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Global patterns and drivers of tropical aboveground carbon changes

Author

Listed:
  • Yu Feng

    (Eastern Institute of Technology
    UMR 1572 CEA-CNRS-UVSQ)

  • Philippe Ciais

    (UMR 1572 CEA-CNRS-UVSQ)

  • Jean-Pierre Wigneron

    (UMR 1391 ISPA)

  • Yidi Xu

    (UMR 1572 CEA-CNRS-UVSQ)

  • Alan D. Ziegler

    (Mae Jo University
    University of Hawaii)

  • Dave Wees

    (BeZero Carbon)

  • Arthur Nicolaus Fendrich

    (UMR 1572 CEA-CNRS-UVSQ)

  • Dominick V. Spracklen

    (University of Leeds)

  • Stephen Sitch

    (University of Exeter)

  • Martin Brandt

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Wei Li

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Lei Fan

    (Southwest University)

  • Xiaojun Li

    (UMR 1391 ISPA)

  • Jie Wu

    (Eastern Institute of Technology)

  • Zhenzhong Zeng

    (Eastern Institute of Technology
    Southern University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

Tropical terrestrial ecosystems play an important role in modulating the global carbon balance. However, the complex dynamics and factors controlling tropical aboveground live biomass carbon (AGC) are not fully understood. Here, using remotely sensed observations, we find a moderate net AGC sink of 0.21 ± 0.06 PgC yr−1 throughout the global tropics from 2010 to 2020. This arises from a gross loss of −1.79 PgC yr−1 offset by a marked gain of 2.01 ± 0.06 PgC yr−1. Fire emissions in non-forested African shrubland/savanna biomes, coupled with post-fire carbon recovery, substantially dominated the interannual variability of tropical AGC. Fire radiative power was identified as the primary determinant of the spatial variability in AGC gains, with soil moisture also playing a crucial role in shaping trends. We highlight the dominant roles of anthropogenic and hydroclimatic determinants in orchestrating tropical land carbon dynamics and advocate for land management to conserve indispensable ecosystem services worldwide.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu Feng & Philippe Ciais & Jean-Pierre Wigneron & Yidi Xu & Alan D. Ziegler & Dave Wees & Arthur Nicolaus Fendrich & Dominick V. Spracklen & Stephen Sitch & Martin Brandt & Wei Li & Lei Fan & Xiaojun , 2024. "Global patterns and drivers of tropical aboveground carbon changes," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 14(10), pages 1064-1070, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:14:y:2024:i:10:d:10.1038_s41558-024-02115-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-02115-x
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