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

TLDR

Terrestrial ecosystems absorb a large share of anthropogenic CO₂, yet the reasons for the growing sink and its impact on atmospheric CO₂ growth remain unclear. The study employs global carbon budgets, ground, atmospheric, and satellite observations, and multiple vegetation models to report a recent pause in atmospheric CO₂ growth and a declining atmospheric fraction of anthropogenic emissions. The pause is attributed to a decade‑long increase in the terrestrial sink driven by CO₂ fertilization and reduced warming‑induced respiration, underscoring the importance of protecting existing carbon stocks and rapidly growing sink regions.

Abstract

Abstract Terrestrial ecosystems play a significant role in the global carbon cycle and offset a large fraction of anthropogenic CO 2 emissions. The terrestrial carbon sink is increasing, yet the mechanisms responsible for its enhancement, and implications for the growth rate of atmospheric CO 2 , 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 CO 2 , 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 atmospheric CO 2 on vegetation and the slowdown in the rate of warming on global respiration. The pause in the atmospheric CO 2 growth rate provides further evidence of the roles of CO 2 fertilization and warming-induced respiration, and highlights the need to protect both existing carbon stocks and regions, where the sink is growing rapidly.