Increase in the variability of terrestrial carbon uptake in response to enhanced future ENSO modulation

Abstract

El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a major driver of climate change in middle and low latitudes and thus strongly influences the terrestrial carbon cycle through land–air interaction. Both the ENSO modulation and carbon flux variability are projected to increase in the future, but their connection still needs further investigation. To investigate the impact of future ENSO modulation on carbon flux variability, this study used 10 CMIP6 earth system models to analyze ENSO modulation and carbon flux variability in middle and low latitudes, and their relationship, under different scenarios simulated by CMIP6 models. The results show a high consistency in the simulations, with both ENSO modulation and carbon flux variability showing an increasing trend in the future. The higher the emissions scenario, especially SSP5-8.5 compared to SSP2-4.5, the greater the increase in variability. Carbon flux variability in the middle and low latitudes under SSP2-4.5 increases by 30.9% compared to historical levels during 1951–2000, while under SSP5-8.5 it increases by 58.2%. Further analysis suggests that ENSO influences mid- and low-latitude carbon flux variability primarily through temperature. This occurrence may potentially be attributed to the increased responsiveness of gross primary productivity towards regional temperature fluctuations, combined with the intensified influence of ENSO on land surface temperatures.

摘要

ENSO是中低纬度地区气候系统的主要驱动因素, 对陆地碳循环有重要影响. 本研究基于10个CMIP6地球系统模式, 分析了不同情景下ENSO变率与中低纬度地区总初级生产力变率的关系. 结果显示, 未来ENSO变率和总初级生产力变率在未来多数模式均显示为增加. 在未来情境下(2051-2100年), 中低纬度地区的总初级生产力变率较历史时期(1951–2000年)增加了30.9%(SSP2-4.5), 58.2%(SSP5-8.5). 进一步分析表明, ENSO主要通过温度影响中低纬度碳通量变率. 这种现象可能归因于总初级生产力对温度的响应增强, 以及ENSO对陆地表面温度的影响.