Recent pause in the growth rate of atmospheric CO₂ due to enhanced terrestrial carbon uptake.

ABSTRACT: Terrestrial ecosystems play a significant role in the global carbon cycle and offset a large fraction of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. The terrestrial carbon sink is increasing, yet the mechanisms responsible for its enhancement, and implications for the growth rate of atmospheric CO₂, remain unclear. Here using global carbon budget estimates, ground, atmospheric and satellite observations, and multiple global vegetation models, we report a recent pause in the growth rate of atmospheric CO₂, and a decline in the fraction of anthropogenic emissions that remain in the atmosphere, despite increasing anthropogenic emissions. We attribute the observed decline to increases in the terrestrial sink during the past decade, associated with the effects of rising atmosp

SUBMITTER: Keenan TF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5105171 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature