Large live biomass carbon losses from droughts in the northern temperate ecosystems during 2016-2022

Xiaojun Li (), Philippe Ciais, Rasmus Fensholt, Jérome Chave, Stephen Sitch, Josep G. Canadell, Martin Brandt, Lei Fan, Xiangming Xiao, Shengli Tao, Huan Wang, Clément Albergel, Hui Yang, Frédéric Frappart, Mengjia Wang, Ana Bastos, Philippe Maisongrande, Yuanwei Qin, Zanpin Xing, Tianxiang Cui, Ling Yu, Lei He, Yi Zheng, Xiangzhuo Liu, Yuqing Liu, Aurelien Truchis and Jean-Pierre Wigneron ()
Additional contact information
Xiaojun Li: UMR 1391 ISPA
Philippe Ciais: Université Paris-Saclay
Rasmus Fensholt: University of Copenhagen
Jérome Chave: Université de Toulouse, INPT
Stephen Sitch: University of Exeter
Josep G. Canadell: CSIRO Environment
Martin Brandt: University of Copenhagen
Lei Fan: Southwest University
Xiangming Xiao: University of Oklahoma
Shengli Tao: Peking University
Huan Wang: Peking University
Clément Albergel: ECSAT
Hui Yang: Peking University
Frédéric Frappart: UMR 1391 ISPA
Mengjia Wang: Zhengzhou University
Ana Bastos: Talstr. 35
Philippe Maisongrande: Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales
Yuanwei Qin: Hohai University
Zanpin Xing: UMR 1391 ISPA
Tianxiang Cui: Nanjing Forestry University
Ling Yu: Southwest University
Lei He: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Yi Zheng: UMR 1391 ISPA
Xiangzhuo Liu: UMR 1391 ISPA
Yuqing Liu: UMR 1391 ISPA
Aurelien Truchis: Kayrros SAS
Jean-Pierre Wigneron: UMR 1391 ISPA

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Northern ecosystems (≥ 30° N) have been accumulating vegetation biomass carbon in recent decades, but increasing droughts and wildfires threaten this carbon sink. Here, we analyse annual changes in live vegetation biomass in northern ecosystems using low-frequency microwave satellite observations at 25 km spatial resolution from 2010 to 2022. We find that live biomass carbon stocks have undergone a reversal from a positive to a negative trend during the study period with 2016 marking the turning point. During 2016–2022, live biomass carbon stocks decreased at a rate of $${-{{\mathbf{0.20}}}}_{-{{\mathbf{0.26}}}}^{-{{\mathbf{0.11}}}}$$ − 0.20 − 0.26 − 0.11 PgC yr−1 across northern ecosystems, primarily in temperate biomes ( $${-{{\mathbf{0.26}}}}_{-{{\mathbf{0.33}}}}^{-{{\mathbf{0.17}}}}$$ − 0.26 − 0.33 − 0.17 PgC yr−1). The annual mean gross loss of 4% of live biomass carbon in this region during 2016-2022 reflects high interannual variability, with significant losses associated with droughts and a further drop of $${-{{\mathbf{0.60}}}}_{-{{\mathbf{0.75}}}}^{-{{\mathbf{0.47}}}}$$ − 0.60 − 0.75 − 0.47 PgC in the very dry year of 2022. Our findings highlight the vulnerability of live biomass carbon stocks to emerging climate-induced disturbances in northern ecosystems, challenging the sustainability of the current large terrestrial carbon sink in this key region for the global carbon balance.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59999-2

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