No description available.

Rises in anthropogenic CO2 emissions are now widely acknowledged to be responsible for changes in the global climate, with potentially disastrous consequences if these rises continue unchecked. Although knowledge of ecosystem responses to climate change has improved, there are still large underlying uncertainties regarding their response to warming. Of all the ecosystems with the potential to mitigate rises in CO2, forests are arguably the most important because of their huge land area and store of carbon. A large proportion of the carbon stored in forests is found in the soil, and it is the response of this soil carbon to temperature that is the main determinant of a forest’s ability to act as a carbon sink, or indeed source. Understanding the response of soil carbon flux to temperature, as well as the contribution of soil carbon flux to the carbon balance of forests as a whole is crucial in helping to improve modelling approaches. In this thesis I first examined the temperature response of old and new soil organic carbon from a Sitka spruce plantation under controlled laboratory conditions. Both the old and new soil organic carbon showed similar temperature sensitivities after prolonged incubation at 20 °C, thus implying a similar response to increasing temperatures. Using a variety of different methods (root intensity, meshing and stable isotope analysis) I then studied the responses under field conditions. These methods showed that autotrophic respiration was responsible for up to 50 % of total soil respiration, and was more sensitive to temperature than heterotrophic respiration. Finally, I compared the contributions and determinants (particularly temperature and moisture) of soil respiration fluxes to ecosystem fluxes at a temperate (Sitka spruce) and Mediterranean (Maritime pine) forest. Temperature was found to be the dominant driver of soil respiration fluxes at the temperature forest, whilst soil respiration was limited by moisture at the Mediterranean forest. Statistically significant relationships between net ecosystem productivity and soil respiration (and the stable isotope signature of soil respiration) were found at both forests, indicating a close coupling between above-ground processes and soil respiration.

Seagrass meadows may play a substantial role in climate change mitigation as they are capable to sequester and store substantial amounts of anthropogenic carbon in plant biomass and, more importantly, in their underlying sediments. In this PhD thesis, the carbon-burial potential was assessed by quantifying the amount of organic carbon stored in different seagrass meadows, each dominated by one of the four major seagrass species in the Western Indian Ocean region. Impacts of anthropogenic disturbances on biomass carbon allocation, greenhouse gas emission (methane and nitrous oxide) and production of sulphide were investigated in Chwaka Bay, Zanzibar. The findings showed that east African seagrass meadows generally have high carbon sink capacity. The storage of sedimentary organic carbon, however, varied among seagrass habitats and across sites, and was up to five-fold higher in seagrass sediment to those of nearby unvegetated sediments. Seagrass meadows in eutrophicated sites had higher sedimentary organic carbon content, and substantially higher emission rates of nitrous oxides and methane, compared to more pristine meadows. Disturbances in terms of shading and simulated grazing of seagrass affected several processes, with major decreases in seagrass primary productivity, net community production and biomass carbon, in turn influencing seagrass carbon sequestration as well as stimulating anaerobic microbial processes. In addition, production of sulphide in the sediment and methane emissions from the sediment surface increased significantly when disturbed. At present, seagrass meadows in the Western Indian Ocean have high carbon sink capacity. This important ecosystem service is, however, highly threatened due to regional anthropogenic pressure, which may change the role of blue carbon rich habitats, such as seagrass meadows, from being a sink to a source of greenhouse gases. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 1: Manuscript. Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript. Paper 5: Manuscript.</p>

