. Phys., Tokyo Gakugei Univ., Koganei, Tokyo, Japan 184), T. Ogiwara et al., 397-424. Considers the simultaneous influences of increased photosynthesis from elevated CO₂, and drought due to temperature rise, in the central part of the U.S. in summer. Results show that unlimited CO₂ increase is not desirable for these crops, even if positive effects of CO₂ are accounted for.

Item #d91sep30

"Nutrient Dilution by Starch in CO₂-Enriched Chrysanthemum," J.S. Kuehny, M.M. Peet (Dept. Hort. Sci., Box 7609, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh NC 27695) et al., J. Exper. Bot., 42(239), 711-716, June 1991.

To determine the importance of differential starch accumulation in calculating nutrient concentrations on a dry weight basis, leaf nutrient and starch concentrations were measured in winter and spring. On a dry weight basis, foliar concentrations of most nutrients were lower in both seasons as a result of elevated CO₂ and irradiance levels, and total dry weights were higher. Percent starch was greater at the high CO₂ levels in both seasons.

Item #d91sep31

"Effects of Two and a Half Years of Atmospheric CO₂ Enrichment on the Root Density Distribution of Three-Year-Old Sour Orange Trees," S.B. Idso (Water Conserv. Lab., 4331 E. Broadway, Phoenix AZ 85040), B.A. Kimball, Agric. For. Meteor., 55(3-4), 345-349, June 1991.

Extensive soil coring of the root zones of trees grown in open-top chambers indicated that growth under an extra 300 cm3 CO₂ m-3 of air produced a fine root biomass enhancement of 175%, of the same order of magnitude as the authors' previously reported results for net photosynthesis and trunk and branch volumes.

Item #d91sep32

"Net Photosynthesis of Sour Orange Trees Maintained in Atmospheres of Ambient and Elevated CO₂ Concentration," S.B. Idso (addr. immed. above), B.A. Kimball, S.G. Allen, ibid., 54(1), 95-101, Mar. 30, 1991.

Data from an inventory of all above-ground plant parts at the conclusion of two full years' growth under an extra 300 cm3 CO₂ m-3 of air have revealed that the net effect of the CO₂-enriched air was to more than double the normal production of biomass. Net photosynthesis measurements suggest that the primary impetus for this large growth response was an equivalent enhancement of the net photosynthetic rates of the CO₂-enriched trees.

Item #d91sep33

"Climatic Change and Future Agroclimatic Potential in Europe," T.R. Carter (Finnish Meteor. Inst., POB 503, SF-00101 Helsinki, Finland), M.L. Parry, J.H. Porter, Intl. J. Clim., 11(3), 251-269, Apr. 1991.

Employed an agroclimatic index to relate temperature patterns to the cultivable limits of grain maize (Zea mays). A mean annual temperature increase of only 1° C would open up large areas of southern England, the Low Countries, eastern Denmark, northern Germany and northern Poland to potential maize cultivation. An increase of 4° C would move the limit into central Fennoscandia and northern Russia. Such shifts would offer new opportunities for farmers in northern Europe. However, to successfully exploit these shifts should they occur rapidly, immediate attention should be directed toward more detailed assessments of crop potential in currently marginal regions.

Item #d91sep34

"Sagebrush Carbon Allocation Patterns and Grasshopper Nutrition: The Influence of CO₂ Enrichment and Soil Mineral Limitation," R.H. Johnson, D.E. Lincoln (Dept. Biol. Sci., Univ. S. Carolina, Columbia SC 29208), Oecologia, 87(1), 127-134, 1991.

Seedlings of Artemesia tridentata were grown under CO₂ concentrations of 350 and 650 micro L L-1 and two levels of soil nutrition. In the high nutrient treatment, increasing CO₂ led to a doubling of shoot mass, whereas nutrient limitation completely constrained the response to elevated CO₂. Grasshopper consumption was greater on host leaves grown under CO₂ enrichment but was reduced on leaves grown under low nutrient availability.

Item #d91sep35

"Growth and Photosynthetic Response of Nine Tropical Species with Long-Term Exposure to Elevated Carbon Dioxide," L.H. Ziska (Dept. Bot., Univ. Maryland, College Pk. MD 20742), K.P. Hogan et al., ibid., 83(3), 383-389, 1991.

