Prolonged suppression of ecosystem carbon dioxide uptake after an anomalously warm year

John A. Arnone (), Paul S. J. Verburg, Dale W. Johnson, Jessica D. Larsen, Richard L. Jasoni, Annmarie J. Lucchesi, Candace M. Batts, Christopher von Nagy, William G. Coulombe, David E. Schorran, Paul E. Buck, Bobby H. Braswell, James S. Coleman, Rebecca A. Sherry, Linda L. Wallace, Yiqi Luo and David S. Schimel
Additional contact information
John A. Arnone: Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
Paul S. J. Verburg: Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
Dale W. Johnson: University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
Jessica D. Larsen: Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
Richard L. Jasoni: Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
Annmarie J. Lucchesi: Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
Candace M. Batts: Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
Christopher von Nagy: Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
William G. Coulombe: Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
David E. Schorran: Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
Paul E. Buck: Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada 89512, USA
Bobby H. Braswell: Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
James S. Coleman: Rice University, Houston, Texas 77251, USA
Rebecca A. Sherry: University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA
Linda L. Wallace: University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA
Yiqi Luo: University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA
David S. Schimel: National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA

Nature, 2008, vol. 455, issue 7211, 383-386

Abstract: Ecosystem CO2 uptake: Prolonged after-effects of an extremely warm year Earth's terrestrial ecosystems strongly modulate levels of CO2 in the atmosphere through seasonal changes in net plant productivity (CO2 absorbance) and soil microbial respiration (CO2 release). It has been known for decades that these processes respond to seasonal shifts in climate, especially temperature, resulting in the zig-zag form of the global CO2 curve, but the data necessary to quantify impacts of a single climate variable at interannual timescales have been lacking. A four-year study using intact tallgrass prairie ecosystems in controlled environment chambers (like the one on the cover, showing plant communities a few weeks after summer mowing) now provides some of the missing data. The results show that one anomalously warm year reduces net ecosystem CO2 exchange for that year and the year after. Carbon sequestration in ecosystems exposed to high temperatures for a year is a third of that in controls. These findings suggest that more frequent anomalously warm years, a possible consequence of rising anthropogenic CO2 levels, could lead to a sustained decrease in CO2 uptake by terrestrial ecosystems.

Date: 2008
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DOI: 10.1038/nature07296

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