O tratamento de esgoto gera um resíduo, o lodo de esgoto, que tem potencial para promover o crescimento de plantas e aumentar a produtividade de cultivos. O objetivo geral do trabalho desenvolvido foi avaliar como esse resíduo aplicado em plantações de eucalipto altera os estoques de C e N, aspectos do processo fotossintético, da área e nutrientes foliares. O estudo foi conduzido na estação experimental de Itatinga - ESALQ/USP, com aplicação de doses até 40 t/ha de biossólido para cultivo de Eucalyptus grandis. Considerando a biomassa total acima do solo, os eucaliptos que receberam 10 t/ha de biossólido + K e P mineral (10+KP) e adubação mineral completa (AD) produziram, em média, 107,5 t/ha, 63% a mais do que a testemunha; além de maiores valores de conteúdo de C e N na biomassa. Não houve diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos para os conteúdos totais de C (F = 1,3450; p = 0,3096), N (F = 1,2183; p = 0,3536) e conteúdo de N mineral (F = 0,5192; p = 0,7218) no solo. Apenas o C do solo determinado por oxidação úmida foi alterado. A dose de 10 t/ha propiciou aumentos no C Walkley e Black em relação às maiores doses, mostrando que o desenvolvimento das árvores é mais importante para propiciar entradas de material orgânico no sistema do que a própria aplicação do biossólido. A utilização de biossólido alcalino, em superfície, propiciou baixas taxas de decomposição aos 5 anos após aplicação e não contribuiu para aumentar os estoques totais de C e N no solo. Os eucaliptos que receberam nutrientes, seja pela adubação mineral, seja pela aplicação de biossólido apresentaram maior área foliar. A diferença entre o maior IAF (4,3), do tratamento 40+K, e o controle superou uma unidade. As doses de biossólido polimerizado foram correlacionadas positivamente com os teores foliares de N, P, S, e Zn e com a clorofila do eucalipto com 3 meses de idade. Esse biossólido pode aumentar a fotossíntese líquida, quando as medições são realizadas no período da manhã, sendo também capaz de promover aumentos na eficiência do uso da água e no desenvolvimento de eucaliptos jovens. / The wastewater treatment generates a residue, the sewage sludge, that has potential to promote plants growth and to increase its productivity. The general aim of this research was to evaluate how the applied residue in eucalypt plantations modify C and N stocks, aspects of the photosynthetic process, leaf area and leaf nutrients. The study was developed at the experimental station of Itatinga - ESALQ/USP. The experiment was installed with application of rates up to 40 t/ha of biosolids in Eucalyptus grandis plantation. Considering the total biomass above the soil, the eucalypts that received 10 t/ha of biosolids + K and P mineral (10+KP) and complete mineral fertilization (AD) produced, on average, 107.5 t/ha, which represents 63% more than control treatment and larger values of C and N contents in the biomass. There were not significant differences among the treatments for total contents of C (F = 1.3450; p = 0.3096), N (F = 1.2183; p = 0.3536) and mineral N (F = 0.5192; p = 0.7218) in the soil. Just the soil carbon content, determined by wet oxidation, was altered. The 10 t/ha biosolids rate increased the Walkley and Black C in relation to the largest doses, showing that trees development is more important to input organic material in the system than the biosolids application. The alkaline biosolids application to the soil surface resulted in low decomposition rates, 5 years after application, and did not contribute to increase C and N total stocks in the soil. The eucalypts that received nutrients even by mineral fertilization or by biosolids application, presented larger leaf area. The difference between the higher LAI (4.3) observed (treatment 40+K) and the control treatment was one unit. The polymeric biosolids rates were positively correlated with N, P, S, and Zn concentrations and with chlorophyll in eucalypts leaves at 3 months of age. The studied biosolid can increase net photosynthesis, being also capable to promote the water use efficiency and young eucalypts development.

