Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of precipitation seasonal distribution on net ecosystem CO2 exchange over an alpine meadow in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstracts

Ecosystem carbon balance might be affected by the variability of seasonal distribution of precipitation under global climate change. Using the eddy covariance (EC) technique, long-term observations of ecosystem net CO2 exchange (NEE) were acquired over Lijiang alpine meadow in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau from January 2014 to August 2019. During the wet season (from June to October), Lijiang meadow functioned as a carbon sink (− 37.6 ± 22.5 g C m−2 month−1), while in dry season, the meadow varied between a weak carbon source and sink with an average monthly NEE of − 3.9 ± 11.9 g C m−2 month−1. Monthly CO2 fluxes were mainly controlled by air temperature and soil water content. A large annual variation of CO2 uptake was observed. The annual NEE was − 140.3 g C m−2 year−1 in 2014 while − 247.0 g C m−2 year−1 in 2016. Correspondingly, the precipitation in wet season accounted 90% of annual precipitation in 2014 and 74% of that in 2016 despite the annual precipitation was larger than 1200 mm in both years. More precipitation in dry season can lead to longer period of net CO2 uptake, while more precipitation concentrated in wet season depressed the meadow’s light response through the decrease of the magnitude of light-saturated net CO2 exchange (NEEsat) at the onset and the end of growing season.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ammann C, Flechard C, Leifeld J, Neftel A, Fuhrer J (2007) The carbon budget of newly established temperate grassland depends on management intensity. Agr Ecosyst Environ 121(1–2):5–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aubinet M, Vesala T, Papale D (2012) Eddy covariance: a practical guide to measurement and data analysis: Springer Science & Business Media.

  • Biederman JA, Scott RL, Goulden ML, Vargas R, Litvak ME, Kolb TE et al (2016) Terrestrial carbon balance in a drier world: the effects of water availability in southwestern North America. Glob Change Biol 22(5):1867–1879

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breuer L, Eckhardt K, Frede H-G (2003) Plant parameter values for models in temperate climates. Ecol Model 169(2–3):237–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen S, Lin G, Huang J, Jenerette GD (2009) Dependence of carbon sequestration on the differential responses of ecosystem photosynthesis and respiration to rain pulses in a semiarid steppe. Glob Change Biol 15(10):2450–2461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chou WW, Silver WL, Jackson RD, Thompson AW, Allen-Diaz B (2008) The sensitivity of annual grassland carbon cycling to the quantity and timing of rainfall. Glob Change Biol 14(6):1382–1394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chu X, Han G, Xing Q, Xia J, Sun B, Yu J et al (2018) Dual effect of precipitation redistribution on net ecosystem CO2 exchange of a coastal wetland in the Yellow River Delta. Agric for Meteorol 249:286–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Churkina G, Running SW, Schloss AL, Participants PNMI (1999) Comparing global models of terrestrial net primary productivity (NPP): the importance of water availability. Glob Change Biol 5(S1):46–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falge E, Baldocchi D, Olson R, Anthoni P, Aubinet M, Bernhofer C et al (2001) Gap filling strategies for defensible annual sums of net ecosystem exchange. Agric for Meteorol 107(1):43–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferlan M, Eler K, Simončič P, Batič F, Vodnik D (2016) Carbon and water flux patterns of a drought-prone mid-succession ecosystem developed on abandoned karst grassland. Agr Ecosyst Environ 220:152–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Flanagan LB, Wever LA, Carlson PJ (2002) Seasonal and interannual variation in carbon dioxide exchange and carbon balance in a northern temperate grassland. Glob Change Biol 8(7):599–615

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foken T, Göockede M, Mauder M, Mahrt L, Amiro B, Munger W (2004) Post-field data quality control. In Handbook of micrometeorology (pp. 181–208): Springer.

  • Frank A, Karn J (2005) Shrub effects on carbon dioxide and water vapor fluxes over grasslands. Rangel Ecol Manage 58(1):20–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilmanov T, Soussana J-F, Aires L, Allard V, Ammann C, Balzarolo M et al (2007) Partitioning European grassland net ecosystem CO2 exchange into gross primary productivity and ecosystem respiration using light response function analysis. Agr Ecosyst Environ 121(1–2):93–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gilmanov TG, Aires L, Barcza Z, Baron VS, Belelli L, Beringer J et al (2010) Productivity, respiration, and light-response parameters of world grassland and agroecosystems derived from flux-tower measurements. Rangel Ecol Manage 63(1):16–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hastings SJ, Oechel WC, Muhlia-Melo A (2005) Diurnal, seasonal and annual variation in the net ecosystem CO2 exchange of a desert shrub community (Sarcocaulescent) in Baja California. Mexico Global Change Biology 11(6):927–939

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huxman TE, Snyder KA, Tissue D, Leffler AJ, Ogle K, Pockman WT et al (2004) Precipitation pulses and carbon fluxes in semiarid and arid ecosystems. Oecologia 141(2):254–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen R, Herbst M, Friborg T (2017) Direct and indirect controls of the interannual variability in atmospheric CO2 exchange of three contrasting ecosystems in Denmark. Agric for Meteorol 233:12–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jimenez K, Starr G, Staudhammer C, Schedlbauer J, Loescher H, Malone SL et al (2012) Carbon dioxide exchange rates from short- and long-hydroperiod Everglades freshwater marsh. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 117(G4).

