Journal article
How many samples are required? Evaluating a model for verification of carbon sequestration in a hybrid poplar buffer strip
Environmental monitoring and assessment, Vol.102(1-3), pp.375-388
03/01/2005
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-005-6393-8
Abstract
A model is developed to predict annual and total above-ground carbon storage within a hybrid poplar stream buffer. The regression model predicts tree wet weight based upon circumference at breast-height (137 cm) with an r-square value of 0.9922. Carbon storage in above-ground biomass is estimated to be 3.57 to 3.71 metric tons per hectare, with a measured annual increment of 0.92 to 1.37 metric ton per hectare per year. The variability of carbon storage within this biological system, including soil organic matter, is explored, and the number of samples required to achieve a desired level of statistical certainty are predicted. As has been investigated previously for other biological systems (Garten and Wullschleger, 1999), the study shows that a prohibitively large number of samples must be taken in order to achieve high degrees of certainty about mean carbon storage values. The study also shows, however, that mean values with somewhat greater uncertainties can easily be achieved with much smaller sample sizes. Thus carbon sequestration verification might be accomplished cost-effectively if the degree of certainty required is not unrealistically high for highly variable natural systems
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- How many samples are required? Evaluating a model for verification of carbon sequestration in a hybrid poplar buffer strip
- Creators
- Richard A. NeyTroy A. MeyersAfrica EspinaJerald L. Schnoor - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Environmental monitoring and assessment, Vol.102(1-3), pp.375-388
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10661-005-6393-8
- ISSN
- 0167-6369
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/01/2005
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9983557682402771
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