Net carbon dioxide losses of northern ecosystems in response to autumn warming
(2008) In Nature 451(7174). p.3-49- Abstract
- The carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems is particularly sensitive to climatic changes in autumn and spring(1-4), with spring and autumn temperatures over northern latitudes having risen by about 1.1 degrees C and 0.8 degrees C, respectively, over the past two decades(5). A simultaneous greening trend has also been observed, characterized by a longer growing season and greater photosynthetic activity(6,7). These observations have led to speculation that spring and autumn warming could enhance carbon sequestration and extend the period of net carbon uptake in the future(8). Here we analyse interannual variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration data and ecosystem carbon dioxide fluxes. We find that atmospheric records from... (More)
- The carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems is particularly sensitive to climatic changes in autumn and spring(1-4), with spring and autumn temperatures over northern latitudes having risen by about 1.1 degrees C and 0.8 degrees C, respectively, over the past two decades(5). A simultaneous greening trend has also been observed, characterized by a longer growing season and greater photosynthetic activity(6,7). These observations have led to speculation that spring and autumn warming could enhance carbon sequestration and extend the period of net carbon uptake in the future(8). Here we analyse interannual variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration data and ecosystem carbon dioxide fluxes. We find that atmospheric records from the past 20 years show a trend towards an earlier autumn- to- winter carbon dioxide build- up, suggesting a shorter net carbon uptake period. This trend cannot be explained by changes in atmospheric transport alone and, together with the ecosystem flux data, suggest increasing carbon losses in autumn. We use a process- based terrestrial biosphere model and satellite vegetation greenness index observations to investigate further the observed seasonal response of northern ecosystems to autumnal warming. We find that both photosynthesis and respiration increase during autumn warming, but the increase in respiration is greater. In contrast, warming increases photosynthesis more than respiration in spring. Our simulations and observations indicate that northern terrestrial ecosystems may currently lose carbon dioxide in response to autumn warming, with a sensitivity of about 0.2 PgC degrees C-1, offsetting 90% of the increased carbon dioxide uptake during spring. If future autumn warming occurs at a faster rate than in spring, the ability of northern ecosystems to sequester carbon may be diminished earlier than previously suggested(9,10). (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/966241
- author
- Piao, Shilong
; Ciais, Philippe
; Friedlingstein, Pierre
; Peylin, Philippe
; Reichstein, Markus
; Luyssaert, Sebastiaan
; Margolis, Hank
; Fang, Jingyun
; Barr, Alan
; Chen, Anping
; Grelle, Achim
; Hollinger, David Y.
; Laurila, Tuomas
; Lindroth, Anders
LU
; Richardson, Andrew D.
and Vesala, Timo
(Less) - organization
- publishing date
- 2008
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Nature
- volume
- 451
- issue
- 7174
- pages
- 3 - 49
- publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000252079300030
- scopus:38049040961
- ISSN
- 0028-0836
- DOI
- 10.1038/nature06444
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 14b65825-4378-47dc-98e4-af945d1154cb (old id 966241)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 11:40:57
- date last changed
- 2024-07-02 20:05:51
@article{14b65825-4378-47dc-98e4-af945d1154cb,
abstract = {{The carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems is particularly sensitive to climatic changes in autumn and spring(1-4), with spring and autumn temperatures over northern latitudes having risen by about 1.1 degrees C and 0.8 degrees C, respectively, over the past two decades(5). A simultaneous greening trend has also been observed, characterized by a longer growing season and greater photosynthetic activity(6,7). These observations have led to speculation that spring and autumn warming could enhance carbon sequestration and extend the period of net carbon uptake in the future(8). Here we analyse interannual variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration data and ecosystem carbon dioxide fluxes. We find that atmospheric records from the past 20 years show a trend towards an earlier autumn- to- winter carbon dioxide build- up, suggesting a shorter net carbon uptake period. This trend cannot be explained by changes in atmospheric transport alone and, together with the ecosystem flux data, suggest increasing carbon losses in autumn. We use a process- based terrestrial biosphere model and satellite vegetation greenness index observations to investigate further the observed seasonal response of northern ecosystems to autumnal warming. We find that both photosynthesis and respiration increase during autumn warming, but the increase in respiration is greater. In contrast, warming increases photosynthesis more than respiration in spring. Our simulations and observations indicate that northern terrestrial ecosystems may currently lose carbon dioxide in response to autumn warming, with a sensitivity of about 0.2 PgC degrees C-1, offsetting 90% of the increased carbon dioxide uptake during spring. If future autumn warming occurs at a faster rate than in spring, the ability of northern ecosystems to sequester carbon may be diminished earlier than previously suggested(9,10).}},
author = {{Piao, Shilong and Ciais, Philippe and Friedlingstein, Pierre and Peylin, Philippe and Reichstein, Markus and Luyssaert, Sebastiaan and Margolis, Hank and Fang, Jingyun and Barr, Alan and Chen, Anping and Grelle, Achim and Hollinger, David Y. and Laurila, Tuomas and Lindroth, Anders and Richardson, Andrew D. and Vesala, Timo}},
issn = {{0028-0836}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{7174}},
pages = {{3--49}},
publisher = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
series = {{Nature}},
title = {{Net carbon dioxide losses of northern ecosystems in response to autumn warming}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature06444}},
doi = {{10.1038/nature06444}},
volume = {{451}},
year = {{2008}},
}