  • Kjelgaard J, Heilman J, McInnes K, Owens M, Kamps R (2008) Carbon dioxide exchange in a subtropical, mixed C3/C4 grassland on the Edwards Plateau. Texas Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 148(6–7):953–963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kljun N, Calanca P, Rotach M, Schmid HP (2015) A simple two-dimensional parameterisation for Flux Footprint Prediction (FFP). Geosci Model Dev 8(11):3695–3713

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knapp AK, Beier C, Briske DD, Classen AT, Luo Y, Reichstein M et al (2008) Consequences of more extreme precipitation regimes for terrestrial ecosystems. Bioscience 58(9):811–821

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kormann R, Meixner FX (2001) An analytical footprint model for non-neutral stratification. Bound-Layer Meteorol 99(2):207–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer PJ, Boyer JS (1995) Water relations of plants and soils: Academic press.

  • Kurc SA, Small EE (2007) Soil moisture variations and ecosystem‐scale fluxes of water and carbon in semiarid grassland and shrubland. Water Resources Research, 43(6).

  • Kwon H, Pendall E, Ewers BE, Cleary M, Naithani K (2008) Spring drought regulates summer net ecosystem CO2 exchange in a sagebrush-steppe ecosystem. Agric for Meteorol 148(3):381–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Zhang F, Li Y, Wang J, Zhang L, Zhao L et al (2016) Seasonal and inter-annual variations in CO2 fluxes over 10 years in an alpine shrubland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. Agric for Meteorol 228:95–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Fan W, Kang X, Wang Y, Cui X, Xu C et al (2016) Responses of greenhouse gas fluxes to climate extremes in a semiarid grassland. Atmos Environ 142:32–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Zhang Z, Xu X, Kuang W, Zhou W, Zhang S et al (2010) Spatial patterns and driving forces of land use change in China during the early 21st century. J Geog Sci 20(4):483–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Zhuang Q, Lai L, Zhou J, Sun Q, Yi S et al (2021) Soil water use sources and patterns in shrub encroachment in semiarid grasslands of Inner Mongolia. Agric for Meteorol 308:108579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo T, Pan Y, Ouyang H, Shi P, Luo J, Yu Z et al (2004) Leaf area index and net primary productivity along subtropical to alpine gradients in the Tibetan Plateau. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 13(4):345–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma S, Baldocchi DD, Xu L, Hehn T (2007) Inter-annual variability in carbon dioxide exchange of an oak/grass savanna and open grassland in California. Agric for Meteorol 147(3–4):157–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma S, Baldocchi D, Wolf S, Verfaillie J (2016) Slow ecosystem responses conditionally regulate annual carbon balance over 15 years in Californian oak-grass savanna. Agric for Meteorol 228:252–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marchin RM, McHugh I, Simpson RR, Ingram LJ, Balas DS, Evans BJ et al (2018) Productivity of an Australian mountain grassland is limited by temperature and dryness despite long growing seasons. Agric for Meteorol 256:116–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masson-Delmotte V, Zhai P, Priani A, Connors S, Péan C, Berger S (2021) IPCC, 2021: climate change 2021: the physical science basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In: Cambridge University Press Cambridge, UK.

  • Mirzaei H, Kreyling J, Zaman Hussain M, Li Y, Tenhunen J, Beierkuhnlein C et al (2008) A single drought event of 100-year recurrence enhances subsequent carbon uptake and changes carbon allocation in experimental grassland communities. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 171(5):681–689

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moffat AM, Papale D, Reichstein M, Hollinger DY, Richardson AD, Barr AG et al (2007) Comprehensive comparison of gap-filling techniques for eddy covariance net carbon fluxes. Agric for Meteorol 147(3–4):209–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moncrieff J, Massheder J, De Bruin H, Elbers J, Friborg T, Heusinkveld B et al (1997) A system to measure surface fluxes of momentum, sensible heat, water vapour and carbon dioxide. J Hydrol 188:589–611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moncrieff J, Clement R, Finnigan J, Meyers T (2004) Averaging, detrending, and filtering of eddy covariance time series. In Handbook of micrometeorology (pp. 7–31): Springer.

