Satellite based estimates underestimate the effect of CO2 fertilization on net primary productivity

Martin G. De Kauwe; Trevor F. Keenan; Belinda E. Medlyn; I. Colin Prentice; Cesar Terrer

doi:10.1038/nclimate3105

Satellite based estimates underestimate the effect of CO2 fertilization on net primary productivity

Martin G. De Kauwe, Trevor F. Keenan, Belinda E. Medlyn, I. Colin Prentice, Cesar Terrer

Western Sydney University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

83 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To the editor: The recent study by Smith et al.1 (hereafter S15) concludes that Earth system models (ESMs) overestimate the effect of CO2 fertilization on net primary productivity (NPP). Whilst this finding is possible2, here we highlight that the satellite derived NPP estimates used are likely to underestimate the CO2 fertilization effect because they do not account for the primary effect of CO2 on photosynthesis. Additionally the calculation of NPP sensitivity to atmospheric CO2 is misleading, invalidating the comparison with free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) data.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	892-893
Number of pages	2
Journal	Nature Climate Change
Volume	6
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate3105
Publication status	Published - 2016

Keywords

carbon dioxide
fertilization (biology)
primary productivity (biology)

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10.1038/nclimate3105

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title = "Satellite based estimates underestimate the effect of CO2 fertilization on net primary productivity",

abstract = "To the editor: The recent study by Smith et al.1 (hereafter S15) concludes that Earth system models (ESMs) overestimate the effect of CO2 fertilization on net primary productivity (NPP). Whilst this finding is possible2, here we highlight that the satellite derived NPP estimates used are likely to underestimate the CO2 fertilization effect because they do not account for the primary effect of CO2 on photosynthesis. Additionally the calculation of NPP sensitivity to atmospheric CO2 is misleading, invalidating the comparison with free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) data.",

keywords = "carbon dioxide, fertilization (biology), primary productivity (biology)",

author = "{De Kauwe}, {Martin G.} and Keenan, {Trevor F.} and Medlyn, {Belinda E.} and Prentice, {I. Colin} and Cesar Terrer",

year = "2016",

doi = "10.1038/nclimate3105",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

pages = "892--893",

journal = "Nature Climate Change",

issn = "1758-678X",

publisher = "Nature Research",

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T1 - Satellite based estimates underestimate the effect of CO2 fertilization on net primary productivity

AU - De Kauwe, Martin G.

AU - Keenan, Trevor F.

AU - Medlyn, Belinda E.

AU - Prentice, I. Colin

AU - Terrer, Cesar

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - To the editor: The recent study by Smith et al.1 (hereafter S15) concludes that Earth system models (ESMs) overestimate the effect of CO2 fertilization on net primary productivity (NPP). Whilst this finding is possible2, here we highlight that the satellite derived NPP estimates used are likely to underestimate the CO2 fertilization effect because they do not account for the primary effect of CO2 on photosynthesis. Additionally the calculation of NPP sensitivity to atmospheric CO2 is misleading, invalidating the comparison with free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) data.

AB - To the editor: The recent study by Smith et al.1 (hereafter S15) concludes that Earth system models (ESMs) overestimate the effect of CO2 fertilization on net primary productivity (NPP). Whilst this finding is possible2, here we highlight that the satellite derived NPP estimates used are likely to underestimate the CO2 fertilization effect because they do not account for the primary effect of CO2 on photosynthesis. Additionally the calculation of NPP sensitivity to atmospheric CO2 is misleading, invalidating the comparison with free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) data.

KW - carbon dioxide

KW - fertilization (biology)

KW - primary productivity (biology)

UR - http://handle.westernsydney.edu.au:8081/1959.7/uws:38309

U2 - 10.1038/nclimate3105

DO - 10.1038/nclimate3105

M3 - Article

SN - 1758-678X

VL - 6

SP - 892

EP - 893

JO - Nature Climate Change

JF - Nature Climate Change

IS - 10

ER -

Satellite based estimates underestimate the effect of CO2 fertilization on net primary productivity

Abstract

Keywords

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