O tratamento de esgoto gera um resíduo, o lodo de esgoto, que tem potencial para promover o crescimento de plantas e aumentar a produtividade de cultivos. O objetivo geral do trabalho desenvolvido foi avaliar como esse resíduo aplicado em plantações de eucalipto altera os estoques de C e N, aspectos do processo fotossintético, da área e nutrientes foliares. O estudo foi conduzido na estação experimental de Itatinga - ESALQ/USP, com aplicação de doses até 40 t/ha de biossólido para cultivo de Eucalyptus grandis. Considerando a biomassa total acima do solo, os eucaliptos que receberam 10 t/ha de biossólido + K e P mineral (10+KP) e adubação mineral completa (AD) produziram, em média, 107,5 t/ha, 63% a mais do que a testemunha; além de maiores valores de conteúdo de C e N na biomassa. Não houve diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos para os conteúdos totais de C (F = 1,3450; p = 0,3096), N (F = 1,2183; p = 0,3536) e conteúdo de N mineral (F = 0,5192; p = 0,7218) no solo. Apenas o C do solo determinado por oxidação úmida foi alterado. A dose de 10 t/ha propiciou aumentos no C Walkley e Black em relação às maiores doses, mostrando que o desenvolvimento das árvores é mais importante para propiciar entradas de material orgânico no sistema do que a própria aplicação do biossólido. A utilização de biossólido alcalino, em superfície, propiciou baixas taxas de decomposição aos 5 anos após aplicação e não contribuiu para aumentar os estoques totais de C e N no solo. Os eucaliptos que receberam nutrientes, seja pela adubação mineral, seja pela aplicação de biossólido apresentaram maior área foliar. A diferença entre o maior IAF (4,3), do tratamento 40+K, e o controle superou uma unidade. As doses de biossólido polimerizado foram correlacionadas positivamente com os teores foliares de N, P, S, e Zn e com a clorofila do eucalipto com 3 meses de idade. Esse biossólido pode aumentar a fotossíntese líquida, quando as medições são realizadas no período da manhã, sendo também capaz de promover aumentos na eficiência do uso da água e no desenvolvimento de eucaliptos jovens. / The wastewater treatment generates a residue, the sewage sludge, that has potential to promote plants growth and to increase its productivity. The general aim of this research was to evaluate how the applied residue in eucalypt plantations modify C and N stocks, aspects of the photosynthetic process, leaf area and leaf nutrients. The study was developed at the experimental station of Itatinga - ESALQ/USP. The experiment was installed with application of rates up to 40 t/ha of biosolids in Eucalyptus grandis plantation. Considering the total biomass above the soil, the eucalypts that received 10 t/ha of biosolids + K and P mineral (10+KP) and complete mineral fertilization (AD) produced, on average, 107.5 t/ha, which represents 63% more than control treatment and larger values of C and N contents in the biomass. There were not significant differences among the treatments for total contents of C (F = 1.3450; p = 0.3096), N (F = 1.2183; p = 0.3536) and mineral N (F = 0.5192; p = 0.7218) in the soil. Just the soil carbon content, determined by wet oxidation, was altered. The 10 t/ha biosolids rate increased the Walkley and Black C in relation to the largest doses, showing that trees development is more important to input organic material in the system than the biosolids application. The alkaline biosolids application to the soil surface resulted in low decomposition rates, 5 years after application, and did not contribute to increase C and N total stocks in the soil. The eucalypts that received nutrients even by mineral fertilization or by biosolids application, presented larger leaf area. The difference between the higher LAI (4.3) observed (treatment 40+K) and the control treatment was one unit. The polymeric biosolids rates were positively correlated with N, P, S, and Zn concentrations and with chlorophyll in eucalypts leaves at 3 months of age. The studied biosolid can increase net photosynthesis, being also capable to promote the water use efficiency and young eucalypts development.

<p>Human existence and welfare depend on functional ecosystems. Ecosystems are critical to sustain life-support services for human well-being. One method that visualizes that humanity requires ecosystem services for resource consumption and assimilation of produced waste is ecological footprints. This study focuses on the ecosystem service carbon sequestering. A quantification of this ecosystem service showed the potential for accumulation of carbon in different ecosystems in Stockholm and Norrbotten County for the years of 1995 and 2004. This study also provides an estimate of the ecosystem area that is appropriated to accumulate all carbon from total carbon dioxide emissions in Stockholm and Norrbotten County respectively. The appropriated ecosystem area represents the ecological footprint. The ecological footprint is also calculated for Stockholms läns landsting`s total carbon dioxide emissions in 2004. The total potential for accumulation of carbon is lower in the ecosystems in Stockholm County in 2004 than in 1995 and the corresponding figure for Norrbotten County has increased. The results indicate that the total potential for carbon accumulation in Stockholm County was approximately 427 kton C year-1 in 1995 and 352 kton C year -1 in 2004. In 1995 the ecosystems in Stockholm County could assimilate 26% of the county’s total emissions whereas the figure for 2004 was 21%. In Norrbotten County, the total potential for accumulation was