Armstrong, A., Waldron, S. , Whitaker, J. and Ostle, N. J. (2014) Wind farm and solar park effects on plant-soil carbon cycling: uncertain impacts of changes in ground-level microclimate. Global Change Biology, 20(6), pp. 1699-1706. (doi: 10.1111/gcb.12437) (PMID:24132939) (PMCID:PMC4255238)
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Abstract
Global energy demand is increasing as greenhouse gas driven climate change progresses, making renewable energy sources critical to future sustainable power provision. Land-based wind and solar electricity generation technologies are rapidly expanding, yet our understanding of their operational effects on biological carbon cycling in hosting ecosystems is limited. Wind turbines and photovoltaic panels can significantly change local ground-level climate by a magnitude that could affect the fundamental plant–soil processes that govern carbon dynamics. We believe that understanding the possible effects of changes in ground-level microclimates on these phenomena is crucial to reducing uncertainty of the true renewable energy carbon cost and to maximize beneficial effects. In this Opinions article, we examine the potential for the microclimatic effects of these land-based renewable energy sources to alter plant–soil carbon cycling, hypothesize likely effects and identify critical knowledge gaps for future carbon research.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Waldron, Professor Susan and Armstrong, Dr Alona |
| Authors: | Armstrong, A., Waldron, S., Whitaker, J., and Ostle, N. J. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences |
| Journal Name: | Global Change Biology |
| Publisher: | Blackwell Publishing |
| ISSN: | 1354-1013 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1365-2486 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. |
| First Published: | First published in Global Change Biology 20(6):1699-1706 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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