Work

Oxygen Footprint Regulates Dryland Carbon Cycling

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In the Anthropocene, dryland ecosystems—natural and semi-natural ecosystems—are highly sensitive to anthropogenic warming, and their carbon cycling dynamics are easily disrupted by this trend. In this perspective, we propose a novel yet long-overlooked conceptual framework. It reveals that the oxygen footprint, defined as the atmospheric oxygen consumption-to-production ratio, could serve as an important diagnostic indicator for assessing the impacts of anthropogenic warming on dryland carbon cycling. This framework can be divided into three parts, including the increasing oxygen footprint, warming effects on dryland carbon cycling, and direct or indirect links between oxygen footprint and carbon-cycle responses. In short, it centers on the core logical chain: oxygen footprint-anthropogenic warming-dryland carbon cycling. This work strives to enhance dryland sustainability by filling essential knowledge gaps, combining separate research findings, and providing actionable field guidance for ecosystem management.

Source: Climate

DOI: 10.3390/cli14090176

Authors: Dongliang Han, Jianping Huang, Lei Ding, Guolong Zhang

Institutions: Lanzhou University, Institute of Disaster Prevention

Language: English

Topic: Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,172