Vegetation Pattern and Terrestrial Carbon Variation in Past Warm and Cold Climates

Abstract Understanding the transition of biosphere‐atmosphere carbon exchange between glacial and interglacial climates can constrain uncertainties in its future projections. Using an individual‐based dynamic vegetation model, we simulate vegetation distribution and terrestrial carbon cycling in pas...

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Main Authors: Zhengyao Lu, Paul A. Miller, Qiong Zhang, David Wårlind, Lars Nieradzik, Jesper Sjolte, Qiang Li, Benjamin Smith
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-07-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083729
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author Zhengyao Lu
Paul A. Miller
Qiong Zhang
David Wårlind
Lars Nieradzik
Jesper Sjolte
Qiang Li
Benjamin Smith
author_facet Zhengyao Lu
Paul A. Miller
Qiong Zhang
David Wårlind
Lars Nieradzik
Jesper Sjolte
Qiang Li
Benjamin Smith
author_sort Zhengyao Lu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Understanding the transition of biosphere‐atmosphere carbon exchange between glacial and interglacial climates can constrain uncertainties in its future projections. Using an individual‐based dynamic vegetation model, we simulate vegetation distribution and terrestrial carbon cycling in past cold and warm climates and elucidate the forcing effects of temperature, precipitation, atmospheric CO2 concentration (pCO2), and landmass. Results are consistent with proxy reconstructions and reveal that the vegetation extent is mainly determined by temperature anomalies, especially in a cold climate, while precipitation forcing effects on global‐scale vegetation patterns are marginal. The pCO2 change controls the global carbon balance with the fertilization effect of higher pCO2 linking to higher vegetation coverage, an enhanced terrestrial carbon sink, and increased terrestrial carbon storage. Our results indicate carbon transfer from ocean and permafrost/peat to the biosphere and atmosphere and highlight the importance of forest expansion as a driver of terrestrial ecosystem carbon stock from cold to warm climates.
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institution OA Journals
issn 0094-8276
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publishDate 2019-07-01
publisher Wiley
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-eb4760ee570342fd8e2ff4272de7fa662025-08-20T02:33:55ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072019-07-0146148133814310.1029/2019GL083729Vegetation Pattern and Terrestrial Carbon Variation in Past Warm and Cold ClimatesZhengyao Lu0Paul A. Miller1Qiong Zhang2David Wårlind3Lars Nieradzik4Jesper Sjolte5Qiang Li6Benjamin Smith7Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science Lund University Lund SwedenDepartment of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science Lund University Lund SwedenDepartment of Physical Geography and Bolin Centre for Climate Research Stockholm University Stockholm SwedenDepartment of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science Lund University Lund SwedenDepartment of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science Lund University Lund SwedenDepartment of Geology Lund University Lund SwedenDepartment of Physical Geography and Bolin Centre for Climate Research Stockholm University Stockholm SwedenHawkesbury Institute for the Environment Western Sydney University Penrith New South Wales AustraliaAbstract Understanding the transition of biosphere‐atmosphere carbon exchange between glacial and interglacial climates can constrain uncertainties in its future projections. Using an individual‐based dynamic vegetation model, we simulate vegetation distribution and terrestrial carbon cycling in past cold and warm climates and elucidate the forcing effects of temperature, precipitation, atmospheric CO2 concentration (pCO2), and landmass. Results are consistent with proxy reconstructions and reveal that the vegetation extent is mainly determined by temperature anomalies, especially in a cold climate, while precipitation forcing effects on global‐scale vegetation patterns are marginal. The pCO2 change controls the global carbon balance with the fertilization effect of higher pCO2 linking to higher vegetation coverage, an enhanced terrestrial carbon sink, and increased terrestrial carbon storage. Our results indicate carbon transfer from ocean and permafrost/peat to the biosphere and atmosphere and highlight the importance of forest expansion as a driver of terrestrial ecosystem carbon stock from cold to warm climates.https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083729
spellingShingle Zhengyao Lu
Paul A. Miller
Qiong Zhang
David Wårlind
Lars Nieradzik
Jesper Sjolte
Qiang Li
Benjamin Smith
Vegetation Pattern and Terrestrial Carbon Variation in Past Warm and Cold Climates
Geophysical Research Letters
title Vegetation Pattern and Terrestrial Carbon Variation in Past Warm and Cold Climates
title_full Vegetation Pattern and Terrestrial Carbon Variation in Past Warm and Cold Climates
title_fullStr Vegetation Pattern and Terrestrial Carbon Variation in Past Warm and Cold Climates
title_full_unstemmed Vegetation Pattern and Terrestrial Carbon Variation in Past Warm and Cold Climates
title_short Vegetation Pattern and Terrestrial Carbon Variation in Past Warm and Cold Climates
title_sort vegetation pattern and terrestrial carbon variation in past warm and cold climates
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083729
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AT jespersjolte vegetationpatternandterrestrialcarbonvariationinpastwarmandcoldclimates
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