Elevated warm extremes diminish the carbon storage capacity of ecosystems
Warm extremes pose a significant threat to the ability of ecosystems to sequester carbon.
TroibNews 
Recent research published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution reveals that the capacity for Earth's terrestrial carbon sequestration has been challenged by warm extreme events—periods of unusually high temperatures driven by climate change—over the last 40 years.
The article highlights that net ecosystem exchange (NEE), which determines terrestrial carbon sequestration capacity, is significantly influenced by climate change and has exhibited considerable fluctuations from year to year.
Researchers from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography at the Chinese Academy of Sciences collaborated with both domestic and international partners to investigate how the increasing frequency and intensity of warm extremes have impacted NEE variations.
Yuan Xiuliang, a researcher at XIEG, stated that as the frequency and intensity of high temperatures continue to rise, there may be a further imbalance in the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by terrestrial ecosystems as a result of human activities.
In their efforts to enhance ecosystem carbon sink accounting over the past five years, researchers aim to optimize regional carbon sink regulation.
"Achieving accurate carbon sink accounting will help form an effective path for carbon trading," noted Luo Geping, another researcher at XIEG.
In September 2023, China introduced a new initiative designed to establish and enhance its forestry carbon sink measurement and monitoring system, as well as to develop the baseline and methodology for forestry carbon sink accounting.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
The article highlights that net ecosystem exchange (NEE), which determines terrestrial carbon sequestration capacity, is significantly influenced by climate change and has exhibited considerable fluctuations from year to year.
Researchers from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography at the Chinese Academy of Sciences collaborated with both domestic and international partners to investigate how the increasing frequency and intensity of warm extremes have impacted NEE variations.
Yuan Xiuliang, a researcher at XIEG, stated that as the frequency and intensity of high temperatures continue to rise, there may be a further imbalance in the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by terrestrial ecosystems as a result of human activities.
In their efforts to enhance ecosystem carbon sink accounting over the past five years, researchers aim to optimize regional carbon sink regulation.
"Achieving accurate carbon sink accounting will help form an effective path for carbon trading," noted Luo Geping, another researcher at XIEG.
In September 2023, China introduced a new initiative designed to establish and enhance its forestry carbon sink measurement and monitoring system, as well as to develop the baseline and methodology for forestry carbon sink accounting.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
