ABSTRACT
A dynamical model of the climate-biosphere system involving a carbon cycle is designed. A qualitative analysis is given for a model zero-dimensional in space. The climate of our hypothetical planet is described by a single variable, namely, the annual average temperature on its surface. The chapter considers a planet with vegetation and a “two-layer” atmosphere. Clouds and the underlying surface (vegetation and ocean can be taken into consideration) reflect the solar radiation, and the “greenhouse” gases transform it. In the present model we use a very primitive sub-model for the global carbon cycle. The presented climate-vegetation model involving a carbon cycle submodel shows some interesting features. The performed stability analysis of the system’s equilibria gives us up to three stable points. The initiation of life on our virtual planet depends on the value of two bifurcation parameters, the total amount of carbon in the system and a combination of biotic characteristics of the vegetation.
