Acclimation of Ecosystem CO sub(2) Exchange in the Alaskan Arctic in Response to Decadal Climate Warming

Warming and drying of the climate during the 1980s acted to reverse trends favoring long-term sequestration of carbon in Alaskan Arctic tundra ecosystems. Resulting losses in terrestrial carbon are described. Findings from a recent monitoring project suggest that continued warming and drying has pro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 2000-08, Vol.406 (6799), p.978-978
Main Authors: Oechel, Walter C, Vourlitis, George L, Hastings, Steven J, Zulueta, Rommel C, Hinzman, Larry, Kane, Douglas
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Warming and drying of the climate during the 1980s acted to reverse trends favoring long-term sequestration of carbon in Alaskan Arctic tundra ecosystems. Resulting losses in terrestrial carbon are described. Findings from a recent monitoring project suggest that continued warming and drying has promoted reduced CO sub(2) efflux. In certain cases, Alaskan Arctic tundra ecosystems may exhibit summer CO sub(2) sink activity. Researchers compiled summer CO sub(2) flux data for two Arctic ecosystems for a period lasting from 1960 to the end of 1998. These data indicate a return to summer sink activity during the warmest and driest period in the past four decades. These findings suggest a certain capacity for ecosystems to adjust metabolically to long-term climate changes.
ISSN:0028-0836