Contribution of disturbance to increasing seasonal amplitude of atmospheric CO2
Recent increases in the seasonal amplitude of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) at high latitudes suggest a widespread biospheric response to high-latitude warming. The seasonal amplitude of net ecosystem carbon exchange by northern Siberian ecosystems is shown to be greater in disturbed than undisturbed sites, due to increased summer influx and increased winter efflux. Increased disturbance could therefore contribute significantly to the amplified seasonal cycle of atmospheric carbon dioxide at high latitudes. Warm temperatures reduced summer carbon influx, suggesting that high-latitude warming, if it occurred, would be unlikely to increase seasonal amplitude of carbon exchange.
Zimov
SA
North-East Scientific Station, Pacific Institute for Geography, Far-East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Republic of Sakha, Yakutia, 678830 Cherskii, Russia. Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7000.
Davidov
SP
Zimova
GM
Davidova
AI
Chapin
FS
Chapin
MC
Reynolds
JF