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Late spring frost delays tree spring phenology by reducing photosynthetic productivity

Author

Listed:
  • Jinmei Wang

    (Sichuan University)

  • Hao Hua

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jing Guo

    (Sichuan University)

  • Xu Huang

    (Sichuan University)

  • Xin Zhang

    (Sichuan University)

  • Yuchuan Yang

    (Sichuan University)

  • Danying Wang

    (Sichuan University)

  • Xiali Guo

    (Guangxi University)

  • Rui Zhang

    (Zhejiang A&F University)

  • Nicholas G. Smith

    (Texas Tech University)

  • Sergio Rossi

    (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi)

  • Josep Peñuelas

    (National Research Council (CSIC)
    Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF))

  • Philippe Ciais

    (Université Paris-Saclay)

  • Chaoyang Wu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Lei Chen

    (Sichuan University)

Abstract

Under climate warming, earlier spring phenology has heightened the risk of late spring frost (LSF) damage. However, the intricate interplay among LSF, spring phenology and photosynthetic carbon uptake remains poorly understood. Using 286,000 ground phenological records involving 870 tree species and remote-sensing data across the Northern Hemisphere, we show that LSF occurrence in a given year reduces photosynthetic productivity by 13.6%, resulting in a delay in spring phenology by ~7.0 days in the subsequent year. Our experimental evidence, along with simulations using modified process-based phenology models, further supports this finding. This frost-induced delay in spring phenology subsequently leads to a decrease in photosynthetic productivity during the next year following an LSF event. Therefore, it is essential to integrate this frost-induced delay in spring phenology into current Earth system models to ensure accurate predictions of the impacts of climate extremes on terrestrial carbon cycling under future climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Jinmei Wang & Hao Hua & Jing Guo & Xu Huang & Xin Zhang & Yuchuan Yang & Danying Wang & Xiali Guo & Rui Zhang & Nicholas G. Smith & Sergio Rossi & Josep Peñuelas & Philippe Ciais & Chaoyang Wu & Lei C, 2025. "Late spring frost delays tree spring phenology by reducing photosynthetic productivity," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 15(2), pages 201-209, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:15:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1038_s41558-024-02205-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-02205-w
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