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Global increase in the optimal temperature for the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems

Fang, Zhongxiang LU ; Zhang, Wenmin ; Wang, Lanhui LU orcid ; Schurgers, Guy LU ; Ciais, Philippe ; Peñuelas, Josep ; Brandt, Martin ; Yang, Hui ; Huang, Ke and Shen, Qiu , et al. (2024) In Communications Earth and Environment 5(1).
Abstract

Vegetation growth may adapt to climate warming by adjusting the relationship between photosynthetic capacity and temperature. However, changes in the optimal temperature for ecosystem productivity during recent decades of warming remain uncertain. Here we provide empirical evidence that global optimal temperature increased at a rate of 0.017 ± 0.002 °C y−1 from 1982 to 2016, using multiple datasets of satellite-derived productivity and climate variables. Model simulations show that the optimal temperature will increase by 0.027 ± 0.001 °C y−1 until the end of 21st century. The global increasing optimal temperature is consistent with increasing mean air temperatures and model simulations further confirm the key role... (More)

Vegetation growth may adapt to climate warming by adjusting the relationship between photosynthetic capacity and temperature. However, changes in the optimal temperature for ecosystem productivity during recent decades of warming remain uncertain. Here we provide empirical evidence that global optimal temperature increased at a rate of 0.017 ± 0.002 °C y−1 from 1982 to 2016, using multiple datasets of satellite-derived productivity and climate variables. Model simulations show that the optimal temperature will increase by 0.027 ± 0.001 °C y−1 until the end of 21st century. The global increasing optimal temperature is consistent with increasing mean air temperatures and model simulations further confirm the key role of temperature in regulating changes in optimal temperature, while being co-regulated by other factors, such as CO2 and precipitation. These results suggest that vegetation is acclimating to warming and that the negative impacts of climate change on ecosystem productivity may be less severe than previously thought.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Communications Earth and Environment
volume
5
issue
1
article number
466
publisher
Springer Nature
external identifiers
  • scopus:85202170136
ISSN
2662-4435
DOI
10.1038/s43247-024-01636-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9f1b18c0-9746-4496-9afb-8704779e661d
date added to LUP
2024-10-30 13:02:19
date last changed
2025-05-22 15:23:13
@article{9f1b18c0-9746-4496-9afb-8704779e661d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Vegetation growth may adapt to climate warming by adjusting the relationship between photosynthetic capacity and temperature. However, changes in the optimal temperature for ecosystem productivity during recent decades of warming remain uncertain. Here we provide empirical evidence that global optimal temperature increased at a rate of 0.017 ± 0.002 °C y<sup>−1</sup> from 1982 to 2016, using multiple datasets of satellite-derived productivity and climate variables. Model simulations show that the optimal temperature will increase by 0.027 ± 0.001 °C y<sup>−1</sup> until the end of 21st century. The global increasing optimal temperature is consistent with increasing mean air temperatures and model simulations further confirm the key role of temperature in regulating changes in optimal temperature, while being co-regulated by other factors, such as CO<sub>2</sub> and precipitation. These results suggest that vegetation is acclimating to warming and that the negative impacts of climate change on ecosystem productivity may be less severe than previously thought.</p>}},
  author       = {{Fang, Zhongxiang and Zhang, Wenmin and Wang, Lanhui and Schurgers, Guy and Ciais, Philippe and Peñuelas, Josep and Brandt, Martin and Yang, Hui and Huang, Ke and Shen, Qiu and Rasmus, Fensholt}},
  issn         = {{2662-4435}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Nature}},
  series       = {{Communications Earth and Environment}},
  title        = {{Global increase in the optimal temperature for the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01636-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s43247-024-01636-9}},
  volume       = {{5}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}