Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Dai et al. (2025, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113861 ) address a critical question: how ecosystem primary productivity will respond to changes in precipitation variability. To do so, the authors use the asymmetry index (AI), a metric commonly used to quantify the asymmetry in productivity response to wet and dry precipitation anomalies. Productivity asymmetry is a data‐driven, model‐independent metric to understand how ecosystem productivity responds to precipitation change. However, AI does not by itself reflect asymmetry in productivity response and must be used cautiously to infer how productivity will respond to changes in precipitation variability. This comment criticizes the use of AI alone and suggests alternative lines of evidence to provide appropriate context to interpret AI. Finally, we summarize the open research questions needed to be addressed to bracket how productivity has changed and will respond under future climates.
Source: Geophysical Research Letters
DOI: 10.1029/2025gl116247
Authors: Anthony J. Parolari, Athanasios Paschalis
Institutions: Marquette University, University of Cyprus
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,190
OpenAlex ID: W4415455893