Rudbeckia
University of Minnesota
School of Mathematics

Carbon Negativity Estimates for Grassland Biomass

Richard McGehee


 
Figures
 

Carbon sequestration over the first century. In this scenario, land area is converted to biofuel and CCS energy plants are developed steadily, with all available lands (0.5 Gha) converted after 50 years. (A) The rate of sequestration in the soil increases as land is converted, then decreases as the soil saturates. That in the lithosphere (crust) remains proportional to land area converted. Total sequestration asymptotically approaches a constant rate. (B) After one century, 80% of the carbon sequestered is permanently removed from the biosphere. Lithospheric sequestration continues approximately linearly in future centuries.

 
Sequestration Rates
 
Cumulative Sequestration
 
 

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Last update: May 7, 2007 ©2007 Richard McGehee