Raster data available online (Barry Wilson, 18 March 2013)
The raster layers of forest C stocks described and assessed in the manuscript have been published as a US Forest Service Research Data Set (RDS). This RDS can be accessed at http://dx.doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0004.
Barry Tyler Wilson
US Forest Service
Northern Research Station
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Comment on: Wilson et al. Carbon Balance and Management, 8:1
Has CBM been taken in? No, CBM rather takes in ... (Georgii Alexandrov, 09 January 2008)
Re: Befort W: Has CBM been taken in?It is not unusual that results of a scientific research, written in plain language, looks like a hoax of the reductio ad absurdum variety. That is why scientists are prone to a scientific jargon that only their peers can understand. However, an interdisciplinary journal cannot follow with flow for it is intended to convey research results across disciplinary boundaries. This research is quite understandable when considered in the context of geo-engineering approaches to CO2 capture and storage (see also: IPCC special report on this issue and the commentary published in CBM [http://www.cbmjournal.com/content/1/1/4]). The results of this research can be also considered in the context of wildfire management, which is essential for...
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Comment on: Zeng Carbon Balance and Management, 3:1
Has CBM been taken in? (William Befort, 09 January 2008)
I've read only the abstract, but I suspect a hoax of the reductio ad absurdum variety. Surely the traditional and comparatively profitable idea of making trees into durable wood products must be nearly as effective in terms of carbon sequestration?
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Comment on: Zeng Carbon Balance and Management, 3:1
Related C sources (Brian Schmidt, 05 November 2007)
Interesting article - for policy purposes discussed in the article, it would be helpful to have an estimate of C emissions from firefighting (e.g., transporting firefighters and equipment, bulldozing fire breaks, use of aircraft). Relative to small fires at least, this C source could be substantial and weigh into the decision of whether to fight the fire or let it burn. This C source doesn't appear to be captured in the model the article used for estimating emissions.Modern firefighting in the Western US also involves occasionally setting very intense fires to create scorched-earth fuel breaks that are very different from mild prescribed burns (this was done during the Biscuit Fire, if I recall correctly). Separating C emissions from natural fires versus scorched-earth fuel breaks would...
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Troubling public (mis)interpretations? (maria gritsch, 02 November 2007)
This is an interesting study. Unfortunately, the yahoo news summary of the article's findings may provoke misunderstandings, particularly where the summary seems to suggest that planting trees (as a way to offset carbon dioxide emissions) may have the negative unintended consequence of contributing to even greater emissions. Perhaps the most crucial step that needs to be taken, which is beyond the scope of the article, is better forest management. Instead of extinguishing every small fire, these need to be allowed to burn, as they are in many other countries with more sensible management. Allowing the smaller fires is one step toward offseting the major "century" fires. Of course, also needed are stricter zoning regulations and/or legislation to prevent or discourage housing development...
read full comment
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Raster data available online (Barry Wilson, 18 March 2013)
The raster layers of forest C stocks described and assessed in the manuscript have been published as a US Forest Service Research Data Set (RDS). This RDS can be accessed at http://dx.doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0004.
Barry Tyler Wilson
US Forest Service
Northern Research Station read full comment
Comment on: Wilson et al. Carbon Balance and Management, 8:1
Has CBM been taken in? No, CBM rather takes in ... (Georgii Alexandrov, 09 January 2008)
Re: Befort W: Has CBM been taken in?It is not unusual that results of a scientific research, written in plain language, looks like a hoax of the reductio ad absurdum variety. That is why scientists are prone to a scientific jargon that only their peers can understand. However, an interdisciplinary journal cannot follow with flow for it is intended to convey research results across disciplinary boundaries. This research is quite understandable when considered in the context of geo-engineering approaches to CO2 capture and storage (see also: IPCC special report on this issue and the commentary published in CBM [http://www.cbmjournal.com/content/1/1/4]). The results of this research can be also considered in the context of wildfire management, which is essential for... read full comment
Comment on: Zeng Carbon Balance and Management, 3:1
Has CBM been taken in? (William Befort, 09 January 2008)
I've read only the abstract, but I suspect a hoax of the reductio ad absurdum variety. Surely the traditional and comparatively profitable idea of making trees into durable wood products must be nearly as effective in terms of carbon sequestration? read full comment
Comment on: Zeng Carbon Balance and Management, 3:1
Related C sources (Brian Schmidt, 05 November 2007)
Interesting article - for policy purposes discussed in the article, it would be helpful to have an estimate of C emissions from firefighting (e.g., transporting firefighters and equipment, bulldozing fire breaks, use of aircraft). Relative to small fires at least, this C source could be substantial and weigh into the decision of whether to fight the fire or let it burn. This C source doesn't appear to be captured in the model the article used for estimating emissions.Modern firefighting in the Western US also involves occasionally setting very intense fires to create scorched-earth fuel breaks that are very different from mild prescribed burns (this was done during the Biscuit Fire, if I recall correctly). Separating C emissions from natural fires versus scorched-earth fuel breaks would... read full comment
Comment on: Wiedinmyer et al. Carbon Balance and Management, 2:10
Troubling public (mis)interpretations? (maria gritsch, 02 November 2007)
This is an interesting study. Unfortunately, the yahoo news summary of the article's findings may provoke misunderstandings, particularly where the summary seems to suggest that planting trees (as a way to offset carbon dioxide emissions) may have the negative unintended consequence of contributing to even greater emissions. Perhaps the most crucial step that needs to be taken, which is beyond the scope of the article, is better forest management. Instead of extinguishing every small fire, these need to be allowed to burn, as they are in many other countries with more sensible management. Allowing the smaller fires is one step toward offseting the major "century" fires. Of course, also needed are stricter zoning regulations and/or legislation to prevent or discourage housing development... read full comment
Comment on: Wiedinmyer et al. Carbon Balance and Management, 2:10