Recent decrease of the impact of tropical temperature on the carbon cycle linked to increased precipitation

Wenmin Zhang (), Guy Schurgers, Josep Peñuelas, Rasmus Fensholt, Hui Yang, Jing Tang, Xiaowei Tong, Philippe Ciais and Martin Brandt
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Wenmin Zhang: University of Copenhagen
Guy Schurgers: University of Copenhagen
Josep Peñuelas: Cerdanyola del Vallès
Rasmus Fensholt: University of Copenhagen
Hui Yang: Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry
Jing Tang: Lund University
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

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36727-2

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