IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v14y2023i1d10.1038_s41467-023-36727-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Recent decrease of the impact of tropical temperature on the carbon cycle linked to increased precipitation

Author

Listed:
  • Wenmin Zhang

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Guy Schurgers

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Josep Peñuelas

    (Cerdanyola del Vallès
    CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès)

  • Rasmus Fensholt

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Hui Yang

    (Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry)

  • Jing Tang

    (Lund University
    University of Copenhagen)

  • Xiaowei Tong

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Philippe Ciais

    (Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, CEA CNRS UVSQ)

  • Martin Brandt

    (University of Copenhagen)

Abstract

The atmospheric CO2 growth rate (CGR) variability is largely controlled by tropical temperature fluctuations. The sensitivity of CGR to tropical temperature $$\left({{{{\rm{\gamma }}}}}_{{{{\rm{CGR}}}}}^{{{{\rm{T}}}}}\right)$$ γ CGR T has strongly increased since 1960, but here we show that this trend has ceased. Here, we use the long-term CO2 records from Mauna Loa and the South Pole to compute CGR, and show that $${{{{\rm{\gamma }}}}}_{{{{\rm{CGR}}}}}^{{{{\rm{T}}}}}$$ γ CGR T increased by 200% from 1960–1979 to 1979–2000 but then decreased by 117% from 1980–2001 to 2001–2020, almost returning back to the level of the 1960s. Variations in $${{{{\rm{\gamma }}}}}_{{{{\rm{CGR}}}}}^{{{{\rm{T}}}}}$$ γ CGR T are significantly correlated with changes in precipitation at a bi-decadal scale. These findings are further corroborated by results from a dynamic vegetation model, collectively suggesting that increases in precipitation control the decreased $${{{{\rm{\gamma }}}}}_{{{{\rm{CGR}}}}}^{{{{\rm{T}}}}}$$ γ CGR T during recent decades. Our results indicate that wetter conditions have led to a decoupling of the impact of the tropical temperature variation on the carbon cycle.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenmin Zhang & Guy Schurgers & Josep Peñuelas & Rasmus Fensholt & Hui Yang & Jing Tang & Xiaowei Tong & Philippe Ciais & Martin Brandt, 2023. "Recent decrease of the impact of tropical temperature on the carbon cycle linked to increased precipitation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36727-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36727-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-36727-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-023-36727-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yuanwei Qin & Xiangming Xiao & Jean-Pierre Wigneron & Philippe Ciais & Martin Brandt & Lei Fan & Xiaojun Li & Sean Crowell & Xiaocui Wu & Russell Doughty & Yao Zhang & Fang Liu & Stephen Sitch & Berri, 2021. "Carbon loss from forest degradation exceeds that from deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 11(5), pages 442-448, May.
    2. T. F. Keenan & X. Luo & M. G. Kauwe & B. E. Medlyn & I. C. Prentice & B. D. Stocker & N. G. Smith & C. Terrer & H. Wang & Y. Zhang & S. Zhou, 2021. " RETRACTED ARTICLE: A constraint on historic growth in global photosynthesis due to increasing CO2," Nature, Nature, vol. 600(7888), pages 253-258, December.
    3. Martin Heimann & Markus Reichstein, 2008. "Terrestrial ecosystem carbon dynamics and climate feedbacks," Nature, Nature, vol. 451(7176), pages 289-292, January.
    4. Martin Jung & Markus Reichstein & Christopher R. Schwalm & Chris Huntingford & Stephen Sitch & Anders Ahlström & Almut Arneth & Gustau Camps-Valls & Philippe Ciais & Pierre Friedlingstein & Fabian Gan, 2017. "Compensatory water effects link yearly global land CO2 sink changes to temperature," Nature, Nature, vol. 541(7638), pages 516-520, January.
    5. Vincent Humphrey & Jakob Zscheischler & Philippe Ciais & Lukas Gudmundsson & Stephen Sitch & Sonia I. Seneviratne, 2018. "Sensitivity of atmospheric CO2 growth rate to observed changes in terrestrial water storage," Nature, Nature, vol. 560(7720), pages 628-631, August.