approximately 2 824 kton C year -1 in 1995 and 2 983 kton C year -1 in 2004. The ecosystem area that is appropriated to assimilate total emissions of carbon dioxide was smaller in 2004 than in 1995 in Stockholm County and larger in Norrbotten County. The ecological footprint for total carbon dioxide emissions in Stockholm County was 12 696 km2 in 1995 and 12 506 km2 in 2004. The corresponding estimate for Norrbotten County indicate that the ecological footprint for total carbon sequestering was 14 457 km2 in 1995 and 32 146 km2 in 2004. The result shows that both regions require large areas of ecosystem to absorb total emissions of carbon dioxide. Stockholms läns landsting´s ecological footprint was 409 km2, which corresponds to 3.3 % of the County’s total ecological footprint. Stockholm County depends on ecosystem areas outside the region for assimilation of the region’s total emissions of carbon dioxide. According to the results Norrbotten County is self-sufficient with regard to the ecosystem service carbon accumulation. This study also includes a discussion of the advantages and limitations of the ecological footprint as a methodology. The received results serve as the starting point for this discussion. Ecological footprints are pedagogic and communicative indicators and can therefore reach out to a broad audience which is a great advantage with the method. It is a static measure and is therefore incapable of giving any presages. Ecological footprints do not take the dynamics and complexity of ecosystems into account and can therefore not provide any information about the possibilities for ecosystems to deliver ecosystem services at the same quality and quantity in the future. The method does not take socio-economic factors into consideration. For these reasons, ecological footprint should not be used as an indicator for sustainability. On the other hand, ecological footprint can illustrate why an ecologically sustainable development is necessary by visualizing that human welfare and existence rely on functional ecosystems.</p>

Human existence and welfare depend on functional ecosystems. Ecosystems are critical to sustain life-support services for human well-being. One method that visualizes that humanity requires ecosystem services for resource consumption and assimilation of produced waste is ecological footprints. This study focuses on the ecosystem service carbon sequestering. A quantification of this ecosystem service showed the potential for accumulation of carbon in different ecosystems in Stockholm and Norrbotten County for the years of 1995 and 2004. This study also provides an estimate of the ecosystem area that is appropriated to accumulate all carbon from total carbon dioxide emissions in Stockholm and Norrbotten County respectively. The appropriated ecosystem area represents the ecological footprint. The ecological footprint is also calculated for Stockholms läns landsting`s total carbon dioxide emissions in 2004. The total potential for accumulation of carbon is lower in the ecosystems in Stockholm County in 2004 than in 1995 and the corresponding figure for Norrbotten County has increased. The results indicate that the total potential for carbon accumulation in Stockholm County was approximately 427 kton C year-1 in 1995 and 352 kton C year -1 in 2004. In 1995 the ecosystems in Stockholm County could assimilate 26% of the county’s total emissions whereas the figure for 2004 was 21%. In Norrbotten County, the total potential for accumulation was approximately 2 824 kton C year -1 in 1995 and 2 983 kton C year -1 in 2004. The ecosystem area that is appropriated to assimilate total emissions of carbon dioxide was smaller in 2004 than in 1995 in Stockholm County and larger in Norrbotten County. The ecological footprint for total carbon dioxide emissions in Stockholm County was 12 696 km2 in 1995 and 12 506 km2 in 2004. The corresponding estimate for Norrbotten County indicate that the ecological footprint for total carbon sequestering was 14 457 km2 in 1995 and 32 146 km2 in 2004. The result shows that both regions require large areas of ecosystem to absorb total emissions of carbon dioxide. Stockholms läns landsting´s ecological footprint was 409 km2, which corresponds to 3.3 % of the County’s total ecological footprint. Stockholm County depends on ecosystem areas outside the region for assimilation of the region’s total emissions of carbon dioxide. According to the results Norrbotten County is self-sufficient with regard to the ecosystem service carbon accumulation. This study also includes a discussion of the advantages and limitations of the ecological footprint as a methodology. The received results serve as the starting point for this discussion. Ecological footprints are pedagogic and communicative indicators and can therefore reach out to a broad audience which is a great advantage with the method. It is a static measure and is therefore incapable of giving any presages. Ecological footprints do not take the dynamics and complexity of ecosystems into account and can therefore not provide any information about the possibilities for ecosystems to deliver ecosystem services at the same quality and quantity in the future. The method does not take socio-economic factors into consideration. For these reasons, ecological footprint should not be used as an indicator for sustainability. On the other hand, ecological footprint can illustrate why an ecologically sustainable development is necessary by visualizing that human welfare and existence rely on functional ecosystems.

Markanvändningssektorn (LULUCF) står för 7–11 % av de globala utsläppen av växthusgaser, däribland koldioxid (CO2), metan (CH4) och dikväveoxid (N2O). Genom förändringar av markanvändningen kan kolinlagringen i mark och vegetation ökas och sektorn kan istället vara med och bromsa klimatförändringarna. Åtgärder för att minska nettoutsläppen av växthusgaser måste vidtas på alla nivåer i samhället, däribland kommuner. Ökad kunskap om kolförråd och kolsänkor samt kartläggning av dessa är ett första steg för åtgärder på kommunnivå. Förutom att bromsa klimatförändringarna måste samhället hitta sätt att anpassa sig till ett förändrat klimat. En strategi för det är att bygga resiliens, vilket i levande system syftar på systemens förmåga att absorbera och hantera förändringar samt anpassa sig till dem och utvecklas av dem. En faktor som stärker resiliensen i ett samhälle är hög biologisk mångfald i ekosystemen. Biologisk mångfald påverkas liksom kolinlagring av markanvändningen och sättet som marken generellt brukas på idag leder till förlust av biologisk mångfald. Syftet med denna rapport är att beräkna kolförråd och kolbalans i mark och vegetation inom Tierps kommun. Vidare är syftet att analysera hur markanvändningen påverkar kolinlagring och biologisk mångfald samt hur dessa kan gynnas genom att anpassa markanvändningen. Studien undersöker även den potentiella betydelsen av biologisk mångfald och arbetet med kolinlagring för att skapa resiliens och bromsa klimatförändringarna. Forskningsstrategin var en fallstudie och för att besvara syftet användes en kombination av kvalitativ och kvantitativ metod. Den kvalitativa delen bestod av en litteraturstudie och den kvantitativa delen utgjordes av beräkningar av kolförråd och kolbalans i Tierps kommun. Vid beräkning delades marktäcket in i sex olika markklasser på organogen och minerogen mark. Kolförrådet delades upp i tre kolpooler; markkol, dött organiskt material och levande biomassa. Resultatet visar att kommunens totala kolförråd uppgår till cirka 25 036 639 ton kol. Av de tre olika kolpoolerna är det markkol som lagrar störst mängd kol inom samtliga markklasser. Nettoupptaget i kommunen är -655 466 ton koldioxidekvivalenter (CO2e) per år med nuvarande markanvändning, där kolpoolen levande biomassa står för majoriteten av koldioxidupptaget. För att öka kolinlagringen i mark och vegetation och gynna den biologiska mångfalden presenteras förslag på förändrad markanvändning. Dessa grupperas i tre olika områden; ökning av mängden levande biomassa, återvätning samt stärka urbana grönytor. Varje område inkluderar ett flertal åtgärdsförslag. Slutsatsen är att mark och vegetation inom Tierps kommuns totalt sett är en kolsänka och med en förändrad markanvändning kan både kolinlagring och biologisk mångfald gynnas, vilket kan bidra till att klimatförändringarna bromsas och resiliensen stärks. / The land use sector (LULUCF) accounts for 7–11 % of global greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and dinitrogen oxide (N2O). Through changes in land use, the carbon storage in soil and vegetation can be increased and the sector can instead play a part in mitigate climate change. Measures to reduce net emissions of greenhouse gases must be taken at all levels of society, including municipalities. Increased knowledge about carbon stores and carbon sinks and their mapping is a first step for measures at the municipal level. In addition to mitigate climate change, society must find ways to adapt to a changing climate. One strategy for that is to build resilience, which in living systems refers to the systems' ability to absorb and manage change as well as adapt to and evolve from it. A factor that strengthens the resilience of a society is high biodiversity in the ecosystems. Biodiversity, like carbon storage, is affected by land use and the way which land is generally used today contribute to the loss of biodiversity. The purpose of this report is to calculate carbon stocks and carbon balance in soil and vegetation within the municipality of Tierp. Furthermore, the aim is to analyze how land use affects carbon storage and biodiversity and how these can be benefited by adapting land use. The study also examines the potential significance of biodiversity and the work with carbon storage to create resilience and mitigate climate change. The research strategy employed a case study approach and a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used to address the research objectives. The qualitative component consisted of a literature review, while the quantitative component involved calculations of carbon stocks and balance in the municipality of Tierp. The land cover was divided into six different land classes for both organic and mineral soil types. The carbon stock was divided into three carbon pools; soil carbon, dead organic matter and living biomass. The result shows that the total carbon stock in the municipality amounts to approximately 25 036 639 tons of carbon. Among the three carbon pools, soil carbon stores the largest amount of carbon across all land classes. With the current land use, the net uptake in the municipality is -655 466 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) per year, with the living biomass pool contributing the majority of carbon dioxide uptake. In order to increase carbon storage in soil and vegetation and benefit biodiversity, suggestions for changes in land use are presented. These suggestions are grouped into three areas; increasing the amount of living biomass, rewetting and strengthening urban green areas. Each area includes several proposed actions. The conclusion is that, overall, the soil and vegetation within the municipality of Tierp serve as a carbon sink, and with altered land use, both carbon storage and biodiversity can be enhanced, contributing to mitigating climate change and strengthening resilience.

