Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2017-345
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2017-345
21 Aug 2017
 | 21 Aug 2017
Status: this discussion paper is a preprint. It has been under review for the journal Biogeosciences (BG). The manuscript was not accepted for further review after discussion.

A temperature threshold to identify the driving climate forces of the respiratory process in terrestrial ecosystems

Zhiyuan Zhang, Renduo Zhang, Yang Zhou, Alessandro Cescatti, Georg Wohlfahrt, Minmin Sun, Juan Zhu, Vincenzo Magliulo, Feng Tao, and Guanhong Chen

Abstract. Terrestrial ecosystem respiration (Re) is the major source of CO2 release and constitutes the second largest carbon flux between the biosphere and atmosphere. Therefore, climate-driven changes of Re may greatly impact on future atmospheric CO2 concentration. The aim of this study was to derive an air temperature threshold for identifying the driving climate forces of the respiratory process in terrestrial ecosystems within different temperature zones. For this purpose, a global dataset of 647 site-years of ecosystem flux data collected at 152 sites has been examined. Our analysis revealed an ecosystem threshold of mean annual air temperature (MAT) of 11 ± 2.3 °C. In ecosystems with the MAT below this threshold, the maximum Re rates were primarily dependent on temperature and respiration was mainly a temperature-driven process. On the contrary, in ecosystems with the MAT greater than 11 ± 2.3 °C, in addition to temperature, other driving forces, such as water availability and surface heat flux, became significant drivers of the maximum Re rates and respiration was a multi-factor-driven process. The information derived from this study highlight the key role of temperature as main controlling factor of the maximum Re rates on a large fraction of the terrestrial biosphere, while other driving forces reduce the maximum Re rates and temperature sensitivity of the respiratory process. These findings are particularly relevant under the current scenario of rapid global warming, given that the potential climate-induced changes in ecosystem respiration may lead to substantial anomalies in the seasonality and magnitude of the terrestrial carbon budget.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Zhiyuan Zhang, Renduo Zhang, Yang Zhou, Alessandro Cescatti, Georg Wohlfahrt, Minmin Sun, Juan Zhu, Vincenzo Magliulo, Feng Tao, and Guanhong Chen
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
 
Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Zhiyuan Zhang, Renduo Zhang, Yang Zhou, Alessandro Cescatti, Georg Wohlfahrt, Minmin Sun, Juan Zhu, Vincenzo Magliulo, Feng Tao, and Guanhong Chen
Zhiyuan Zhang, Renduo Zhang, Yang Zhou, Alessandro Cescatti, Georg Wohlfahrt, Minmin Sun, Juan Zhu, Vincenzo Magliulo, Feng Tao, and Guanhong Chen

Viewed

Total article views: 1,501 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
1,004 434 63 1,501 254 73 72
  • HTML: 1,004
  • PDF: 434
  • XML: 63
  • Total: 1,501
  • Supplement: 254
  • BibTeX: 73
  • EndNote: 72
Views and downloads (calculated since 21 Aug 2017)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 21 Aug 2017)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 1,458 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 1,456 with geography defined and 2 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 14 Dec 2024
Download
Short summary
This study highlight the key role of temperature as main controlling factor of the maximum respiration rates in most terrestrial ecosystems, while other driving forces reduce the maximum respiration rates and temperature sensitivity of the respiratory process. These findings are particularly relevant under the current scenario of rapid global warming, given that the potential climate-induced changes in ecosystem respiration may lead to substantial anomalies in terrestrial carbon budget.
Altmetrics