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Diminishing CO2-driven gains in water-use efficiency of global forests

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  • Mark A. Adams

    (Swinburne University of Technology
    University of Sydney)

  • Thomas N. Buckley

    (University of California, Davis)

  • Tarryn L. Turnbull

    (Swinburne University of Technology
    University of Sydney)

Abstract

There is broad consensus that, via changes in stomatal conductance, plants moderate the exchanges of water and carbon between the biosphere and atmosphere, playing a major role in global hydroclimate. Tree rings record atmospheric CO2 concentration (ca) and its isotopic composition (13C/12C)—mediated by stomatal and photosynthetic influences—that can be expressed in terms of intrinsic water-use efficiency (W). Here, we compile a global W dataset based on 422 tree-ring isotope series and report that W increased with ca over the twentieth century, but the rates of increase (dW/dca) declined by half. Angiosperms contributed more than gymnosperms to the slowdown, and in recent decades, dW/dca for angiosperms was close to zero. dW/dca varies widely across climatic regions and reflects pauses in emissions during the Great Depression and after World War II. There is strong spatial variability in climate forcing via an increasing W, which is weakening globally with time.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark A. Adams & Thomas N. Buckley & Tarryn L. Turnbull, 2020. "Diminishing CO2-driven gains in water-use efficiency of global forests," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(5), pages 466-471, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:5:d:10.1038_s41558-020-0747-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0747-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaojin Bing & Keyan Fang & Xiaoying Gong & Wenzhi Wang & Chenxi Xu & Maihe Li & Chaoyue Ruan & Weiting Ma & Yingjun Li & Feifei Zhou, 2022. "The intra-annual intrinsic water use efficiency dynamics based on an improved model," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 172(1), pages 1-19, May.
    2. David L. Miller & Sebastian Wolf & Joshua B. Fisher & Benjamin F. Zaitchik & Jingfeng Xiao & Trevor F. Keenan, 2023. "Increased photosynthesis during spring drought in energy-limited ecosystems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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