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Widespread increasing vegetation sensitivity to soil moisture

Author

Listed:
  • Wantong Li

    (Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry)

  • Mirco Migliavacca

    (Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
    Now at: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC))

  • Matthias Forkel

    (Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Jasper M. C. Denissen

    (Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
    Wageningen University)

  • Markus Reichstein

    (Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
    Integrative Center for Biodiversity Research (iDIV))

  • Hui Yang

    (Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry)

  • Gregory Duveiller

    (Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry)

  • Ulrich Weber

    (Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry)

  • Rene Orth

    (Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry)

Abstract

Global vegetation and associated ecosystem services critically depend on soil moisture availability which has decreased in many regions during the last three decades. While spatial patterns of vegetation sensitivity to global soil water have been recently investigated, long-term changes in vegetation sensitivity to soil water availability are still unclear. Here we assess global vegetation sensitivity to soil moisture during 1982-2017 by applying explainable machine learning with observation-based leaf area index (LAI) and hydro-climate anomaly data. We show that LAI sensitivity to soil moisture significantly increases in many semi-arid and arid regions. LAI sensitivity trends are associated with multiple hydro-climate and ecological variables, and strongest increasing trends occur in the most water-sensitive regions which additionally experience declining precipitation. State-of-the-art land surface models do not reproduce this increasing sensitivity as they misrepresent water-sensitive regions and sensitivity strength. Our sensitivity results imply an increasing ecosystem vulnerability to water availability which can lead to exacerbated reductions in vegetation carbon uptake under future intensified drought, consequently amplifying climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Wantong Li & Mirco Migliavacca & Matthias Forkel & Jasper M. C. Denissen & Markus Reichstein & Hui Yang & Gregory Duveiller & Ulrich Weber & Rene Orth, 2022. "Widespread increasing vegetation sensitivity to soil moisture," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31667-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31667-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Tailin Li & Massimiliano Schiavo & David Zumr, . "Seasonal variations of vegetative indices and their correlation with evapotranspiration and soil water storage in a small agricultural catchment," Soil and Water Research, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 0.
    2. Lai, Chengguang & Sun, Haowei & Wu, Xushu & Li, Jun & Wang, Zhaoli & Tong, Hongfu & Feng, Jiajin, 2024. "Water availability may not constrain vegetation growth in Northern Hemisphere," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    3. Wang, Jianjun & Wang, Chuantao & Li, Hongchen & Liu, Yanfang & Li, Huijie & Ren, Ruiqi & Si, Bingcheng, 2023. "Rock water use by apple trees affected by physical properties of the underlying weathered rock," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    4. Tailin Li & Massimiliano Schiavo & David Zumr, 2023. "Seasonal variations of vegetative indices and their correlation with evapotranspiration and soil water storage in a small agricultural catchment," Soil and Water Research, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 18(4), pages 246-268.
    5. Zheng Fu & Philippe Ciais & Jean-Pierre Wigneron & Pierre Gentine & Andrew F. Feldman & David Makowski & Nicolas Viovy & Armen R. Kemanian & Daniel S. Goll & Paul C. Stoy & Iain Colin Prentice & Dan Y, 2024. "Global critical soil moisture thresholds of plant water stress," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    6. Zilu Zhang & Jingzhao Ma & Tianhao Wang & Wenbo Song & Lu Hao, 2023. "Identify the relationship of meteorological drought and ecohydrological drought in Xilin Gol Grassland, China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 116(2), pages 2549-2564, March.
    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.

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