Back to Search Start Over

Diminishing carryover benefits of earlier spring vegetation growth.

Authors :
Lian X
Peñuelas J
Ryu Y
Piao S
Keenan TF
Fang J
Yu K
Chen A
Zhang Y
Gentine P
Source :
Nature ecology & evolution [Nat Ecol Evol] 2024 Feb; Vol. 8 (2), pp. 218-228. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jan 03.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Spring vegetation growth can benefit summer growth by increasing foliage area and carbon sequestration potential, or impair it by consuming additional resources needed for sustaining subsequent growth. However, the prevalent driving mechanism and its temporal changes remain unknown. Using satellite observations and long-term atmospheric CO <subscript>2</subscript> records, here we show a weakening trend of the linkage between spring and summer vegetation growth/productivity in the Northern Hemisphere during 1982-2021. This weakening is driven by warmer and more extreme hot weather that becomes unfavourable for peak-season growth, shifting peak plant functioning away from earlier periods. This is further exacerbated by seasonally growing ecosystem water stress due to reduced water supply and enhanced water demand. Our finding suggests that beneficial carryover effects of spring growth on summer growth are diminishing or even reversing, acting as an early warning sign of the ongoing shift of climatic effects from stimulating to suppressing plant photosynthesis during the early to peak seasons.<br /> (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2397-334X
Volume :
8
Issue :
2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Nature ecology & evolution
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
38172284
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02272-w