Interactive Nature of Biosphere Processes, Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate: Methane, a Case Study

There is increasing recognition that feedbacks on and from biogeochemical cycles is necessary to fully understanding climate change. Atmospheric scientists are recognizing that we need to interact with biologists and chemists to fully resolve these issues. The terrestrial biosphere interacts with the Earth’s climate system by a number of biogeochemical and biophysical processes. Terrestrial biospheric processes determine the state of the global climate system, and the biosphere in turn responds to any changes in the atmospheric composition and climate. As anthropogenic activities continue to change the atmospheric composition and climate of the Earth, understanding of the complex biospheric processes is crucial to determining the impact and feedback of the interaction of biosphere with the climate system. This study involves the analyses of complex interactions between the biosphere and the atmosphere, using models of global climate, atmospheric chemistry and transport, and the terrestrial biosphere (land surface and terrestrial biogeochemical processes). In this assessment of the "impact" and "feedback" relationship between the biosphere and the global climate system, initial results are presented to examine the changes in emission of methane from biogenic sources due to different climatic conditions, and how altered atmospheric concentrations of methane feedback on biospheric processes.