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Interannual variability in the oxygen isotopes of atmospheric CO2 driven by El Niño

Author

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  • Lisa R. Welp

    (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0244, USA)

  • Ralph F. Keeling

    (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0244, USA)

  • Harro A. J. Meijer

    (Center for Isotope Research, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Alane F. Bollenbacher

    (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0244, USA)

  • Stephen C. Piper

    (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0244, USA)

  • Kei Yoshimura

    (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0244, USA
    Present address: Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8568, Japan.)

  • Roger J. Francey

    (CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, PB 1)

  • Colin E. Allison

    (CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, PB 1)

  • Martin Wahlen

    (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0244, USA)

Abstract

El-Niño-driven variation in plant productivity Quantifying global-scale carbon assimilation by plants, or gross primary production (GPP), has been difficult because there are no direct measures at scales greater than the leaf level. An analysis of nearly 30 years of unpublished records of the oxygen isotope (18O/16O) composition of atmospheric carbon dioxide from sampling sites worldwide has provided a means of estimating the GPP that is not reliant on modelling. The data reveal previously unrecognized interannual fluctuations that are driven by El Niño climate events. The effect propagates from the tropics to higher latitudes through the tropical hydrological cycle. Recovery from El Niño events is rapid, implying a shorter turnover time for CO2 than is generally assumed, and suggests a best-guess figure for global GPP of 150–175 petagrams of carbon per year, rather than the current estimate of 120 petagrams.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa R. Welp & Ralph F. Keeling & Harro A. J. Meijer & Alane F. Bollenbacher & Stephen C. Piper & Kei Yoshimura & Roger J. Francey & Colin E. Allison & Martin Wahlen, 2011. "Interannual variability in the oxygen isotopes of atmospheric CO2 driven by El Niño," Nature, Nature, vol. 477(7366), pages 579-582, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:477:y:2011:i:7366:d:10.1038_nature10421
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10421
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    Cited by:

    1. Jinshi Jian & Vanessa Bailey & Kalyn Dorheim & Alexandra G. Konings & Dalei Hao & Alexey N. Shiklomanov & Abigail Snyder & Meredith Steele & Munemasa Teramoto & Rodrigo Vargas & Ben Bond-Lamberty, 2022. "Historically inconsistent productivity and respiration fluxes in the global terrestrial carbon cycle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.

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