Walker, AP, De Kauwe, MG, Bastos, A et al. (59 more authors) (2020) Integrating the evidence for a terrestrial carbon sink caused by increasing atmospheric CO2. New Phytologist. ISSN 0028-646X
Abstract
Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) is increasing, which increases leaf‐scale photosynthesis and intrinsic water‐use efficiency. These direct responses have the potential to increase plant growth, vegetation biomass, and soil organic matter; transferring carbon from the atmosphere into terrestrial ecosystems (a carbon sink). A substantial global terrestrial carbon sink would slow the rate of [CO2] increase and thus climate change. However, ecosystem CO2‐responses are complex or confounded by concurrent changes in multiple agents of global change and evidence for a [CO2]‐driven terrestrial carbon sink can appear contradictory. Here we synthesise theory and broad, multi‐disciplinary evidence for the effects of increasing [CO2] (iCO2) on the global terrestrial carbon sink. Evidence suggests a substantial increase in global photosynthesis since pre‐industry. Established theory, supported by experiments, indicates that iCO2 is likely responsible for about half of the increase. Global carbon budgeting, atmospheric data, and forest inventories indicate a historical carbon sink, and these apparent iCO2‐responses are high in comparison with experiments and theory. Plant mortality and soil carbon iCO2‐responses are highly uncertain. In conclusion, a range of evidence supports a positive terrestrial carbon sink in response to iCO2, albeit with uncertain magnitude and strong suggestion of a role for additional agents of global change.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Walker, AP, De Kauwe, MG, Bastos, A et al. (59 more authors) (2020) Integrating the evidence for a terrestrial carbon sink caused by increasing atmospheric CO 2. New Phytologist. ISSN 0028-646X, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16866. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | global carbon‐cycle; land‐atmosphere feedback; carbon dioxide; terrestrial ecosystems; free‐air CO2 enrichment (FACE); CO2‐fertilisation hypothesis; CO2‐fertilization; beta factor |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) > Ecology & Global Change (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number NERC (Natural Environment Research Council) NE/I021160/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 14 Sep 2020 13:23 |
Last Modified: | 14 Sep 2020 13:23 |
Status: | Published online |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/nph.16866 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:165394 |