Acclimation of ecosystem CO2 exchange in the Alaskan Arctic in response to decadal climate warming

Oechel, Walter C.; Vourlitis, George L.; Hastings, Steven J.; Zulueta, R. C.; Hinzman, L. D.; Kane, D. L.

doi:10.1038/35023137

Cited by 568 publications

(453 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The overall increase in the VPM-modeled GPP between 2000 and 2011 is in agreement with expectations for high-latitude ecosystems under global warming (e.g. Oechel et al 2000;Tagesson et al 2012). Warming directly affects plant growth and shifts in plant species across a range of tundra ecosystems (Walker et al 2006;Elmendorf et al 2012).…”

Section: Vpm Model Simulationsupporting

confidence: 70%

Modeling Carbon Fluxes Using Multi-Temporal MODIS Imagery and CO2 Eddy Flux Tower Data in Zoige Alpine Wetland, South-West China

et al. 2014

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An accurate and synoptic quantification of gross primary production (GPP) in wetland ecosystems is essential for assessing carbon budgets at regional or global scales. In this study, a satellite-based Vegetation Photosynthesis Model (VPM) integrated with observed eddy tower and remote sensing data was employed and adapted to evaluate the feasibility and dependability of the model for estimating GPP in an alpine wetland, located in Zoige, Southwestern China. Eddy flux data from 2-year observations showed that temperature explained most of the seasonal variability in carbon fluxes and that warming increased GPP and ecosystem respiration, and hence affected the carbon balance of alpine wetlands. The comparison between modeled and observed GPP fluxes indicated that simulated values were largely in agreement with tower-based values (P<0.0001). 12-year long-term simulations (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011) found that (1) there was significantly increasing trends at rate of 17.01 gCm −2 year −1 for annual GPP (R 2 =0.62, P=0.002); (2) the inter-annual variation in GPP was highly sensitive to climate warming; and (3) a warmer climate can prolong the plant growing season and, by that, increase wetland productivity. Our results demonstrated that the satellite-driven VPM model has the potential to be applied at large spatial and temporal scales for scaling-up carbon fluxes of alpine wetlands.

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Section: Vpm Model Simulationsupporting

confidence: 70%

Modeling Carbon Fluxes Using Multi-Temporal MODIS Imagery and CO2 Eddy Flux Tower Data in Zoige Alpine Wetland, South-West China

et al. 2014

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“…It is also possible that earlier snowmelt and a longer growing season will increase the sink strength of the tundra, with warming in both the spring and autumn that may enhance plant production (e.g., Aurela et al 2004). Alternatively, the tundra may have acclimated to temperature changes, and has once again turned back to a sink after acting as a source in the 1980s (Oechel et al 2000). Since climatic factors may vary widely from year to year, there is also a large degree of interannual variability in tundra NEE, gross primary productivity (GPP), and ecosystem respiration (ER) (Kwon et al 2006, Lafleur and Humphreys 2008, Lund et al 2010.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal patterns of carbon dioxide and water fluxes in three representative tundra ecosystems in northern Alaska

et al. 2012

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Abstract. Understanding the carbon dioxide and water fluxes in the Arctic is essential for accurate assessment and prediction of the responses of these ecosystems to climate change. In the Arctic, there have been relatively few studies of net CO 2 , water, and energy exchange using micrometeorological methods due to the difficulty of performing these measurements in cold, remote regions. When these measurements are performed, they are usually collected only during the short summer growing season. We established eddy covariance flux towers in three representative Alaska tundra ecosystems (heath tundra, tussock tundra, and wet sedge tundra), and have collected CO 2 , water, and energy flux data continuously for over three years (September 2007-May 2011. In all ecosystems, peak CO 2 uptake occurred during July, with accumulations of ;51-95 g C/m 2 during June-August. The timing of the switch from CO 2 source to sink in the spring appears to be regulated by the number of growing degree days early in the season, indicating that warmer springs may promote increased net CO 2 uptake. However, this increased uptake in the spring may be lost through warmer temperatures in the late growing season that promote respiration, if this respiration is not impeded by large amounts of precipitation or cooler temperatures. Net CO 2 accumulation during the growing season was generally lost through respiration during the snow covered months of September-May, turning the ecosystems into net sources of CO 2 over measurement period. The water balance from June to August at the three ecosystems was variable, with the most variability observed in the heath tundra, and the least in the tussock tundra. These findings underline the importance of collecting data over the full annual cycle and across multiple types of tundra ecosystems in order to come to a more complete understanding of CO 2 and water fluxes in the Arctic.

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“…Alpine ecosystems play an important role in the global energy balance and carbon budget, which are related to climate sensitivity (Oechel et al 2000;Foley et al 1994;Bonan 1995;Christensen et al 1999;Chapin et al 2000). The Tibetan Plateau is situated in southwestern China, and is the highest continental landmass in the world.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulated distribution of vegetation types in response to climate change on the Tibetan Plateau

Song

Zhou

Ouyang

2005

J Vegetation Science

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Questions: What is the relationship between alpine vegetation patterns and climate? And how do alpine vegetation patterns respond to climate changes? Location: Tibetan Plateau, southwestern China. The total area is 2 500 000 km 2 with an average altitude over 4000 m. Methods:The geographic distribution of vegetation types on the Tibetan Plateau was simulated based on climatology using a small set of plant functional types (PFTs) embedded in the biogeochemistry-biography model BIOME4. The paleoclimate for the early Holocene was used to explore the possibility of simulating past vegetation patterns. Changes in vegetation patterns were simulated assuming continuous exponential increase in atmospheric CO 2 concentration, based on a transient ocean-atmosphere simulation including sulfate aerosol effects during the 21st century. Results: Forest, shrub steppe, alpine steppe and alpine meadow extended while no desert vegetation developed under the warmer and humid climate of the early Holocene. In the future climate scenario, the simulated tree line is farther north in most sectors than at present. There are also major northward shifts of alpine meadows and a reduction in shrubdominated montane steppe. The boundary between montane desert and alpine desert will be farther to the south than today. The area of alpine desert would decrease, that of montane desert would increase. Conclusions: The outline of changes in vegetation distribution was captured with the simulation. Increased CO2 concentration would potentially lead to big changes in alpine ecosystems.

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Acclimation of ecosystem CO2 exchange in the Alaskan Arctic in response to decadal climate warming

Cited by 568 publications

References 27 publications

Modeling Carbon Fluxes Using Multi-Temporal MODIS Imagery and CO2 Eddy Flux Tower Data in Zoige Alpine Wetland, South-West China

Modeling Carbon Fluxes Using Multi-Temporal MODIS Imagery and CO2 Eddy Flux Tower Data in Zoige Alpine Wetland, South-West China

Seasonal patterns of carbon dioxide and water fluxes in three representative tundra ecosystems in northern Alaska

Simulated distribution of vegetation types in response to climate change on the Tibetan Plateau

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