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Carbon storage in forest biomass is an essential attribute of stable forest
ecosystems and a key link in the global carbon cycle. After carbon dioxide is
converted into organic matter by photosynthesis, carbon is stored in forests
for a period of time before it is ultimately returned to the atmosphere
through respiration and decomposition or disturbance (e.g., fire). A
substantial pool of carbon is stored in woody biomass (roots, trunks,
branches). Another portion eventually ends up as organic matter in forest
floor litter and in soils. Soil carbon does not change very quickly and is
difficult to measure directly.

Carbon storage is described by two metrics: total aboveground carbon and
annual biomass data. The total aboveground carbon data source is the primary
source of vegetation metrics for the Southern California kit, and as such, it
is selected as the source to represent this metric and element to provide
greater internal data consistency across the kit.

* Metric Name: Element Representation: Carbon Storage   

* Unit Of Measure: Condition score, +1 to -1  

* Translation: Where is total carbon the highest?