TY - JOUR

T1 - Increasing global ecosystem respiration between 1982 and 2015 from Earth observation-based modelling

AU - Tagesson, Torbern

AU - Kelly, Julia

AU - Schurgers, Guy

AU - Tian, Feng

AU - Ardö, Jonas

AU - Horion, Stephanie

AU - Ahlström, Anders

AU - Olin, Stefan

AU - Fensholt, Rasmus

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Global Ecology and Biogeography published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Aim: Earth observation-based estimates of land–atmosphere exchange of carbon are essential for understanding the response of the terrestrial biosphere to climatic change and other anthropogenic forcing. Temperature, soil water content and gross primary production are the main drivers of ecosystem respiration (Reco), and the main aims of this study are to develop an Reco model driven by long-term global-scale Earth observations and to study Reco spatiotemporal dynamics 1982–2015. Location: Global scale. Time Period: 1982–2015. Major Taxa Studied: Terrestrial ecosystems. Methods: We parameterized and applied a global Reco model for 1982–2015 using novel Earth observation-based data. We studied the relationships between Reco measured at field sites globally and land surface temperature, gross primary production and soil water content. Trends 1982–2015 were quantified, and the contributions from terrestrial regions to the spatiotemporal variability were evaluated. Results: The Reco model (LGS-Reco) captured the between-site and intra- and interannual variability in field-observed Reco and soil respiration well in comparison with other Earth observation-based products. The global annual Reco was on average 105.6 ± 2.3 Pg C for 1982–2015, which is close to 105 Pg C according to residuals of the carbon exchange processes within the global carbon budgets. The trend in global terrestrial Reco 1982–2015 was 0.19 ± 0.02 Pg C y−1, with the strongest positive trends found in cropland areas, whereas negative trends were primarily observed for savannah/shrublands of Southern Africa and South America. Trends were especially strong during the eighties and nineties, but substantially smaller 1998–2015. Main Conclusions: The LGS-Reco model revealed a substantial increase in global Reco during recent decades. However, the growth rates of global Reco were slower during 1998–2015, partially explaining the reduced growth rates of atmospheric CO2 during this period. The LGR-Reco product may be an essential source for studying carbon sources and sinks and functioning of the Earth system.

AB - Aim: Earth observation-based estimates of land–atmosphere exchange of carbon are essential for understanding the response of the terrestrial biosphere to climatic change and other anthropogenic forcing. Temperature, soil water content and gross primary production are the main drivers of ecosystem respiration (Reco), and the main aims of this study are to develop an Reco model driven by long-term global-scale Earth observations and to study Reco spatiotemporal dynamics 1982–2015. Location: Global scale. Time Period: 1982–2015. Major Taxa Studied: Terrestrial ecosystems. Methods: We parameterized and applied a global Reco model for 1982–2015 using novel Earth observation-based data. We studied the relationships between Reco measured at field sites globally and land surface temperature, gross primary production and soil water content. Trends 1982–2015 were quantified, and the contributions from terrestrial regions to the spatiotemporal variability were evaluated. Results: The Reco model (LGS-Reco) captured the between-site and intra- and interannual variability in field-observed Reco and soil respiration well in comparison with other Earth observation-based products. The global annual Reco was on average 105.6 ± 2.3 Pg C for 1982–2015, which is close to 105 Pg C according to residuals of the carbon exchange processes within the global carbon budgets. The trend in global terrestrial Reco 1982–2015 was 0.19 ± 0.02 Pg C y−1, with the strongest positive trends found in cropland areas, whereas negative trends were primarily observed for savannah/shrublands of Southern Africa and South America. Trends were especially strong during the eighties and nineties, but substantially smaller 1998–2015. Main Conclusions: The LGS-Reco model revealed a substantial increase in global Reco during recent decades. However, the growth rates of global Reco were slower during 1998–2015, partially explaining the reduced growth rates of atmospheric CO2 during this period. The LGR-Reco product may be an essential source for studying carbon sources and sinks and functioning of the Earth system.

KW - climate change

KW - Earth observation

KW - land surface temperature

KW - land–atmosphere interactions

KW - terrestrial carbon balance

U2 - 10.1111/geb.13775

DO - 10.1111/geb.13775

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85174826135

VL - 33

SP - 116

EP - 130

JO - Global Ecology and Biogeography

JF - Global Ecology and Biogeography

SN - 1466-822X

IS - 1

ER -