Lab

*** I HAVE DONE # 1-4. I JUST NEED 5-9

Use the steps below to determine the of  CO2  stored or released in an acre of forest.

Calculations:

1.  (5 points) Calculate the average biomass per 100 m2  (10m x 10m plot)for the three plots in the Biomass Table. Thus average biomass per 100 m2 = ____________ kg/100 m2

(Hint: add the total biomass for each of the 3 plots and then divide by 3)

2.  (5 points) For this question, convert biomass per m2 to biomass per acre. Since 1 acre = 4047 m2, multiply the average biomass per 100 m2 by 40.47. Thus average biomass per acre = ____________ kg/acre

(Hint: multiply your answer in (a) by 40.47)

3.  (5 points) To calculate the amount of carbon stored in the plant tissues, multiply the average biomass per acre by 0.45, since studies have shown that about 45% of the biomass of a tree is carbon.  

Amount of carbon stored in plant tissues = ____________ kg Carbon / acre

(Hint: multiply your answer in (b) by 0.45)

4.  (5 points)  While carbon per acre is a useful measurement, most studies quantify carbon flux as carbon dioxide, not carbon. To determine the amount of CO2 that the trees removed from the atmosphere, multiply the kg carbon per acre value by 3.67.  This value is the mass conversion factor for carbon to carbon dioxide.

CO2 removed (or released) from the atmosphere =  ____________ kg CO2/acre of carbon cycling

(Hint: multiply your answer in (c) by 3.67)

This is an important value, as it shows how much carbon dioxide is sequestered in an acre of forest, and how much would be released to the atmosphere if the trees from an acre were cut and then burned or allowed to decay (mulched).  We will return to this value later in the module when you determine your personal CO2 emissions from energy usage, and see how many acres of forest would be needed to “store” your carbon dioxide.

Analysis:

(a.) Let’s now calculate the amount of CO2 that could be stored on the land occupied by your residence, if it were forested.  Choose either the single-family home or apartment sections below. If neither of these categories exactly describes your residence, choose the one that is most appropriate. You will need the conversion factors for square feet and square miles to acres, so they are listed below.

1 mile2 = 640 acres                                                     1 acre = 43, 560 ft2

Single-family home:

Measure the area of your home’s lot that is not covered by large trees.  If you are unsure of the size of your lot in acres, measure its length and width in feet, calculate the square footage, and convert to acres using the factor above.

For example, let’s say the measurements for your home’s lot not covered by trees are 150ft x 75ft:

150ft x 75ft = 11,250 ft2

Acreage:  11,250 ft2 / 43, 560 ft2 /acre = .26 acres

Do the same for your entire subdivision. If you don’t know its total acreage, reset the odometer on your car and measure the length and width of the subdivision in miles using tenths of miles from the odometer. Multiply these values together to get the square miles, and then convert to acres using the factor above.  Subdivisions are rarely square or rectangular, so you may have to make some estimations and judgment calls in this process. (Hint:  Do what’s practical. If your house is not in a subdivision, take a guess at the size of a subdivision. You can also estimate your total acreage by visualizing a football field – one football field equals about an acre)

Example:

My subdivision:  .2 miles x .15 miles =  .03 sq miles

Acreage:  640  x .03 sq miles =  19.2 acres

Apartment building:

Measure your apartment building’s length and width in feet, calculate the square footage, and convert to acres using the factor above. 

To get the acreage for your apartment’s “share” of the area, divide the acres for the apartment building by the number of apartments in the building.

CO2 stored/released (kg/acre):

5.  (10 points)  Using the “Carbon dioxide stored/released per acre” value from your calculations of the KSU sites and the amount of acres you calculated above for your apartment or home, calculate the amount of CO2 that would have been removed from the atmosphere and stored in plant tissues if your lot/apartment and subdivision/apartment complex were forested land. List your answers below. (Hint: multiply your answer in (d) above by the amount of acres you estimated for the lot and subdivision, or apartment and apartment building.  You should only fill in 2 blanks, either for a lot and subdivision, or apartment and apartment building) (Another hint:  Here is a tool you can use to get the subdivision or apartment area values for the lab this week. http://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-area-calculator-tool.htm)

Kilograms of CO2 stored/released, single-family home, lot: _______________.

Kilograms of CO2 stored/released, single-family home, subdivision: _______________.

Kilograms of CO2 stored/released, apartment: _______________.

Kilograms of CO2 stored/released, apartment building: _______________.

6.  (10 points)  It is estimated that the greater Atlanta area (where KSU is located) loses 50 acres of trees per day to development. If we assume that the cut trees are burned or mulched, how much CO2 will this release into the atmosphere in a year? (Hint: you will need to use the mass conversion factor for carbon to carbon dioxide value you calculated in the first part of the lab.)

CO2 released per year =  ________________ kg CO2

7.  (20 points)  Considering the values in the table above and in (b), what does the size of these numbers mean to you?  (This should be an short answer response that applies course concepts and the calculations of this lab. Cite specific values and calculations explaining what they mean in general and to you personally.)

8.  (20 points)  Does this information cause you to consider buying a smaller lot for your next home? Why or why not?  (Explain fully your ideas and actions tying in concepts of carbon dioxide storage and release. Back up your explanation with information from the textbook or other reputable sources.)

9.  (20 points)  Does it change the way you would landscape your current or future home?  Why or why not?  (Explain fully by describing how you would landscape your future home and whether that is a sustainable choice.)