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Table 1 Name and description of disturbance matrices (DMs) developed specifically for modelling oil and gas exploration and development disturbance effects using the Generic Carbon Budget Model (see Additional file 1: Appendix S1 for matrices)

From: Cumulative effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on the forest carbon balance in the oil sands region of Alberta, Canada; a pilot study (1985–2012)

DM type

Primary DM number

Disturbance matrix name

Disturbance matrix description

1

1

OSE Corehole Pads close to mill—not lbh1

OSE corehole pads close to the mill not located in the lbh subregion; flat topography; minimal disturbance

2

2

OSE Corehole Pads close to mill–lbh

OSE corehole pads close to the mill located in the lbh subregion; cut and fill used for pad construction

3

3

OSE Corehole Pads far from mill—not lbh

OSE corehole pads far from the mill not located in the lbh subregion; flat topo-graphy; minimal disturbance

4

4

OSE Corehole Pads far from mill—lbh

OSE corehole pads far from the mill located in the lbh subregion; cut and fill used for pad construction

5

2

Permanent Well Pads and Roads close to mill

Permanent well pads, roads or where a large area has been cleared close to the mill

6

4

Permanent Well Pads and Roads far from mill

Permanent well pads, roads or where a large area has been cleared far from the mill

7

3

Pipelines aboveground

Pipelines aboveground

8

4

Pipelines belowground

Pipelines belowground

9

5

Seismic Lines 1960–1999

Seismic lines (1960–1999; no burning; bulldozing, minimal soil disturbance; winter operation; roll-back in same year); 0.27 pixel disturbed

10

6

Seismic Lines 2000 to present

Seismic Lines (2000 to present; no burning; bull-dozing, minimal soil disturbance; winter operation; roll-back in same year); 0.17 pixel disturbed

11

2

Surface Mining

Surface Mining

12

6

Unspecified with regeneration

Unspecified light disturbance where forest regen-eration is apparent in imagery; 0.17 pixel disturbed

13

7

Unspecified without regeneration

Unspecified disturbance where forest regeneration is not apparent in imagery; 0.27 pixel disturbed

  1. See Beckingham and Archibald [44] for description of ecosites in the oil sands region
  2. OSE oil sands exploration, lbh lower boreal highlands. See section on “Energy sector disturbances” for rationale to use 0.17 and 0.27 multipliers