Net primary productivity in the terrestrial biosphere: The application of a global model

Abstract. Carbon storage by many terrestrial ecosystems can be limited by nutrients, predominantly nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P), in additional to other environmental constraints, water, light and temperature. However the spatial distribution and the extent of both N and P limitation at global scale have not been quantified. Here we have developed a global model of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycles for the terrestrial biosphere. Model estimates of steady state C and N pool sizes and major fluxes between plant, litter and soil pools, under present climate conditions, agree well with various independent estimates. The total amount of C in the terrestrial biosphere is 2526 Gt C, and the C fractions in plant, litter and soil organic matter are 21, 6 and 73%. The total amount of N is 124 Gt N, with about 94% stored in the soil, 5% in the plant live biomass, and 1% in litter. We found that the estimates of total soil P and its partitioning into different pools in soil are quite sensitive to biochemical P mineralization that has not been included in any other global models previously. The total amount of P is 26 Gt P in the terrestrial biosphere, 17% of which is stored in the soil organic matter if biochemical P mineralization is modelled, or 40 Gt P, with 60% in soil organic matter, otherwise. This model was used to derive the global distribution of N or P limitation on the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. Our model predicts that the net primary productivity of most tropical evergreen broadleaf forests and tropical savannahs is reduced by about 20% on average by P limitation, and most of the remaining biomes are N limited; N limitation is strongest in high latitude deciduous needle leaf forests, and reduces its net primary productivity by up to 40% under present conditions.

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Estimation and analysis of terrestrial net primary productivity over India by remote-sensing-driven terrestrial biosphere model

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment ◽

10.1007/s10661-009-1226-9 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 170 (1-4) ◽

pp. 195-213 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Rabindra K. Nayak ◽

N. R. Patel ◽

V. K. Dadhwal

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Primary Productivity ◽

Net Primary Productivity ◽

Terrestrial Biosphere ◽

Biosphere Model

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Potential Net Primary Productivity in South America: Application of a Global Model

Ecological Applications ◽

10.2307/1941899 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 399-429 ◽

Cited By ~ 527

Author(s):

J. W. Raich ◽

E. B. Rastetter ◽

J. M. Melillo ◽

D. W. Kicklighter ◽

P. A. Steudler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Primary Productivity ◽

Net Primary Productivity ◽

Global Model

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Distinguishing the drivers of trends in land carbon fluxes and plant volatile emissions over the past three decades

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions ◽

10.5194/acpd-15-21449-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (15) ◽

pp. 21449-21494 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

X. Yue ◽

N. Unger ◽

Y. Zheng

Keyword(s):

Primary Productivity ◽

Net Primary Productivity ◽

Carbon Fluxes ◽

Global Scale ◽

Carbon Uptake ◽

Terrestrial Biosphere ◽

Co2 Fertilization ◽

Tropical Regions ◽

Plant Volatile ◽

Main Driver

Abstract. The terrestrial biosphere has experienced dramatic changes in recent decades. Estimates of historical trends in land carbon fluxes remain uncertain because long-term observations are limited on the global scale. Here, we use the Yale Interactive terrestrial Biosphere (YIBs) model to estimate decadal trends in land carbon fluxes and emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) and to identify the key drivers for these changes during 1982–2011. Driven with hourly meteorology from WFDEI (WATCH Forcing Data methodology applied to ERA-Interim data), the model simulates an increasing trend of 297 Tg C a−2 in gross primary productivity (GPP) and 185 Tg C a−2 in the net primary productivity (NPP). CO2 fertilization is the main driver for the flux changes in forest ecosystems, while meteorology dominates the changes in grasslands and shrublands. Warming boosts summer GPP and NPP at high latitudes, while drought dampens carbon uptake in tropical regions. North of 30° N, increasing temperatures induce a substantial extension of 0.22 day a−1 for the growing season; however, this phenological change alone does not promote regional carbon uptake and BVOC emissions. Nevertheless, increases of LAI at peak season accounts for ~ 25 % of the trends in GPP and isoprene emissions at the northern lands. The net land sink shows statistically insignificant increases of only 3 Tg C a−2 globally because of simultaneous increases in soil respiration. In contrast, driven with alternative meteorology from MERRA (Modern Era-Retrospective Analysis), the model predicts significant increases of 59 Tg C a−2 in the land sink due to strengthened uptake in the Amazon. Global BVOC emissions are calculated using two schemes. With the photosynthesis-dependent scheme, the model predicts increases of 0.4 Tg C a−2 in isoprene emissions, which are mainly attributed to warming trends because CO2 fertilization and inhibition effects offset each other. Using the MEGAN (Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature) scheme, the YIBs model simulates global reductions of 1.1 Tg C a−2 in isoprene and 0.04 Tg C a−2 in monoterpene emissions in response to the CO2 inhibition effects. Land use change shows limited impacts on global carbon fluxes and BVOC emissions, but there are regional contrasting impacts over Europe (afforestation) and China (deforestation).

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Distinguishing the drivers of trends in land carbon fluxes and plant volatile emissions over the past 3 decades

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-15-11931-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (20) ◽

pp. 11931-11948 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

X. Yue ◽

N. Unger ◽

Y. Zheng

Keyword(s):

Primary Productivity ◽

Net Primary Productivity ◽

Carbon Fluxes ◽

Global Scale ◽

Carbon Uptake ◽

Terrestrial Biosphere ◽

Co2 Fertilization ◽

Area Index ◽

Tropical Regions ◽

Plant Volatile

Abstract. The terrestrial biosphere has experienced dramatic changes in recent decades. Estimates of historical trends in land carbon fluxes remain uncertain because long-term observations are limited on the global scale. Here, we use the Yale Interactive terrestrial Biosphere (YIBs) model to estimate decadal trends in land carbon fluxes and emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) and to identify the key drivers for these changes during 1982–2011. Driven by hourly meteorology from WFDEI (WATCH forcing data methodology applied to ERA-Interim data), the model simulates an increasing trend of 297 Tg C a−2 in gross primary productivity (GPP) and 185 Tg C a−2 in the net primary productivity (NPP). CO2 fertilization is the main driver for the flux changes in forest ecosystems, while meteorology dominates the changes in grasslands and shrublands. Warming boosts summer GPP and NPP at high latitudes, while drought dampens carbon uptake in tropical regions. North of 30° N, increasing temperatures induce a substantial extension of 0.22 day a−1 for the growing season; however, this phenological change alone does not promote regional carbon uptake and BVOC emissions. Nevertheless, increases of leaf area index at peak season accounts for ~ 25 % of the trends in GPP and isoprene emissions at the northern lands. The net land sink shows statistically insignificant increases of only 3 Tg C a−2 globally because of simultaneous increases in soil respiration. Global BVOC emissions are calculated using two schemes. With the photosynthesis-dependent scheme, the model predicts increases of 0.4 Tg C a−2 in isoprene emissions, which are mainly attributed to warming trends because CO2 fertilization and inhibition effects offset each other. Using the MEGAN (Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature) scheme, the YIBs model simulates global reductions of 1.1 Tg C a−2 in isoprene and 0.04 Tg C a−2 in monoterpene emissions in response to the CO2 inhibition effects. Land use change shows limited impacts on global carbon fluxes and BVOC emissions, but there are regional contrasting impacts over Europe (afforestation) and China (deforestation).

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Seasonal features of global net primary productivity models for the terrestrial biosphere

Past and Future Rapid Environmental Changes ◽

10.1007/978-3-642-60599-4_36 ◽

1997 ◽

pp. 469-483

Author(s):

Alberte Fischer

Keyword(s):

Primary Productivity ◽

Net Primary Productivity ◽

Terrestrial Biosphere

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A global model of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles for the terrestrial biosphere

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-7-2261-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. 2261-2282 ◽

Cited By ~ 361

Author(s):

Y. P. Wang ◽

R. M. Law ◽

B. Pak

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Steady State ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Primary Productivity ◽

Net Primary Productivity ◽

Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽

Plant Litter ◽

Terrestrial Biosphere ◽

P Limitation ◽

P Mineralization

Abstract. Carbon storage by many terrestrial ecosystems can be limited by nutrients, predominantly nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), in addition to other environmental constraints, water, light and temperature. However the spatial distribution and the extent of both N and P limitation at the global scale have not been quantified. Here we have developed a global model of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycles for the terrestrial biosphere. Model estimates of steady state C and N pool sizes and major fluxes between plant, litter and soil pools, under present climate conditions, agree well with various independent estimates. The total amount of C in the terrestrial biosphere is 2767 Gt C, and the C fractions in plant, litter and soil organic matter are 19%, 4% and 77%. The total amount of N is 135 Gt N, with about 94% stored in the soil, 5% in the plant live biomass, and 1% in litter. We found that the estimates of total soil P and its partitioning into different pools in soil are quite sensitive to biochemical P mineralization. The total amount of P (plant biomass, litter and soil) excluding occluded P in soil is 17 Gt P in the terrestrial biosphere, 33% of which is stored in the soil organic matter if biochemical P mineralization is modelled, or 31 Gt P with 67% in soil organic matter otherwise. This model was used to derive the global distribution and uncertainty of N or P limitation on the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems at steady state under present conditions. Our model estimates that the net primary productivity of most tropical evergreen broadleaf forests and tropical savannahs is reduced by about 20% on average by P limitation, and most of the remaining biomes are N limited; N limitation is strongest in high latitude deciduous needle leaf forests, and reduces its net primary productivity by up to 40% under present conditions.

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