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Hawai‘i Carbon Storage and Greenhouse Gas Flux Assessment Completed

By Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center June 27, 2017

In recent years, the U.S. Geological Survey has been conducting a national biologic carbon sequestration assessment in the conterminous U.S.  The assessment is designed to meet the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which calls for coverage of all 50 states and all ecosystems (including forests, grasslands, wetlands, agricultural lands, and rivers, lakes, and estuaries). The assessment focuses on current and potential amounts of carbon stored in the ecosystems, and effects of both natural and anthropogenic processes (such as fire, climate change, and land use change) on carbon sequestration. This project focuses on assessing current carbon stocks and potential change in carbon sequestration for the main Hawaiian Islands under future climate change scenarios. This effort will involve collating existing carbon related data (land cover, fire, climate, soils, productivity, land use, wetland, etc.,) and analyzing it to develop an estimate of the current carbon stocks and fluxes under current climate conditions. 

View of tree roots from inside lava tube
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Tree roots seen from inside a lava tube. Photo: J. Jacobi

Overview:

In recent years, the U.S. Geological Survey has been conducting a national biologic carbon sequestration assessment in the conterminous U.S.  The assessment is designed to meet the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which calls for coverage of all 50 states and all ecosystems (including forests, grasslands, wetlands, agricultural lands, and rivers, lakes, and estuaries). The assessment focuses on current and potential amounts of carbon stored in ecosystems, and effects of both natural and anthropogenic processes (such as fire, climate change, and land use change) on carbon sequestration. 

This project focuses on assessing current carbon stocks and potential change in carbon sequestration for the main Hawaiian Islands under future climate change scenarios. Existing carbon related data (land cover, fire, climate, soils, productivity, land use, wetland, etc.,) were collated and analyzed to develop an estimate of the current carbon stocks and fluxes under current climate conditions. Additionally, we modeled carbon sequestration and flux under future climate conditions, specifically 2100, based on climate projections.

This effort is directly linked to the USGS LandCarbon program’s nation-wide assessment of carbon stocks and greenhouse-gas fluxes and relied on cooperation and collaboration with many other organizations and research scientists. 

Project Objectives:

View of Hanawi to coast
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
View of Hanawi to the coast. Photo: J. Jacobi
  1. Develop Hawai‘i carbon stocks assessment framework to identify data needs, analysis methodology, and summary of reports and publications.
  2. Develop a team of collaborators to share data and results of the carbon assessment.
  3. Compile existing data relevant to assessing current and future carbon stocks and fluxes for the main Hawaiian Islands.
  4. Analyze the data to produce an assessment of current and future carbon stocks and fluxes for the main Hawaiian Islands.
  5. Provide results to be utilized by the USGS LandCarbon program in their nation-wide assessment of carbon stocks and greenhouse-gas fluxes, as well as by the State of Hawai‘i and several other organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, NPS) in developing strategies to address carbon sequestration in the future.

Progress:

A final report is available.

 

Below are publications associated with this project.

Baseline and projected future carbon storage and carbon fluxes in ecosystems of Hawai‘i

This assessment was conducted to fulfill the requirements of section 712 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and to improve understanding of factors influencing carbon balance in ecosystems of Hawai‘i. Ecosystem carbon storage, carbon fluxes, and carbon balance were examined for major terrestrial ecosystems on the seven main Hawaiian islands in two time periods: baseline (from 2007
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Land Change Science Program, Western Geographic Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Below are partners associated with this project.

U.S. Forest Service (USFS)

  • Overview

    In recent years, the U.S. Geological Survey has been conducting a national biologic carbon sequestration assessment in the conterminous U.S.  The assessment is designed to meet the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which calls for coverage of all 50 states and all ecosystems (including forests, grasslands, wetlands, agricultural lands, and rivers, lakes, and estuaries). The assessment focuses on current and potential amounts of carbon stored in the ecosystems, and effects of both natural and anthropogenic processes (such as fire, climate change, and land use change) on carbon sequestration. This project focuses on assessing current carbon stocks and potential change in carbon sequestration for the main Hawaiian Islands under future climate change scenarios. This effort will involve collating existing carbon related data (land cover, fire, climate, soils, productivity, land use, wetland, etc.,) and analyzing it to develop an estimate of the current carbon stocks and fluxes under current climate conditions. 

    View of tree roots from inside lava tube
    Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
    Tree roots seen from inside a lava tube. Photo: J. Jacobi

    Overview:

    In recent years, the U.S. Geological Survey has been conducting a national biologic carbon sequestration assessment in the conterminous U.S.  The assessment is designed to meet the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which calls for coverage of all 50 states and all ecosystems (including forests, grasslands, wetlands, agricultural lands, and rivers, lakes, and estuaries). The assessment focuses on current and potential amounts of carbon stored in ecosystems, and effects of both natural and anthropogenic processes (such as fire, climate change, and land use change) on carbon sequestration. 

    This project focuses on assessing current carbon stocks and potential change in carbon sequestration for the main Hawaiian Islands under future climate change scenarios. Existing carbon related data (land cover, fire, climate, soils, productivity, land use, wetland, etc.,) were collated and analyzed to develop an estimate of the current carbon stocks and fluxes under current climate conditions. Additionally, we modeled carbon sequestration and flux under future climate conditions, specifically 2100, based on climate projections.

    This effort is directly linked to the USGS LandCarbon program’s nation-wide assessment of carbon stocks and greenhouse-gas fluxes and relied on cooperation and collaboration with many other organizations and research scientists. 

    Project Objectives:

    View of Hanawi to coast
    Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
    View of Hanawi to the coast. Photo: J. Jacobi
    1. Develop Hawai‘i carbon stocks assessment framework to identify data needs, analysis methodology, and summary of reports and publications.
    2. Develop a team of collaborators to share data and results of the carbon assessment.
    3. Compile existing data relevant to assessing current and future carbon stocks and fluxes for the main Hawaiian Islands.
    4. Analyze the data to produce an assessment of current and future carbon stocks and fluxes for the main Hawaiian Islands.
    5. Provide results to be utilized by the USGS LandCarbon program in their nation-wide assessment of carbon stocks and greenhouse-gas fluxes, as well as by the State of Hawai‘i and several other organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, NPS) in developing strategies to address carbon sequestration in the future.

    Progress:

    A final report is available.

     

  • Publications

    Below are publications associated with this project.

    Baseline and projected future carbon storage and carbon fluxes in ecosystems of Hawai‘i

    This assessment was conducted to fulfill the requirements of section 712 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and to improve understanding of factors influencing carbon balance in ecosystems of Hawai‘i. Ecosystem carbon storage, carbon fluxes, and carbon balance were examined for major terrestrial ecosystems on the seven main Hawaiian islands in two time periods: baseline (from 2007
    By
    Core Science Systems Mission Area, Land Change Science Program, Western Geographic Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
  • Partners

    Below are partners associated with this project.

    U.S. Forest Service (USFS)