    6. Markus Reichstein & Michael Bahn & Philippe Ciais & Dorothea Frank & Miguel D. Mahecha & Sonia I. Seneviratne & Jakob Zscheischler & Christian Beer & Nina Buchmann & David C. Frank & Dario Papale & An, 2013. "Climate extremes and the carbon cycle," Nature, Nature, vol. 500(7462), pages 287-295, August.
    7. A. P. Ballantyne & C. B. Alden & J. B. Miller & P. P. Tans & J. W. C. White, 2012. "Increase in observed net carbon dioxide uptake by land and oceans during the past 50 years," Nature, Nature, vol. 488(7409), pages 70-72, August.
    8. Xiangzhong Luo & Trevor F. Keenan, 2022. "Tropical extreme droughts drive long-term increase in atmospheric CO2 growth rate variability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    9. Xuhui Wang & Shilong Piao & Philippe Ciais & Pierre Friedlingstein & Ranga B. Myneni & Peter Cox & Martin Heimann & John Miller & Shushi Peng & Tao Wang & Hui Yang & Anping Chen, 2014. "A two-fold increase of carbon cycle sensitivity to tropical temperature variations," Nature, Nature, vol. 506(7487), pages 212-215, February.
    10. Wannes Hubau & Simon L. Lewis & Oliver L. Phillips & Kofi Affum-Baffoe & Hans Beeckman & Aida Cuní-Sanchez & Armandu K. Daniels & Corneille E. N. Ewango & Sophie Fauset & Jacques M. Mukinzi & Douglas , 2020. "Asynchronous carbon sink saturation in African and Amazonian tropical forests," Nature, Nature, vol. 579(7797), pages 80-87, March.
    11. Martin Jung & Markus Reichstein & Philippe Ciais & Sonia I. Seneviratne & Justin Sheffield & Michael L. Goulden & Gordon Bonan & Alessandro Cescatti & Jiquan Chen & Richard de Jeu & A. Johannes Dolman, 2010. "Recent decline in the global land evapotranspiration trend due to limited moisture supply," Nature, Nature, vol. 467(7318), pages 951-954, October.
    12. Lina M. Mercado & Nicolas Bellouin & Stephen Sitch & Olivier Boucher & Chris Huntingford & Martin Wild & Peter M. Cox, 2009. "Impact of changes in diffuse radiation on the global land carbon sink," Nature, Nature, vol. 458(7241), pages 1014-1017, April.
    13. Luciana V. Gatti & Luana S. Basso & John B. Miller & Manuel Gloor & Lucas Gatti Domingues & Henrique L. G. Cassol & Graciela Tejada & Luiz E. O. C. Aragão & Carlos Nobre & Wouter Peters & Luciano Mara, 2021. "Amazonia as a carbon source linked to deforestation and climate change," Nature, Nature, vol. 595(7867), pages 388-393, July.
    14. Benjamin Poulter & David Frank & Philippe Ciais & Ranga B. Myneni & Niels Andela & Jian Bi & Gregoire Broquet & Josep G. Canadell & Frederic Chevallier & Yi Y. Liu & Steven W. Running & Stephen Sitch , 2014. "Contribution of semi-arid ecosystems to interannual variability of the global carbon cycle," Nature, Nature, vol. 509(7502), pages 600-603, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xiangzhong Luo & Trevor F. Keenan, 2022. "Tropical extreme droughts drive long-term increase in atmospheric CO2 growth rate variability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Kai Wang & Ana Bastos & Philippe Ciais & Xuhui Wang & Christian Rödenbeck & Pierre Gentine & Frédéric Chevallier & Vincent W. Humphrey & Chris Huntingford & Michael O’Sullivan & Sonia I. Seneviratne, 2022. "Regional and seasonal partitioning of water and temperature controls on global land carbon uptake variability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Yao Zhang & Pierre Gentine & Xiangzhong Luo & Xu Lian & Yanlan Liu & Sha Zhou & Anna M. Michalak & Wu Sun & Joshua B. Fisher & Shilong Piao & Trevor F. Keenan, 2022. "Increasing sensitivity of dryland vegetation greenness to precipitation due to rising atmospheric CO2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Selma Bultan & Julia E. M. S. Nabel & Kerstin Hartung & Raphael Ganzenmüller & Liang Xu & Sassan Saatchi & Julia Pongratz, 2022. "Tracking 21st century anthropogenic and natural carbon fluxes through model-data integration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Matheus Henrique Nunes & José Luís Campana Camargo & Grégoire Vincent & Kim Calders & Rafael S. Oliveira & Alfredo Huete & Yhasmin Mendes de Moura & Bruce Nelson & Marielle N. Smith & Scott C. Stark &, 2022. "Forest fragmentation impacts the seasonality of Amazonian evergreen canopies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Huang, Suo & Bartlett, Paul & Arain, M. Altaf, 2016. "An analysis of global terrestrial carbon, water and energy dynamics using the carbon–nitrogen coupled CLASS-CTEMN+ model," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 336(C), pages 36-56.
