An Introduction to Methods to Quantify Carbon Dynamics in Rangeland Ecosystems

ABSTRACT Rangeland ecosystems store substantial terrestrial carbon and contribute to climate mitigation, yet their spatial heterogeneity, dynamic disturbance regimes, and multiple carbon pools make accurate quantification challenging. This introduction outlines and compares methodological approaches for measuring aboveground biomass, soil organic carbon, and fire-derived pyrogenic carbon across rangelands, with emphasis on how sampling design, sensor platforms, modeling frameworks, and accounting tools scale across ecological gradients. We outline field-based protocols, remote sensing technologies, process-based simulators, and machine learning upscaling strategies, highlighting trade-offs in resolution, cost, uncertainty, and spatial-temporal coverage. Particular attention is given to how these methods complement one another across spatial and temporal scales, including the conversion factors and sampling assumptions used to translate biomass estimates into carbon stocks. We then compare practical considerations across spatial and temporal scales to guide method selection, and connect them to rangeland carbon accounting, monitoring, and management by showing how method selection influences assessment reliability and outcomes. By integrating ecological insight, technological innovation, and standardized measurement, this overview provides a practical foundation for designing robust monitoring programs and reducing uncertainty in rangeland carbon assessments.