Increased light-use efficiency in northern terrestrial ecosystems indicated by CO2 and greening observations

Ricciuto, Daniel M.; Mao, Jiafu; Shi, Xiaoying

doi:10.1002/2016GL070710

Increased light-use efficiency in northern terrestrial ecosystems indicated by CO₂ and greening observations

Journal Article · Fri Nov 04 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL070710· OSTI ID:1394597

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Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Observations show an increasing amplitude in the seasonal cycle of CO₂ (ASC) north of 45°N of 56 ± 9.8% over the last 50 years and an increase in vegetation greenness of 7.5 - 15% in high northern latitudes since the 1980s. However, the causes of these changes remain uncertain. Historical simulations from terrestrial biosphere models in the Multiscale Synthesis and Terrestrial Model Intercomparison Project are compared to the ASC and greenness observations, using the TM3 atmospheric transport model to translate surface fluxes into CO₂ concentrations. We find that the modeled change in ASC is too small but the mean greening trend is generally captured. Modeled increases in greenness are primarily driven by warming, whereas ASC changes are primarily driven by increasing CO₂. We suggest that increases in ecosystem-scale light use efficiency (LUE) have contributed to the observed ASC increase but are underestimated by current models. We highlight potential mechanisms that could increase modeled LUE.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1394597

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1406820

Journal Information:: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 21 Vol. 43; ISSN 0094-8276

Publisher:: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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