Recent patterns and mechanisms of carbon exchange by terrestrial ecosystems - Aix-Marseille Université Access content directly
Journal Articles Nature Year : 2001

Recent patterns and mechanisms of carbon exchange by terrestrial ecosystems

D. Baker
J. Canadell
P. Friedlingstein
W. Pacala
  • Function : Author
P. Rayner
  • Function : Author
R. Scholes
  • Function : Author
W. Steffen
  • Function : Author
C. Wirth
  • Function : Author

Abstract

Knowledge of carbon exchange between the atmosphere, land and the oceans is important, given that the terrestrial and marine environments are currently absorbing about half of the carbon dioxide that is emitted by fossil-fuel combustion. This carbon uptake is therefore limiting the extent of atmospheric and climatic change, but its long-term nature remains uncertain. Here we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge of global and regional patterns of carbon exchange by terrestrial ecosystems. Atmospheric carbon dioxide and oxygen data confirm that the terrestrial biosphere was largely neutral with respect to net carbon exchange during the 1980s, but became a net carbon sink in the 1990s. This recent sink can be largely attributed to northern extratropical areas, and is roughly split between North America and Eurasia. Tropical land areas, however, were approximately in balance with respect to carbon exchange, implying a carbon sink that offset emissions due to tropical deforestation. The evolution of the terrestrial carbon sink is largely the result of changes in land use over time, such as regrowth on abandoned agricultural land and fire prevention, in addition to responses to environmental changes, such as longer growing seasons, and fertilization by carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Nevertheless, there remain considerable uncertainties as to the magnitude of the sink in different regions and the contribution of different processes.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
Schimel2001.pdf (169.51 Ko) Télécharger le fichier
Origin : Files produced by the author(s)

Dates and versions

hal-01757652 , version 1 (11-09-2022)

Licence

Attribution

Identifiers

Cite

David S. Schimel, Joanna I. House, A. Hibbard, P. Bousquet, P. Ciais, et al.. Recent patterns and mechanisms of carbon exchange by terrestrial ecosystems. Nature, 2001, 414 (6860), pp.169-172. ⟨10.1038/35102500⟩. ⟨hal-01757652⟩
483 View
221 Download

Altmetric

Share

Gmail Facebook Twitter LinkedIn More