1. Seasonal and Diurnal Variations in XCO2 Characteristics in China as Observed by OCO‐2/3 Satellites: Effects of Land Cover and Local Meteorology.
- Author
-
Zhao, Hengheng, Gui, Ke, Yao, Wenrui, Shang, Nanxuan, Zhang, Xutao, Zhang, Xinglu, Li, Lei, Zheng, Yu, Wang, Zhili, Ren, Hong‐Li, Wang, Hong, Sun, Junying, Li, Jian, Che, Huizheng, and Zhang, Xiaoye
- Subjects
LAND cover ,CARBON cycle ,METEOROLOGY ,ATMOSPHERIC carbon dioxide ,SEASONS ,CARBON offsetting - Abstract
Monitoring the dynamics of atmospheric CO2 is crucial for enhancing comprehension of the carbon cycle. Using column‐averaged dry‐air mole fraction of CO2 (XCO2) data collected by the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)‐2 and OCO‐3 satellites during 2020–2021, this study explored seasonal and diurnal variations in XCO2 characteristics in typical land cover biomes in China, and investigated their relationships with meteorological drivers. Results showed that XCO2 products retrieved by OCO‐2 and OCO‐3 have good agreement with Total Carbon Column Observing Network measurements, with average deviations of 0.8 and 1.2 ppm, respectively. The satellite observations revealed XCO2 hotpots located mainly in central and eastern China, and areas of low XCO2 values in western China, with a seasonal curve that was highest (lowest) in spring (summer). The largest seasonal cycle amplitude (∼9 ppm) of XCO2 was observed in forest areas, highlighting its key role in carbon exchange. Additionally, XCO2 was found to have a near‐sinusoidal diurnal pattern, characterized by rapid decrease in the early morning as photosynthesis resumed after sunrise, as indicated by the sun‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), a peak at around midday, and subsequent decrease as SIF increased after mid‐afternoon. Urban regions had the highest diurnal cycle amplitude (∼6 ppm) among biomes. Statistical analyses revealed seasonal shift and nonlinear variation in the relationships between XCO2 and meteorological variables, suggesting that CO2 uptake is influenced by favorable humidity conditions. These relationships also provide insight into the sensitivity and adaptability of XCO2 to meteorological factors in diverse ecosystems such as savanna and grassland. Plain Language Summary: Measuring CO2 concentrations helps us gain better understanding of the carbon cycle in the context of climate change. China is among the world's main emitters of carbon and it has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality. To create effective strategies for the mitigation of atmospheric CO2, it is important to investigate the CO2 dynamics on multiple time scales. Using observations from the OCO‐2 and OCO‐3 carbon‐monitoring satellites, we characterized the seasonal and diurnal variations in column‐averaged abundance of CO2 (XCO2) across biomes and examined the impact of meteorological factors. Our findings revealed a near‐sinusoidal pattern in the hourly variation of XCO2 over biomes, and suggested XCO2 seasonal variability varies among them, with maximum seasonal variability for forests (∼9 ppm), and the maximum diurnal variability for urban regions (∼6 ppm). Furthermore, meteorological, and photosynthetic activity indicated the complicated relationships with XCO2. Future carbon research efforts should consider the differences in the magnitude of CO2 variation among biomes and the complex effects of meteorological conditions. Key Points: OCO‐3 detects diurnal variations in XCO2 that follow a near‐sinusoidal patternMeteorological factors affect XCO2 seasonally and nonlinearlyVegetation activity should be observed to understand carbon cycles [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF