Soil Moisture Emerges as Key Player in Northern Hemisphere Vegetation Growth
2025-02-21
A recent study, published in Science Bulletin, led by Prof. CHEN Yaning from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has examined the peak timing and drivers of vegetation productivity in the Northern Hemisphere.
Using data from 12 CMIP6 global climate models and multi-source observational data, the research team has made significant strides in understanding the complex interplay between vapor pressure deficit (VPD), soil moisture (SM), and temperature. The maximum growth rate of gross primary productivity (GPPmax), VPD, and SM data for each period from 2000 to 2100 were decoupled to assess the sensitivity of GPPmax to SM or VPD, excluding the potential effects of increased temperature through the use of ridge regression.
The study reveals a decelerating trend in the maximum growth rate of gross primary productivity in the Northern Hemisphere before 2050. Soil moisture has been identified as a more influential factor than VPD, with a broader geographical impact. This discovery challenges existing paradigms and underscores the need for a nuanced approach to predicting future vegetation productivity trends.
This research not only delineates the peak timing of vegetation productivity but also elucidates the underlying mechanisms driving these changes. By disentangling the effects of temperature from those of VPD and soil moisture, the study provides a clearer picture of how ecosystems may respond to future climatic conditions.
“These insights are pivotal for advancing our understanding of ecosystem carbon source/sink dynamics and for informing strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on global vegetation patterns,” said Prof. LI Zhi, first author of the study.
This study can be expected to guide future research and policy-making, offering a more robust foundation for ecological conservation and climate adaptation efforts.
Article link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2024.12.012
Contact
LONG Huaping
Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography
E-mail: longhp@ms.xjb.ac.cn
Web: http://english.egi.cas.cn