Work

Carbon and nitrogen cycle dynamics in the O‐CN land surface model: 2. Role of the nitrogen cycle in the historical terrestrial carbon balance

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: Global‐scale results of the new O‐CN terrestrial biosphere model coupling the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles show that the model produces realistic estimates of present‐day C and N stocks and fluxes, despite some regional biases. N availability strongly affects high‐latitude foliage area and foliage N, limiting vegetation productivity and present‐day high‐latitude net C uptake. Anthropogenic N deposition is predicted to have increased net primary productivity due to increases in foliage area and foliage N, contributing 0.2–0.5 Pg C yr −1 to the 1990s global net C uptake. While O‐CN's modeled global 1990s terrestrial net C uptake (2.4 Pg C yr −1 ) is similar to the estimate not accounting for anthropogenic N inputs and N dynamics (2.6 Pg C yr −1 ), its latitudinal distribution and the sensitivity of the terrestrial C balance to its driving factors are substantially altered by N dynamics, with important implications for future trajectories of the global carbon cycle.

Source: Global Biogeochemical Cycles

DOI: 10.1029/2009gb003522

Authors: S. Zaehle, A. D. Friend, P. Friedlingstein, F. Dentener, P. Peylin, M. Schulz