Climate-Driven Increases in Global Terrestrial Net Primary Production from 1982 to 1999

TLDR

Recent climate change has boosted plant growth in northern and high latitudes, yet a comprehensive global analysis of how climatic shifts affect vegetation productivity, considering variable limiting factors, has been lacking. The study investigates global vegetation responses to climate change over 1982–1999 using climatic data and satellite observations. The authors analyzed 18 years of climate records and satellite‑derived vegetation activity to assess responses. Global net primary production rose 6 % (3.4 Pg C) from 1982–1999, driven mainly by tropical ecosystems, with Amazon rain forests contributing 42 % of the increase due to reduced cloud cover and higher solar radiation.

Abstract

Recent climatic changes have enhanced plant growth in northern mid-latitudes and high latitudes. However, a comprehensive analysis of the impact of global climatic changes on vegetation productivity has not before been expressed in the context of variable limiting factors to plant growth. We present a global investigation of vegetation responses to climatic changes by analyzing 18 years (1982 to 1999) of both climatic data and satellite observations of vegetation activity. Our results indicate that global changes in climate have eased several critical climatic constraints to plant growth, such that net primary production increased 6% (3.4 petagrams of carbon over 18 years) globally. The largest increase was in tropical ecosystems. Amazon rain forests accounted for 42% of the global increase in net primary production, owing mainly to decreased cloud cover and the resulting increase in solar radiation.