search

Face Science

FACE Program | Homepage

The goal of FACE science is to study the effects of elevated [CO2] (and in some cases other factors associated with global change) on plants and ecosystems under as close to real world conditions as possible. The principal aims are:

  • To advance the understanding of the processes that regulate the carbon balance of ecosystems, including feedbacks between carbon, nutrient, and water cycles.
  • To understand the impact of elevated [CO2] on ecosystem function and structure.

Individual FACE experiments outline their specific research goals and maintain a list of publications on their web sites.  Below we have listed some of the review or synthesis papers that summarize the current state of FACE Science.

  • Ainsworth EA, Rogers A (2007) The response of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance to rising [CO2]: mechanisms and environmental interactions. Plant, Cell & Environment 30, 258-270. (pdf)
  • Long SP, Ainsworth EA, Leakey ADB, Nösberger J, Ort DR (2006) Food for Thought: Lower-than-expected crop yield stimulation with rising CO2 concentrations. Science 312, 1918-1921. (pdf).
  • Rogers A, Ainsworth EA, Kammann C (2006) FACE value, perspectives on the future of Free Air CO2 Enrichment Studies. In: Managed Ecosystems and CO2 (eds J. Nösberger, S.P. Long, R.J. Norby, M. Stitt, G.R. Hendrey, H. Blum), pp.431-449. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York. (pdf)
  • Ainsworth EA & Long SP (2005) What have we learned from 15 years of free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE)? A meta-analytic review of responses to rising CO2 in photosynthesis, canopy properties and plant production. New Phytologist. 165, 351-372. (pdf)
  • Norby RJ et al. (2005) Forest response to elevated CO2 is conserved across a broad range of productivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 102, 18052-18056. (pdf)
  • Long SP et al. (2004) Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide: Plants FACE the future. Annual Review of Plant Biology. 55, 591-628. (pdf)
  • Nowak RS et al. (2004) Functional responses of plants to elevated atmospheric CO2 – do photosynthetic and productivity data from FACE experiments support early predictions? New Phytologist. 162, 253-280. (pdf)
  • Zak DR, et al. (2003) Soil nitrogen cycling under elevated CO2: A synthesis of forest FACE experiments. Ecological Applications. 13, 1508-1514. (pdf)
  • Kimball BA et al. (2002) Responses of agricultural crops to free-air CO2 enrichment. Advances in Agronomy. 77, 293-368.

If you think we're missing a key FACE review or synthesis paper please let us know.

Top of Page

Last Modified: February 1, 2008

FACE is a program of the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) - U.S. Department of Energy. Please forward all questions or comments about this site to: Brookhaven FACE Program
 


DOE, Office of ScienceOne of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE’s Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.

Privacy and Security Notice  | Contact Web Services for help