    7. Zefeng Chen & Weiguang Wang & Giovanni Forzieri & Alessandro Cescatti, 2024. "Transition from positive to negative indirect CO2 effects on the vegetation carbon uptake," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    8. Litong Chen & Dan F B Flynn & Xin Jing & Peter Kühn & Thomas Scholten & Jin-Sheng He, 2015. "A Comparison of Two Methods for Quantifying Soil Organic Carbon of Alpine Grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, May.
    9. Jing Wang & Xuesong Wang & Fenli Zheng & Hanmei Wei & Miaomiao Zhao & Jianyu Jiao, 2023. "Ecoenzymatic Stoichiometry Reveals Microbial Carbon and Phosphorus Limitations under Elevated CO 2 , Warming and Drought at Different Winter Wheat Growth Stages," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-24, June.
    10. Kailiang Yu & Philippe Ciais & Sonia I. Seneviratne & Zhihua Liu & Han Y. H. Chen & Jonathan Barichivich & Craig D. Allen & Hui Yang & Yuanyuan Huang & Ashley P. Ballantyne, 2022. "Field-based tree mortality constraint reduces estimates of model-projected forest carbon sinks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    11. He, Bohao & Jia, Biying & Zhao, Yanghe & Wang, Xu & Wei, Mao & Dietzel, Ranae, 2022. "Estimate soil moisture of maize by combining support vector machine and chaotic whale optimization algorithm," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    12. Michael O’Sullivan & Pierre Friedlingstein & Stephen Sitch & Peter Anthoni & Almut Arneth & Vivek K. Arora & Vladislav Bastrikov & Christine Delire & Daniel S. Goll & Atul Jain & Etsushi Kato & Daniel, 2022. "Process-oriented analysis of dominant sources of uncertainty in the land carbon sink," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    13. Zhongyi Sun & Xiufeng Wang & Haruhiko Yamamoto & Hiroshi Tani & Tangzhe Nie, 2020. "The effects of spatiotemporal patterns of atmospheric CO2 concentration on terrestrial gross primary productivity estimation," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(2), pages 913-930, November.
    14. Taylor Smith & Niklas Boers, 2023. "Global vegetation resilience linked to water availability and variability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    15. Yue Li & Paulo M. Brando & Douglas C. Morton & David M. Lawrence & Hui Yang & James T. Randerson, 2022. "Deforestation-induced climate change reduces carbon storage in remaining tropical forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    16. Huicai Yang & Shuqin Zhao & Zhanfei Qin & Zhiguo Qi & Xinying Jiao & Zhen Li, 2024. "Differentiation of Carbon Sink Enhancement Potential in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region of China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, March.
    17. Sara Karam & Ousmane Seidou & Nidhi Nagabhatla & Duminda Perera & Raphael M. Tshimanga, 2022. "Assessing the impacts of climate change on climatic extremes in the Congo River Basin," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 170(3), pages 1-24, February.
    18. Ning Chen & Yifei Zhang & Fenghui Yuan & Changchun Song & Mingjie Xu & Qingwei Wang & Guangyou Hao & Tao Bao & Yunjiang Zuo & Jianzhao Liu & Tao Zhang & Yanyu Song & Li Sun & Yuedong Guo & Hao Zhang &, 2023. "Warming-induced vapor pressure deficit suppression of vegetation growth diminished in northern peatlands," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    19. Tao, Hai & Diop, Lamine & Bodian, Ansoumana & Djaman, Koffi & Ndiaye, Papa Malick & Yaseen, Zaher Mundher, 2018. "Reference evapotranspiration prediction using hybridized fuzzy model with firefly algorithm: Regional case study in Burkina Faso," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 140-151.
    20. Sabastine Ugbemuna Ugbaje & Thomas F.A. Bishop, 2020. "Hydrological Control of Vegetation Greenness Dynamics in Africa: A Multivariate Analysis Using Satellite Observed Soil Moisture, Terrestrial Water Storage and Precipitation," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-15, January.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36727-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.