Uppsala Kommun is developing a new city district called Sydöstra staden (SÖS) as an innovative and transformative city district. A technical supply system that aligns with the district’s goals is pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is a process where biomass is heated without the supply of oxygen. This leads to carbonization where the energy is converted to biochar and heated gas that can be used for district heating. The biochar, which is considered as a carbon sink, could be the path for the municipality to achieve their climate goals for 2050. The aim of this project is to investigate the viability of providing district heating to SÖS through pyrolysis. Three scenarios based on biomass assets of garden waste, manure, and wooden chips will be evaluated from four perspectives: climate impact, economic feasibility, district heating coverage, and placement considerations. The method is a model constructed in python that simulates how much heat and biochar that can be produced including an income statement and how the price of biochar relates to the return of investment. The biochar price and biomass flow are two parameters that are examined in the sensitivity analysis. The model enables comparisons between the outcomes of the pyrolysis process and the heat energy demands in SÖS, the biochar usage in Uppsala and the municipality’s CO2 emissions. The results show profitable reactor alternatives in all three scenarios even without selling CORCs. However, the profitability is heavily reliant on maximizing the utilization of burned biomass. Furthermore, the first two scenarios had a negligible climate impact while the most profitable reactor in scenario 3 had a large impact on the municipality’s climate goals. Also, the coverage of district heating has been evaluated due to the asset of biomass as well as placement requirements have been stated.

Biochar can reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and is acknowledged as one feasible technology for negative carbon emissions. The stability of carbon in biochar is of major importance for the carbon sequestration value. A method for confident estimation of the stability is needed to make efficient priorities for the climate. The aim of this study is to identify the best available method that can be used to indicate the stability and quantify the carbon sequestration potential of biochar. The result builds on a literature review of the current state of scientific knowledge and the proposed method is tested with data from previous studies and then applied to the case of Stockholm Exergi. Biochar has a stable carbon structure, always more recalcitrant than the biomass that it derives from. However, estimations of how stable the carbon are varying a lot in the literature. Biochar is not unambiguously defined, there is rather a range of materials with different stability and the degradationis context dependent. Further discrepancy in the estimated stability derives from different experimental design and approaches to modeling the data. There is a challenge to do a proper estimation of the actual degradation, due to the long time perspective and the complexity of observation of behavior in a naturalsystem. A functional method to indicate the stability of carbon in biochar is needed because a biochar producer cannot conduct a long term trial to prove the carbon sequestration potential. Several methods have in theory the ability to indicate stability. However, the H/Corg model with the expression BC+100 emerging to be the best suited method due to its connection to measured degradation, accessibility and acceptance. The H/Corg model could be further improved by calibration and validation by collecting existing data from previous assessments. Communication of the carbon sequestration after hundred years compared to other carbon sinks should be improved to better reflect the long term carbon sequestration value of biochar. Stockholm Exergi is planning for a biochar production of 5 000 ton/year. The H/Corg method estimate that this corresponds to 9 000 – 11 500 ton CO2 per year, stable for at least hundred years. The widerange in the result derives from the different interpretations on the H/Corg method, where the different interpretations