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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
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