Species selected for study varied in growth and carbon metabolism. Doubled CO₂ concentration resulted in increased photosynthesis and water use efficiencies for all species with C3 metabolism. Increased total plant dry weights were also noted for most species, but not for a C4 grass. Elevated CO₂ may have significant effects on photosynthesis and productivity in a wide variety of tropical species, and these may be related to physiological adaptation to increased CO₂.

Item #d91sep36

New Phytol., 117(4), Apr. 1991.

"Leaf Area Composition and Nutrient Interactions in CO₂-Enriched Seedlings of Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.)," R.J. Norby (Environ. Sci. Div., Oak Ridge Nat. Lab., POB 2008, Oak Ridge TN 37831), E.G. O'Neill, 515-528. Experiments in controlled environment chambers were used to test two hypothesis, both of which were subsequently rejected: (1) CO₂ enrichment would enhance growth of yellow poplar seedlings both through accelerated leaf area production and through higher rates of carbon assimilation per unit leaf area; and (2) growth enhancement of yellow poplar by CO₂ enrichment would be reduced by nutrient limitations. Results demonstrate the importance of feedbacks and interactions between resources in shaping a plant's response to CO₂.

"Atmospheric Pollution and the Sensitivity of Stomata on Barley Leaves to Abscisic Acid and Carbon Dioxide," C.J. Atkinson (Inst. Environ. Sci., Univ. Lancaster, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK), P.A. Wookey, T.A. Mansfield, 535-541. Stomata of leaves which had been fumigated with SO2 + NO2 behaved in a similar manner to non-fumigated leaves, both showing closure in elevated CO₂.

Item #d91sep37

"Climatic Change and the British Butterfly Fauna: Opportunities and Constraints," R.L.H. Dennis, T.G. Shreeve (Sch. Biol. Sci., Oxford Polytech., Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK), Biol. Conserv., 55(1), 1-16, 1991.

Discusses a scheme for assessing the vulnerability of species on their host plant and habitat associations. Climatic warming may reduce the regional contrasts in species diversity and population status between northern and southern Britain, as range expansions and upland colonization are predicted for the north, and reduced populations and population extinctions for the south. However, warming offers potentials for new residents and migrants in southern Britain.

Item #d91sep38

"Forest Responses to Tropospheric Ozone and Global Climate Change: An Analysis," R.N. Kickert, S.V. Krupa (Dept. Plant Pathol., Univ. Minnesota, 1991 Buford Circ., St. Paul MN 55108), Environ. Pollut., 68(1-2), 29-65, 1990. Reviews what we know, what we need to know, and what we need to do to further our understanding of the relationships between tropospheric ozone, global climate change (changes in temperature and precipitation), and forest responses.

Item #d91sep39

"Interaction of Elevated Ultraviolet-B Radiation and CO₂ on Productivity and Photosynthetic Characteristics in Wheat, Rice and Soybean," A.H. Teramura (Dept. Bot., Univ. Maryland, College Pk. MD 20742), J.H. Sullivan, L.H. Ziska, Plant Physiol., 94(2), 470-475, Oct. 1990.

The crops were subjected to increased CO₂, increased UV-B (corresponding to 10% equatorial ozone depletion), or both. Increased UV-B nullified the increased seed yields and total biomass from elevated CO₂ alone in wheat and rice, while it maintained or amplified such increases for soybean. Available data may not adequately characterize the potential effect of future, simultaneous changes in CO₂ concentration and UV-B radiation.

Item #d91sep40

"The Potential Effects of Global Warming on the Primary Productivity of a Subalpine Lake," E.R. Byron (CH2M Hill, 3840 Rosin Ct., S. 110, Sacramento CA 95834), C.R. Goldman, Water Resour. Bull., 26(6), 983-989, Dec. 1990.

Annual algal productivity was modeled empirically for a mountain lake in northern California using 25 years of limnological data and related to accumulated snow depth and precipitation. The model predicted increased algal productivity under GCM scenarios of doubled atmospheric CO₂, primarily through a lengthened growing season.

Item #d91sep41

Comment and reply on: "Hydrologic Effects of Climate Change in the Delaware River Basin," ibid., 26(5), 831-834, Oct. 1990.