Carbon Report

The Carbon Storage Report describes the change in soil organic carbon stocks over the report period (the next decade). This prediction is based upon the climate, soil type, and past and current management histories which you provided on the COMET-VR data collection screens.

The table has three parts:

1. Summary of the site location, description, and site history.
2. The average annual change in the amount of soil carbon stored on the parcel over the report period. This value is provided in units of soil carbon, and as CO₂ equivalent.
3. The uncertainty is the percent uncertainty in the average annual change in soil carbon stocks and the associated CO₂ flux.

Figure 11: Example of Carbon Report

Predicted results are presented as ten year averages of potential soil carbon sequestration or emission with associated statistical uncertainty values for the 1605(B) reporting period, starting in the year following the current year and extending for one decade. 

One ton/tonne of carbon is equivalent to 3.67 ton/tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The uncertainty calculation is a percent value that indicates the reliability of the modeled carbon change estimate. Uncertainties are calculated using an empirically-based approach, in which model results are compared to field data.  Differences between model output and field measurements were statistically analyzed using linear-mixed effect models. Uncertainty was applied to the carbon values based on the predictions from the statistical models and these estimates varied by management system and Land Resource Region (LRR).

A value of 0% indicates a perfect model fit, but this rarely occurs. As the percentage value increases more error is associated with the modeled carbon value.  The uncertainty designates a range around the estimate defined by +/- the percentage of the value, within which the true value is likely to occur with 95% confidence.

If the Summary Screen returns the following message highlighted in red "The text "Unknown" indicates that COMET-VR is unable to determine an uncertainty value for the management options selected", COMET-VR is unable to calculate an uncertainty value which indicates there are insufficient field measurements to address uncertainty for your parcel based upon the location, soil type, and the management information which you provided on the COMET-VR data entry screens.

Click the Next button and you will be taken to the "Fuel and Fertilizer" page.

Create an ASCII File

Click the button "Write File" at the bottom of the Fuel and Fertilizer page to create a report formatted as ASCII text.  The report can then be saved to your computer's hard disk and EMAILED to certify your parcel's Carbon Storage potential.

To save the file to your hard disk - right click on the link.

To view the saved output - left click on the link or click the "File" link at the top of the page.  After viewing the file use your browsers "back button" to return to the COMET-VR Tool.

Figure 13: Example of the ASCII File Screen

The "Write File" utility will produce a report similar to the following depending on the options input:

Figure 14: Example of the ASCII Report

EMAIL the Report

The EMAIL screen has two required fields: name and email address.

Enter the name of the parcel owner. For example: John N. Smith. The parcel owner name is only used to verify this information in the EMAIL message and is not stored in a database.

Enter the email address of the parcel owner.  For example:
comet-vr@usda.gov is a valid email address. 

The format of a valid email address is: name@address.com. There must be a "@", and a "." character in the address. The name must be at least 7 characters long.

If you want a copy of the email message, be sure to click the CC box.  Click on the Next button to send the email.

Figure 15: Example of the EMAIL Screen