Estimation of C-CO₂ balance of natural steppe ecosystems: Khakassia and Tuva (Eastern Siberia, Russia) case studies

The study of carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems is considerable important for the forecasts of climate and environmental changes. Using a geoinformation-analytical method and a climate-driven regression model, we have calculated the C-CO₂ balance of natural steppe ecosystems of Khakassia and Tuva. Our research has shown that natural steppes of the region under study are a significant sink of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The intensity of this carbon flux in the region can be estimate as 184±41 gCm⁻² yr ⁻¹. The annual absorption of carbon dioxide in the natural steppe ecosystems of Tuva and Khakassia is evaluated as 6.9±2.2 Mt C-CO₂.