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Title: Recent pause in the growth rate of atmospheric CO2 due to enhanced terrestrial carbon uptake

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]; ORCiD logo [5];  [3];  [6]
  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States), Earth Sciences Division; Macquarie Univ., NSW (Australia)
  2. Macquarie Univ., NSW (Australia); Imperial College, London (United Kingdom)
  3. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Dickson ACT (Australia)
  4. Clark Univ., Worcester, MA (United States)
  5. Macquarie Univ., NSW (Australia); Northwest A & F Univ., Yanling (China)
  6. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD (United States)

Terrestrial ecosystems play a significant role in the global carbon cycle and offset a large fraction of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. The terrestrial carbon sink is increasing, yet the mechanisms responsible for its enhancement, and implications for the growth rate of atmospheric CO2, remain unclear. Here using global carbon budget estimates, ground, atmospheric and satellite observations, and multiple global vegetation models, we report a recent pause in the growth rate of atmospheric CO2, and a decline in the fraction of anthropogenic emissions that remain in the atmosphere, despite increasing anthropogenic emissions. We also attribute the observed decline to increases in the terrestrial sink during the past decade, associated with the effects of rising atmospheric CO2 on vegetation and the slowdown in the rate of warming on global respiration. Furthermore, the pause in the atmospheric CO2 growth rate provides further evidence of the roles of CO2 fertilization and warming-induced respiration, and highlights the need to protect both existing carbon stocks and regions, where the sink is growing rapidly.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; FG02-04ER63917; FG02-04ER63911; SC0006708
OSTI ID:
1377575
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Vol. 7; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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