Leaf onset in the northern hemisphere triggered by daytime temperature

Shilong Piao (), Jianguang Tan, Anping Chen, Yongshuo H. Fu, Philippe Ciais, Qiang Liu, Ivan A. Janssens, Sara Vicca, Zhenzhong Zeng, Su-Jong Jeong, Yue Li, Ranga B. Myneni, Shushi Peng, Miaogen Shen and Josep Peñuelas
Additional contact information
Shilong Piao: Key Laboratory of Alpine Ecology and Biodiversity, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Center for Excellence in Tibetan Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jianguang Tan: Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University
Anping Chen: Princeton University
Yongshuo H. Fu: Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University
Philippe Ciais: LSCE, UMR CEA-CNRS, Bat. 709, CE, L'Orme des Merisiers
Qiang Liu: Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University
Ivan A. Janssens: University of Antwerp
Sara Vicca: University of Antwerp
Zhenzhong Zeng: Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University
Su-Jong Jeong: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Yue Li: Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University
Ranga B. Myneni: Boston University
Shushi Peng: Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University
Miaogen Shen: Key Laboratory of Alpine Ecology and Biodiversity, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Center for Excellence in Tibetan Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Josep Peñuelas: CREAF, Cerdanyola del Valles

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Recent warming significantly advanced leaf onset in the northern hemisphere. This signal cannot be accurately reproduced by current models parameterized by daily mean temperature (Tmean). Here using in situ observations of leaf unfolding dates (LUDs) in Europe and the United States, we show that the interannual anomalies of LUD during 1982–2011 are triggered by daytime (Tmax) more than by nighttime temperature (Tmin). Furthermore, an increase of 1 °C in Tmax would advance LUD by 4.7 days in Europe and 4.3 days in the United States, more than the conventional temperature sensitivity estimated from Tmean. The triggering role of Tmax, rather than the Tmin or Tmean variable, is also supported by analysis of the large-scale patterns of satellite-derived vegetation green-up in spring in the northern hemisphere (>30°N). Our results suggest a new conceptual framework of leaf onset using daytime temperature to improve the performance of phenology modules in current Earth system models.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7911

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