derive from the variation that previous research result shows. This is an incentive to support further development of the method. The sequestered carbon in biochar must be protected in its application to ensure the carbon sink in a trade system. Biochar in soil, green areas and concrete face the risk of being dis/re-located. However, that is not a threat to the carbon sequestration value. Biochar and biochar in a soil product sold in bags cannot account for the biochar sequestration value detached from the product, because of the risk of incineration. The future development of biochar stability assessment should in a short term assemble the existing knowledge of conducted trials and use that with knowledge of what approaches that best corresponds to the real stability of biochar. This could decrease the observed variations in the stability assessments and be used to calibrate and validate methods that could indicate stability. In the long perspective field trials and incubation trials should be done in a standardized way to assess the degradation, designed according to best practice with long trial times and consciously extrapolated data. / Biokol kan minska halten av CO2 i atmosfären och är identifierad som en möjlig teknologi för negativa CO2 utsläpp. Biokolets stabilitet har stor betydelse för dess potential. Målet med denna studie är att identifiera den bästa tillgängliga metoden för att indikera kolets stabilitet. Resultatet bygger på en litteraturgenomgång av befintligt kunskapsläge. Den föreslagna metoden testas med biokolsdata ifrån tidigare gjorda mätningar. Kolinbindningspotentialen i Stockholm Exergi’s biokolsprojekt beräknas genom att applicera metoden på förväntad biokolsproduktion. Biokol har en stabil kolstruktur, alltid mer stabil än den biomassa den härstammar ifrån. Uppskattningar av hur stabilt biokol är varierar mycket i litteraturen. Biokol är inte entydigt definierat utan är ett spann av olika material och dessutom är stabiliteten kontext beroende. Ytterligare variationer härstammar ifrån varierande experimentdesign och olika metoder som används för extrapolation av mätdata. För att beräkna kolinbindning i biokol som produceras behövs en metod som kan visa hur stabilt kolet är.Mätmetoden är resurskrävande och därför behövs istället ett samband mellan kolets innehåll/struktur och uppvisad stabilitet som kan användas i kombination med en enklare analys av det producerade biokolet för att indikera stabilitet. I teorin finns det många metoder som kan vara funktionella men enligt denna studie är H/Corg metoden i kombination med BC+100 index mest lämpligt att använda pågrund av metodens uppvisade koppling till uppmätt stabilitet, tillgänglighet och acceptans. Stockholm Exergi planerar för en biokolsproduktion på 5000 ton/år och H/Corg metoden uppskattar att detta årligen motsvarar 9 000 – 11 500 ton CO2 stabilt i minst 100 år. Spannet som resultatet uppvisar beror av den variation av uppskattad stabilitet i litteraturen och är ett incitament för att stödja en vidareutveckling av metoden. I applikationen av biokol måste kolsänkan skyddas för att kunna ingå i ett handelssystem. För biokol till jordförbättring, grönområden i staden samt biokol i betong föreligger en möjlighet att biokolet blir omflyttat eller förloras ifrån den ursprungliga applikationen, detta medför dock inte att kolsänkan går förlorad och är därför inte ett problem för värdet av kolsänkan. Däremot bör värdet av kolsänkan av biokol som säljs i konsumentförpackningar inte frikopplas ifrån biokolsprodukten eftersom det då saknas kontroll över att kolet inte bränns. Vidare studier av stabilitet av biokol bör på kort sikt innefatta insamling av befintlig data ifrån genomförda försök. Genom kunskap om hur olika faktorer inverkar på verklig och uppskattad stabilitet kan spannet av variation bättre accepteras och minska. Vidare kan insamlad data användas för att kalibrera och validera indikationsmetoder. Kommunikationen av kolsänkan av biokol och det långsiktiga värde som skiljer biokol ifrån andra mer kortsiktiga kolsänkor bör förbättras. Långsiktiga fält och inkubationsförsök bör etableras enligt kunskap om experimentell design och hantering av data för att på ett så korrekt sätt som möjligt spegla verklig stabilitet och kolsänka.