Enhanced seasonal CO2 exchange caused by amplified plant productivity in northern ecosystems.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Enhanced seasonal CO2 exchange caused by amplified plant productivity in northern ecosystems.
Authors:	Forkel, Matthias, Carvalhais, Nuno, Rödenbeck, Christian, Keeling, Ralph, Heimann, Martin, Thonicke, Kirsten, Zaehle, Sönke, Reichstein, Markus
Source:	Science (pre-March 2025). 2/12/2016, Vol. 351 Issue 6274, p696-699. 4p.
Subjects:	Carbon dioxide & the environment, Latitude, Carbon cycle, Ground vegetation cover, Photosynthesis -- Environmental aspects
Abstract:	Atmospheric monitoring of high northern latitudes (above 40°N) has shown an enhanced seasonal cycle of carbon dioxide (CO2) since the 1960s, but the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. The much stronger increase in high latitudes relative to low ones suggests that northern ecosystems are experiencing large changes in vegetation and carbon cycle dynamics. We found that the latitudinal gradient of the increasing CO2 amplitude ismainly driven by positive trends in photosynthetic carbon uptake caused by recent climate change andmediated by changing vegetation cover in northern ecosystems. Our results underscore the importance of climate-vegetation-carbon cycle feedbacks at high latitudes; moreover, they indicate that in recent decades, photosynthetic carbon uptake has reactedmuch more strongly to warming than have carbon release processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection

Description
Abstract:	Atmospheric monitoring of high northern latitudes (above 40°N) has shown an enhanced seasonal cycle of carbon dioxide (CO2) since the 1960s, but the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. The much stronger increase in high latitudes relative to low ones suggests that northern ecosystems are experiencing large changes in vegetation and carbon cycle dynamics. We found that the latitudinal gradient of the increasing CO2 amplitude ismainly driven by positive trends in photosynthetic carbon uptake caused by recent climate change andmediated by changing vegetation cover in northern ecosystems. Our results underscore the importance of climate-vegetation-carbon cycle feedbacks at high latitudes; moreover, they indicate that in recent decades, photosynthetic carbon uptake has reactedmuch more strongly to warming than have carbon release processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	00368075
DOI:	10.1126/science.aac4971