Climate control of terrestrial carbon exchange across biomes and continents

TitleClimate control of terrestrial carbon exchange across biomes and continents
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsYi C, Ricciuto D, Li R, Wolbeck J, Xu X, Nilsson M, Aires L, Albertson JD, Ammann C, M Arain A et al.
JournalEnvironmental Research Letters
Volume5
Pagination034007
Date Published07/2010
KeywordsSOLAR RADIATION
Abstract

Understanding the relationships between climate and carbon exchange by terrestrial ecosystems is critical to predict future levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide because of the potential accelerating effects of positive climate–carbon cycle feedbacks. However, directly observed relationships between climate and terrestrial CO2 exchange with the atmosphere across biomes and continents are lacking. Here we present data describing the relationships between net ecosystem exchange of carbon (NEE) and climate factors as measured using the eddy covariance method at 125 unique sites in various ecosystems over six continents with a total of 559 site-years. We find that NEE observed at eddy covariance sites is (1) a strong function of mean annual temperature at mid- and high-latitudes, (2) a strong function of dryness at mid- and low-latitudes, and (3) a function of both temperature and dryness around the mid-latitudinal belt (45°N). The sensitivity of NEE to mean annual temperature breaks down at   16 °C (a threshold value of mean annual temperature), above which no further increase of CO2 uptake with temperature was observed and dryness influence overrules temperature influence.

DOI10.1088/1748-9326/5/3/034007