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Diminished contribution of spring phenology to early-season carbon uptake in a changing climate

Liu, Zunchi ; Zohner, Constantin M. ; Wu, Zhaofei ; Crowther, Thomas W. ; Tang, Jing LU orcid ; Peñuelas, Josep and Fu, Yongshuo H. (2025) In Communications Earth and Environment 6(1).
Abstract

Advances in spring phenology (SOS) and increases in terrestrial gross primary productivity (GPP) are well-documented. However, the impact of an earlier SOS on the duration and rate of carbon uptake (GPPrate) during the early growing season (EGS) remains unclear, leaving the overall influence of these factors on EGS GPP uncertain. Using satellite and carbon flux data across the Northern Hemisphere, we found that an earlier SOS extended EGS, but reduced the mean daily GPPrate during this period, primarily due to lower temperatures and soil-water content. While the extended EGS increased total EGS GPP, the reduction in EGS GPPrate lowered these gains by 30% on average, with a more pronounced reduction in... (More)

Advances in spring phenology (SOS) and increases in terrestrial gross primary productivity (GPP) are well-documented. However, the impact of an earlier SOS on the duration and rate of carbon uptake (GPPrate) during the early growing season (EGS) remains unclear, leaving the overall influence of these factors on EGS GPP uncertain. Using satellite and carbon flux data across the Northern Hemisphere, we found that an earlier SOS extended EGS, but reduced the mean daily GPPrate during this period, primarily due to lower temperatures and soil-water content. While the extended EGS increased total EGS GPP, the reduction in EGS GPPrate lowered these gains by 30% on average, with a more pronounced reduction in arid regions (~ 85%) compared to humid areas (~ 15%). The diminished contribution of an advanced SOS to early-season productivity suggests that the current increase in carbon uptake in northern ecosystems may be offset by future warming and drought conditions.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Communications Earth and Environment
volume
6
issue
1
article number
206
publisher
Springer Nature
external identifiers
  • scopus:105000390933
ISSN
2662-4435
DOI
10.1038/s43247-025-02201-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b07ca28a-a97d-427b-92cf-314495ee5994
date added to LUP
2026-01-12 14:55:05
date last changed
2026-01-12 14:55:41
@article{b07ca28a-a97d-427b-92cf-314495ee5994,
  abstract     = {{<p>Advances in spring phenology (SOS) and increases in terrestrial gross primary productivity (GPP) are well-documented. However, the impact of an earlier SOS on the duration and rate of carbon uptake (GPP<sub>rate</sub>) during the early growing season (EGS) remains unclear, leaving the overall influence of these factors on EGS GPP uncertain. Using satellite and carbon flux data across the Northern Hemisphere, we found that an earlier SOS extended EGS, but reduced the mean daily GPP<sub>rate</sub> during this period, primarily due to lower temperatures and soil-water content. While the extended EGS increased total EGS GPP, the reduction in EGS GPP<sub>rate</sub> lowered these gains by 30% on average, with a more pronounced reduction in arid regions (~ 85%) compared to humid areas (~ 15%). The diminished contribution of an advanced SOS to early-season productivity suggests that the current increase in carbon uptake in northern ecosystems may be offset by future warming and drought conditions.</p>}},
  author       = {{Liu, Zunchi and Zohner, Constantin M. and Wu, Zhaofei and Crowther, Thomas W. and Tang, Jing and Peñuelas, Josep and Fu, Yongshuo H.}},
  issn         = {{2662-4435}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Nature}},
  series       = {{Communications Earth and Environment}},
  title        = {{Diminished contribution of spring phenology to early-season carbon uptake in a changing climate}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02201-8}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s43247-025-02201-8}},
  volume       = {{6}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}