Worldwide impacts of atmospheric vapor pressure deficit on the interannual variability of terrestrial carbon sinks.

Journal: National science review
Published Date: Aug 20, 2021

Abstract

Interannual variability of the terrestrial ecosystem carbon sink is substantially regulated by various environmental variables and highly dominates the interannual variation of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO) concentrations. Thus, it is necessary to determine dominating factors affecting the interannual variability of the carbon sink to improve our capability of predicting future terrestrial carbon sinks. Using global datasets derived from machine-learning methods and process-based ecosystem models, this study reveals that the interannual variability of the atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD) was significantly negatively correlated with net ecosystem production (NEP) and substantially impacted the interannual variability of the atmospheric CO growth rate (CGR). Further analyses found widespread constraints of VPD interannual variability on terrestrial gross primary production (GPP), causing VPD to impact NEP and CGR. Partial correlation analysis confirms the persistent and widespread impacts of VPD on terrestrial carbon sinks compared to other environmental variables. Current Earth system models underestimate the interannual variability in VPD and its impacts on GPP and NEP. Our results highlight the importance of VPD for terrestrial carbon sinks in assessing ecosystems' responses to future climate conditions.

Authors

  • Bin He
    Clinical Translational Medical Center, The Affiliated Dongguan Songshan Lake Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China.
  • Chen Chen
    The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
  • Shangrong Lin
    School of Atmospheric Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China.
  • Wenping Yuan
    School of Atmospheric Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China.
  • Hans W Chen
    Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Lund S-223 64, Sweden.
  • Deliang Chen
    Regional Climate Group, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg S-40530, Sweden.
  • Yafeng Zhang
    State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
  • Lanlan Guo
    State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
  • Xiang Zhao
    State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
  • Xuebang Liu
    State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
  • Shilong Piao
    Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
  • Ziqian Zhong
    State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
  • Rui Wang
    Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine Center, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Hospital, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.
  • Rui Tang
    State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.

Keywords

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