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Increasing global ecosystem respiration between 1982 and 2015 from Earth observation-based modelling

Tagesson, Torbern LU ; Kelly, Julia LU ; Schurgers, Guy LU ; Tian, Feng ; Ardö, Jonas LU orcid ; Horion, Stephanie ; Ahlström, Anders LU orcid ; Olin, Stefan LU and Fensholt, Rasmus (2024) In Global Ecology and Biogeography 33(1). p.116-130
Abstract

Aim: Earth observation-based estimates of land–atmosphere exchange of carbon are essential for understanding the response of the terrestrial biosphere to climatic change and other anthropogenic forcing. Temperature, soil water content and gross primary production are the main drivers of ecosystem respiration (Reco), and the main aims of this study are to develop an Reco model driven by long-term global-scale Earth observations and to study Reco spatiotemporal dynamics 1982–2015. Location: Global scale. Time Period: 1982–2015. Major Taxa Studied: Terrestrial ecosystems. Methods: We parameterized and applied a global Reco model for 1982–2015 using novel Earth observation-based data. We studied... (More)

Aim: Earth observation-based estimates of land–atmosphere exchange of carbon are essential for understanding the response of the terrestrial biosphere to climatic change and other anthropogenic forcing. Temperature, soil water content and gross primary production are the main drivers of ecosystem respiration (Reco), and the main aims of this study are to develop an Reco model driven by long-term global-scale Earth observations and to study Reco spatiotemporal dynamics 1982–2015. Location: Global scale. Time Period: 1982–2015. Major Taxa Studied: Terrestrial ecosystems. Methods: We parameterized and applied a global Reco model for 1982–2015 using novel Earth observation-based data. We studied the relationships between Reco measured at field sites globally and land surface temperature, gross primary production and soil water content. Trends 1982–2015 were quantified, and the contributions from terrestrial regions to the spatiotemporal variability were evaluated. Results: The Reco model (LGS-Reco) captured the between-site and intra- and interannual variability in field-observed Reco and soil respiration well in comparison with other Earth observation-based products. The global annual Reco was on average 105.6 ± 2.3 Pg C for 1982–2015, which is close to 105 Pg C according to residuals of the carbon exchange processes within the global carbon budgets. The trend in global terrestrial Reco 1982–2015 was 0.19 ± 0.02 Pg C y−1, with the strongest positive trends found in cropland areas, whereas negative trends were primarily observed for savannah/shrublands of Southern Africa and South America. Trends were especially strong during the eighties and nineties, but substantially smaller 1998–2015. Main Conclusions: The LGS-Reco model revealed a substantial increase in global Reco during recent decades. However, the growth rates of global Reco were slower during 1998–2015, partially explaining the reduced growth rates of atmospheric CO2 during this period. The LGR-Reco product may be an essential source for studying carbon sources and sinks and functioning of the Earth system.

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; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
climate change, Earth observation, land surface temperature, land–atmosphere interactions, terrestrial carbon balance
in
Global Ecology and Biogeography
volume
33
issue
1
pages
116 - 130
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85174826135
ISSN
1466-822X
DOI
10.1111/geb.13775
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Global Ecology and Biogeography published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
id
5775d53e-d671-4014-93b2-7de0fb24ce9d
date added to LUP
2023-12-13 14:35:40
date last changed
2024-01-09 15:44:42
@article{5775d53e-d671-4014-93b2-7de0fb24ce9d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aim: Earth observation-based estimates of land–atmosphere exchange of carbon are essential for understanding the response of the terrestrial biosphere to climatic change and other anthropogenic forcing. Temperature, soil water content and gross primary production are the main drivers of ecosystem respiration (R<sub>eco</sub>), and the main aims of this study are to develop an R<sub>eco</sub> model driven by long-term global-scale Earth observations and to study R<sub>eco</sub> spatiotemporal dynamics 1982–2015. Location: Global scale. Time Period: 1982–2015. Major Taxa Studied: Terrestrial ecosystems. Methods: We parameterized and applied a global R<sub>eco</sub> model for 1982–2015 using novel Earth observation-based data. We studied the relationships between R<sub>eco</sub> measured at field sites globally and land surface temperature, gross primary production and soil water content. Trends 1982–2015 were quantified, and the contributions from terrestrial regions to the spatiotemporal variability were evaluated. Results: The R<sub>eco</sub> model (LGS-R<sub>eco</sub>) captured the between-site and intra- and interannual variability in field-observed R<sub>eco</sub> and soil respiration well in comparison with other Earth observation-based products. The global annual R<sub>eco</sub> was on average 105.6 ± 2.3 Pg C for 1982–2015, which is close to 105 Pg C according to residuals of the carbon exchange processes within the global carbon budgets. The trend in global terrestrial R<sub>eco</sub> 1982–2015 was 0.19 ± 0.02 Pg C y<sup>−1</sup>, with the strongest positive trends found in cropland areas, whereas negative trends were primarily observed for savannah/shrublands of Southern Africa and South America. Trends were especially strong during the eighties and nineties, but substantially smaller 1998–2015. Main Conclusions: The LGS-R<sub>eco</sub> model revealed a substantial increase in global R<sub>eco</sub> during recent decades. However, the growth rates of global R<sub>eco</sub> were slower during 1998–2015, partially explaining the reduced growth rates of atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> during this period. The LGR-Reco product may be an essential source for studying carbon sources and sinks and functioning of the Earth system.</p>}},
  author       = {{Tagesson, Torbern and Kelly, Julia and Schurgers, Guy and Tian, Feng and Ardö, Jonas and Horion, Stephanie and Ahlström, Anders and Olin, Stefan and Fensholt, Rasmus}},
  issn         = {{1466-822X}},
  keywords     = {{climate change; Earth observation; land surface temperature; land–atmosphere interactions; terrestrial carbon balance}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{116--130}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Global Ecology and Biogeography}},
  title        = {{Increasing global ecosystem respiration between 1982 and 2015 from Earth observation-based modelling}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/geb.13775}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/geb.13775}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}