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Disturbance Logic

Disturbances cause rapid carbon transfers across pools and can produce direct atmospheric emissions.

Document Control

Field Value
Author Geraldson Muluh
Owner Science lead or delegate
Audience Analysts and reviewers
Last reviewed 2026-03-27
Review cadence Quarterly

Disturbance Representation

A disturbance event typically includes:

  1. affected area (spatial extent)
  2. disturbance type (for example fire, harvest, insects)
  3. transfer logic (transition multipliers between pools)

Typical Disturbance Behaviors

Harvest

  • transfers merchantable biomass to product-sector pathways
  • transfers residues to dead organic matter pools

Fire

  • emits portions of biomass and dead organic matter to atmosphere
  • transfers remaining biomass to dead pools

Deforestation / Land-Use Change

  • applies permanent class transition logic
  • can trigger high immediate emissions from biomass and soil disturbance