  • Morgan JA, Parton W, Derner JD, Gilmanov TG, Smith DP (2016) Importance of early season conditions and grazing on carbon dioxide fluxes in Colorado shortgrass steppe. Rangel Ecol Manage 69(5):342–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Munson SM, Benton TJ, Lauenroth WK, Burke IC (2010) Soil carbon flux following pulse precipitation events in the shortgrass steppe. Ecol Res 25(1):205–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niu Y, Li Y, Yun H, Wang X, Gong X, Duan Y et al (2020) Variations in diurnal and seasonal net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange in a semiarid sandy grassland ecosystem in China’s Horqin Sandy Land. Biogeosciences 17(24):6309–6326

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ogaya R, Peñuelas J (2007) Tree growth, mortality, and above-ground biomass accumulation in a holm oak forest under a five-year experimental field drought. Plant Ecol 189(2):291–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papale D, Reichstein M, Aubinet M, Canfora E, Bernhofer C, Kutsch W et al (2006) Towards a standardized processing of net ecosystem exchange measured with eddy covariance technique: algorithms and uncertainty estimation. Biogeosciences 3(4):571–583

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parton W, Morgan J, Smith D, Del Grosso S, Prihodko L, LeCain D et al (2012) Impact of precipitation dynamics on net ecosystem productivity. Glob Change Biol 18(3):915–927

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pastorello G, Trotta C, Canfora E, Chu H, Christianson D, Cheah Y-W et al (2020) The FLUXNET2015 dataset and the ONEFlux processing pipeline for eddy covariance data. Scientific Data 7(1):1–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng S, Piao S, Shen Z, Ciais P, Sun Z, Chen S et al (2013) Precipitation amount, seasonality and frequency regulate carbon cycling of a semi-arid grassland ecosystem in Inner Mongolia, China: A modeling analysis. Agric for Meteorol 178:46–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Post AK, Knapp AK (2020) The importance of extreme rainfall events and their timing in a semi-arid grassland. J Ecol 108(6):2431–2443

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reichstein M, Falge E, Baldocchi D, Papale D, Aubinet M, Berbigier P et al (2005) On the separation of net ecosystem exchange into assimilation and ecosystem respiration: review and improved algorithm. Glob Change Biol 11(9):1424–1439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reichstein M, Subke JA, Angeli AC, Tenhunen JD (2005) Does the temperature sensitivity of decomposition of soil organic matter depend upon water content, soil horizon, or incubation time? Glob Change Biol 11(10):1754–1767

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross I, Misson L, Rambal S, Arneth A, Scott R, Carrara A et al (2012) How do variations in the temporal distribution of rainfall events affect ecosystem fluxes in seasonally water-limited Northern Hemisphere shrublands and forests? Biogeosciences 9(3):1007–1024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruimy A, Jarvis P, Baldocchi D, Saugier B (1995) CO2 fluxes over plant canopies and solar radiation: a review. Adv Ecol Res 26:1–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saito M, Kato T, Tang Y (2009) Temperature controls ecosystem CO2 exchange of an alpine meadow on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Glob Change Biol 15(1):221–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt M, Bahn M, Wohlfahrt G, Tappeiner U, Cernusca A (2010) Land use affects the net ecosystem CO2 exchange and its components in mountain grasslands. Biogeosciences 7(8):2297–2309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwalm CR, Williams CA, Schaefer K, Arneth A, Bonal D, Buchmann N et al (2010) Assimilation exceeds respiration sensitivity to drought: A FLUXNET synthesis. Glob Change Biol 16(2):657–670

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen M, Piao S, Cong N, Zhang G, Jassens IA (2015) Precipitation impacts on vegetation spring phenology on the T ibetan P lateau. Glob Change Biol 21(10):3647–3656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sloat LL, Henderson AN, Lamanna C, Enquist BJ (2015) The effect of the foresummer drought on carbon exchange in subalpine meadows. Ecosystems 18(3):533–545

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun S, Che T, Li H, Wang T, Ma C, Liu B et al (2019) Water and carbon dioxide exchange of an alpine meadow ecosystem in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau is energy-limited. Agric for Meteorol 275:283–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suyker AE, Verma SB (2001) Year-round observations of the net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide in a native tallgrass prairie. Glob Change Biol 7(3):279–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vickers D, Mahrt L (1997) Quality control and flux sampling problems for tower and aircraft data. J Atmos Oceanic Tech 14(3):512–526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Buttlar J, Zscheischler J, Rammig A, Sippel S, Reichstein M, Knohl A et al (2018) Impacts of droughts and extreme-temperature events on gross primary production and ecosystem respiration: a systematic assessment across ecosystems and climate zones. Biogeosciences 15(5):1293–1318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Chen W, Zhou W, Huang G (2015) Drought in Southwest China: a review. Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters 8(6):339–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Liu H, Shao Y, Liu Y, Sun J (2016) Water and CO2 fluxes over semiarid alpine steppe and humid alpine meadow ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau. Theoret Appl Climatol 131(1):547–556

