6B.1 Terrestrial biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks and the CO2 effect

Tuesday, 24 January 2017: 1:30 PM
602 (Washington State Convention Center )
Julia K Green, Columbia University, New York, NY; and P. Gentine and A. G. Konings

The terrestrial biosphere and atmosphere interact through a series of feedback loops. Using remote-sensing based solar-induced fluorescence observations and a multivariate Granger causality (MVGC) technique, we have shown that these feedbacks exist globally and are regionally strong, explaining up to 30% of precipitation and surface radiation variance1.

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels will alter the existing interactions between the biosphere and atmosphere, however, the ways in which they will shift in the future remain unclear. Here we again use a MVGC technique combined with Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 carbon dioxide run data (first using plant physiology only and then using plant radiation only), to determine how increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations will impact the biosphere-atmosphere interactions previously detected in our observational study1. Understanding these changes is critical for making effective land-use decisions, as we know that the biosphere plays a significant role in modulating Earth’s climate.

Green, J., et al. Hotspots of terrestrial biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks. Manuscript submitted for publication. (2016).
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