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Liu H, Sun J, Feng J (2016) Water and carbon dioxide fluxes over an alpine meadow in southwest China and the impact of a spring drought event. Int J Biometeorol 60(2):195–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Zhang Y, Lü S, Su P, Shang L, Li Z (2016) Biophysical regulation of carbon fluxes over an alpine meadow ecosystem in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Int J Biometeorol 60(6):801–812

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Liu H, Sun J, Shao Y (2017) Biophysical effects on the interannual variation in carbon dioxide exchange of an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau. Atmos Chem Phys 17(8):5119–5129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Zhu Z, Ma Y, Yuan L (2020) Carbon and water fluxes in an alpine steppe ecosystem in the Nam Co area of the Tibetan Plateau during two years with contrasting amounts of precipitation. Int J Biometeorol 64(7):1183–1196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb EK, Pearman GI, Leuning R (1980) Correction of flux measurements for density effects due to heat and water vapour transfer. Q J R Meteorol Soc 106(447):85–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilczak JM, Oncley SP, Stage SA (2001) Sonic anemometer tilt correction algorithms. Bound-Layer Meteorol 99(1):127–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Z, Dijkstra P, Koch GW, Peñuelas J, Hungate BA (2011) Responses of terrestrial ecosystems to temperature and precipitation change: a meta-analysis of experimental manipulation. Glob Change Biol 17(2):927–942

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wutzler T, Lucas-Moffat A, Migliavacca M, Knauer J, Sickel K, Šigut L et al (2018) Basic and extensible post-processing of eddy covariance flux data with REddyProc. Biogeosciences 15(16):5015–5030

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu L, Baldocchi DD (2004) Seasonal variation in carbon dioxide exchange over a Mediterranean annual grassland in California. Agric for Meteorol 123(1–2):79–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang F, Zhou G (2013) Sensitivity of temperate desert steppe carbon exchange to seasonal droughts and precipitation variations in Inner Mongolia. China Plos One 8(2):e55418

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang K, Wu H, Qin J, Lin C, Tang W, Chen Y (2014) Recent climate changes over the Tibetan Plateau and their impacts on energy and water cycle: a review. Global Planet Change 112:79–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Furtado K, Wu P, Zhou T, Chadwick R, Marzin C et al (2021) Increasing precipitation variability on daily-to-multiyear time scales in a warmer world. Sci Adv 7(31):eabf8021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L, Li Y, Xu S, Zhou H, Gu S, Yu G et al (2006) Diurnal, seasonal and annual variation in net ecosystem CO2 exchange of an alpine shrubland on Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. Glob Change Biol 12(10):1940–1953

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L, Li J, Xu S, Zhou H, Li Y, Gu S et al (2010) Seasonal variations in carbon dioxide exchange in an alpine wetland meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Biogeosciences 7(4):1207–1221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu J, Zhang F, Li H, He H, Li Y, Yang Y et al (2020) Seasonal and interannual variations of CO2 fluxes over 10 years in an alpine wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. J Geophys Res Biogeosci 125(11):e2020JG006011

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41975017, 91937301, 41775018, and 41905010) and the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (STEP) program (Grant No. 2019QZKK0105). We are grateful to Dr. Wenjuan Sun from Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences for her support in the analysis of soil properties. We also greatly appreciate Mr. Hua Lin and Mr. Youen Guo from Lijiang Meteorological Bureau for their help in the maintenance of the measurement instruments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Yingqi Zheng, Huizhi Liu, Qun Du & Yang Liu

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Yingqi Zheng, Huizhi Liu & Qun Du

  3. Yunnan Meteorological Observatory, Kunming, 530100, China

    Jihua Sun

  4. Lijiang Meteorological Bureau, Lijiang, 674199, China

    Huancai Cun

  5. Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00560, Helsinki, Finland

    Leena Järvi

  6. Faculty of Science, Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science, University of Helsinki, 00560, Helsinki, Finland

    Leena Järvi

Authors
  1. Yingqi Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Huizhi Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Qun Du
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yang Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jihua Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Huancai Cun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Leena Järvi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Huizhi Liu.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (PDF 945 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zheng, Y., Liu, H., Du, Q. et al. Effects of precipitation seasonal distribution on net ecosystem CO2 exchange over an alpine meadow in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Int J Biometeorol 66, 1561–1573 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-022-02300-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-022-02300-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation