Late-rotation fertilization of Norway spruce stands is a frequently used management tool in Fennoscandia to increase timber yields. Meanwhile, the growing demand for renewable resources has sparked great interest in earlier and repeated fertilizer application but it remains unclear how this affects carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes in the understory, especially forest floor respiration (Rff). This study

This study focused on the production of 18-year global root zone soil moisture (RZSM) by the joint land surface data assimilation using the satellite observed leaf area index (LAI) and surface soil moisture (SSM). The impact of the assimilation on RZSM, LAI, and other key surface variables was also assessed. The multilayer diffusion scheme, biomass and CO2 interactive scheme, and the simplified extended

Tree growth in forests is affected independently or jointly by drought dimensions, namely severity, timing, and duration, making the accurate modeling predictions a formidable challenge, and it still remains uncertain how trees respond to multiple dimensions of drought. Here, we quantified the dynamic response of tree growth (evaluated by resistance and resilience) to different dimensions of droughts

Apple is one of the globally significant perennial fruits, with high consumption driven by the demand for nutritional food diversity and population growth. There is a lack of understanding with respect to the potential consequences of climate change, particularly the impact of spring frost – a frequent agrometeorological disaster on apple yield. Here we used a process-based apple model driven by five

Aboveground biomass (AGB) is a key parameter for assessing the carbon sequestration potential of urban ecosystems. However, traditional empirical models for AGB estimation often have poor transferability in urban environments, leading to overestimation or underestimation and limiting the ability to create continuous spatial maps of AGB. Recently, the relatively stable allometric relationships between

Wetlands provide a huge carbon (C) sink and represent strategic areas for regulating climate change. However, extensive wetlands have been lost since 1700, primarily for conversion to cropland. Currently, few studies have comprehensively evaluated changes in C budgets and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions following wetland conversion to cropland. Here, we measured annual carbon dioxide (CO2), methane

Peatland restoration is an important mitigation action in the fight against climate change. Researchers encourage farmers to rewet deep-drained lands on organic soil to a shallow water table depth (WTD) to reduce carbon emissions. Raising WTD under grasslands will likely affect local air temperature (TA) and increase relative humidity (RH), with uncertain consequences during heat waves on cattle welfare

We comprehensively examine methodologies tailored for subnational crop yield and production forecasting by integrating Earth Observation (EO) datasets and advanced machine learning approaches. We scrutinized diverse input data types, cross-validation methods, and training durations, focusing on maize production and yield predictions in Burkina Faso and Somalia. Central to our analysis is the comparative

Sierra de las Nieves is the southernmost National Park in continental Spain and, in a global warming scenario, it is important to determine the impacts of climatic variations on the vegetation, with special relevance to their reproductive cycles. The flowering seasonality and intensity of the dominant anemophilous species usually reflect the response of the vegetation to climate variations, which can

Dutch elm disease (DED) is a devastating forest disease. Recently, the deployment of native resistant cultivars has prompted initiatives of elm reintroduction in Europe and North America. It is known that DED resistance varies with the tree genotype and is influenced by climatic factors. However, genotype-by-environment interactions in DED resistance remain largely unexplored. In this work, we examined

Plants maintain their health through various ecological processes, among which resilience to external stresses has received increasing attention in recent years. By analyzing tree-ring data from 1762 sites, encompassing a total of 1,623,006 weak stresses (mean-2sd ≤ tree ring indices (TRI) < mean-sd) and 320,345 strong stresses (TRI < mean-2sd), we observed a significant growth increase following stresses

Identifying regions with similar productivity and yield-limiting climatic factors enables the design of tailored strategies for rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) production in vulnerable environments. Within the United States (US), the Great Plains region is susceptible to weather fluctuations, particularly in Kansas, where rainfed maize production is a significant agricultural activity. This study aims

Growth asynchrony in trees increases uncertainty in modeling forest productivity and ecological services. Despite recognition of growth variability among trees, the process of asynchronous growth and its ecological implications are poorly understood. We used tree-ring data obtained from increment core samples in 1046 juniper trees at 32 sites on the Tibetan Plateau and 538 pine trees at 20 sites in

Three Mediterranean oak species were considered in this study: one evergreen oak (Quercus suber, the most tolerant to drought) and two winter-deciduous oaks (Q. faginea, which shows intermediate tolerance, and Q. pyrenaica, with the lowest tolerance and highest soil water requirements). These three species were sampled, covering wide age and diameter gradients, in two National Parks located in central

Quantifying vegetation responses to drought and assessing their vulnerability are crucial for mitigating the adverse impacts of extreme drought events. In northern China, vegetation responses to the accumulative and lagged effects of drought remain unclear, and the drought sensitivity of different vegetation types has not been well understood. Here, the accumulative effect refers to the cumulative

Plant hydraulics substantially affects terrestrial water and carbon cycles by modulating water transport and carbon assimilation. Despite improved drought simulations in certain ecosystems through their integration into land surface models (LSMs), the broader application of plant hydraulics in diverse ecosystems and hydroclimates is still underexplored. In this study, we implemented the recently developed

Wetlands are the primary natural source of methane (CH4) emissions to the atmosphere, however, the quantification of wetland CH4 flux and net carbon budgets remains uncertain due to limited measurements and large variability across different types of wetlands. Based on continuous measurements using the eddy covariance (EC) technique over a “floating blanket” wetland in southwest China for a period

Accurate determination of actual evapotranspiration (ETa) is important in various research fields like hydrology, meteorology, ecology and agriculture. In situ ETa can be determined using weighing lysimeters and eddy covariance. However, despite being regarded as the most precise in situ method for measuring ETa, the information content of lysimeter measurements remains poorly understood. Here we examined

Managed pastures are strong sources for the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) through various nitrogen (N) inputs. So far, chamber measurements have been used to quantify N2O emissions and emissions factors of specific emissions sources like grazing cattle excreta. This study presents a three-year dataset of N2O emissions from a grazed and fertilized pasture measured by eddy covariance (EC) in eastern

With climate change intensifying, forests globally are becoming more susceptible to extreme weather events, such as windstorms, which account for a significant share of Europe’s economic losses. The Vaia windstorm of late autumn 2018, striking Italy’s North-East alpine ecosystem, highlighted this vulnerability, toppling over 8.5 million cubic meters of timber and sparking debates on forest management’s

The pattern of radial water transport in tree stems, specifically the interaction between bark and xylem, remains elusive because few measurement techniques are not capable of independently sensing bark water content (BWC) and xylem water content (XWC). To investigate the water variations in stem, two improved flexible sensors operating at 100 MHz and equipped with small interdigital-electrode (IE)

Non-steady-state chambers are often used for greenhouse gas flux measurements, and while there are recommendations on how long to keep the chamber closed, it is less investigated to what extent the length of the chamber closure period affects the estimated flux rates and which closure periods may provide the most accurate linear and non-linear flux estimates. Previous studies have shown that the closure

Summer heatwaves and extended dry spells create optimal meteorological conditions for occasional dry thunderstorms to produce simultaneous lightning-ignited wildfires (LIW). Concurrent ignitions put a significant burden on the firefighting's initial attack, potentially allowing incipient LIWs to escape and grow into large fires. While we can reasonably forecast lightning activity, predicting dry thunderstorm

Widespread global greening driven by CO2 fertilization implies a denser canopy structure, and more leaves could be used to collect light from the atmosphere for plant photosynthesis. Whether this increase in leaf quantity could enhance the capacity of vegetation to convert absorbed light to photosynthate remains unclear. In this study, we investigate the spatial-temporal variations of canopy light-use

Boreal peatlands store vast amounts of soil organic carbon (C) owing to the imbalance between productivity and decay rates. In the recent decades, this carbon stock has been exposed to a warming climate. During the past decade alone, the Arctic has warmed by ∼ 0.75°C which is almost twice the rate of the global average. Although, a wide range of studies have assessed peatlands’ C cycling, our understanding

The increasing frequency of typhoon events, attributed to global climate change, has significantly affected agricultural production, predominantly resulting in substantial negative consequences. Accurate and timely assessment of crop damage is crucial for understanding economic implications, devising effective agricultural strategies, and enhancing resilience amid mounting climate uncertainties. This

Terrestrial ecosystems play an important role in regulating the balance of global carbon cycle by sequestrating CO2 of atmosphere. Terrestrial ecosystem models are a critical tool for quantifying the magnitude, interannual variability and long-term trends of the land carbon sink across various spatial and temporal scales; however, despite extensive research, large uncertainties and challenges still

Soil moisture (SM) is a critical component of the land surface hydrological cycle, significantly impacting various sectors such as hydrology, meteorology, and agriculture. Accurate, high-resolution SM data are essential for effective flood forecasting, water resource management, and understanding the soil freeze-thaw processes in cold regions. This study aims to generate 1 km resolution liquid surface

One of the major challenges posed by climate change in agriculture is the alteration in cropland suitability. This alteration has serious consequences for food security and economic stability at global, regional, and local scales, especially in smallholder and rainfed agricultural systems like in Ethiopia. A comprehensive understanding of the current state of croplands and future changes under warming

Frost drought refers to the chronic or acute desiccation of trees exposed to high evaporative pressures while being rooted in cold or frozen soils. This phenomenon has been known for more than a century but is still poorly characterized. Summer desiccation manifests itself as long-term stem contractions. Similar contractions have been reported in winter. In this study, we investigated the causes of

Optimizing the nitrogen (N) fertilizer use is the key to facilitating the sustainable development of agricultural systems. In this study, a DeNitrification–DeComposition model was used to analyze the effects of N fertilization on yield, profit, and reactive N losses in single-season rice production of China. The comprehensive optimum N application rate (CONR) considering the trade-off between economy

Understanding the effects of timber harvesting on soil respiration, including its autotrophic and heterotrophic components and their temperature sensitivity, is crucial for predicting how forest management affects the carbon cycle. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess these effects on a global scale, synthesizing data from 1656 paired observations from 143 studies worldwide. On average, harvesting

Understanding the sensitivity of vegetation to climate variability, i.e., the response of vegetation greenness to climate change, is crucial for the management of vulnerable ecosystems. However, this aspect remains inadequately understood for the Tibetan Plateau (TP) with highly fragile ecosystems. By employing a satellite-based vegetation index and three climate variables (temperature, solar radiation

Spring phenology has noticeably changed with changes to diurnal temperature (daytime temperature vs. night-time temperature) and seasonal temperature (winter chilling vs. spring forcing) around the globe. However, the climate cues influencing the days of interval between budburst and leaf-out have not been studied. Here, we conducted two experiments to simulate how changes in diurnal temperature or

The fertilization effect of nitrogen (N) deposition on global productivity may be limited by water availability due to the coupling effect of N and water on ecosystem carbon cycling. However, it remains unclear whether this limitation is synchronized between above- and belowground productivity. Based on a long-term field manipulation experiment in an alpine meadow of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, we

Climate change could intensify seasonal soil moisture droughts and subsequently degrade vegetation, but it can also facilitate vegetation growth with the rising temperature and CO2 concentrations. Therefore, the change of the vegetation-drought relationship under climate change remains elusive. Here, we investigate the effects of vegetation greening (i.e., increasing leaf area index (LAI)) on seasonal

Monitoring surface albedo at a fine spatial resolution in forests can enrich process understanding and benefit ecosystem modeling and climate-oriented forest management. Direct estimation of surface albedo using 10 m reflectance imagery from Sentinel-2 is a promising research avenue to this extent, although questions remain regarding the representativeness of the underlying model of surface reflectance

Extreme fire severity patterns driven by climate change have deep consequences on vegetation, subsequent fire regimes and have consequences on the effectiveness of extinction. In this work, we aimed to determine if extreme fire severity defined as the 90th percentile of RdNBR has changed in Spain in the last 3 decades, if extreme fire severity patterns have differed among the different vegetation types

Comprehending and quantifying local variability in plant phenology, alongside its impacts on tree growth, is challenging due to spatially and temporally heterogeneous environmental factors that interact to affect phenological events and periods. Although previous studies have focused on the climatic factors driving phenological events at the stand level, the influences of competition, neighborhood

The sampling volume of electromagnetic (EM) soil moisture sensors is of significant interest due to the diverse applications for which they are utilized. However, this volume can vary considerably based on multiple factors, including the number, spacing, and length of sensor rods, as well as the operational frequency. The sensor's volume of influence is dictated by electric field lines or ‘fringing

Global warming is leading to more frequent and intense drought events, exerting unprecedented pressure on forest growth. Although post-drought recovery in plantation growth has been studied enormously, the variation of planted populations across the whole distribution range of a species is not well understood. In this study, the growth suitability of the most widely planted conifer species in dry lands

Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) is one of China's most important tree species, and possible adverse factors affecting its growth and physiology is of particular concern for climate change adaptation. In this context, growth performance (BAI: basal area increment and MAXD: maximum density), climate sensitivity, and the relative contributions of climatic and physiological determinants

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Leaf litter nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), as the final products reflecting the foliar nutrient status after resorption, strongly influence forest production and nutrient cycling. However, our nuanced understanding of their general patterns and controls is still lacking, and whether differential regulatory mechanisms exist between climatic zones remains largely incomplete, which introduces substantial

Vegetation phenology regulates ecosystem carbon, water, and energy fluxes, as well as biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks. Currently, vegetation indices and carbon fluxes have been incorporated in models for predicting vegetation phenology, hydrological processes have not yet been used despite significant interactions between climate, phenology, and hydrology. The evaporative fraction (EF) and Bowen ratio

Across much of Europe, climate change has caused a major dieback of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.), an economically important tree species. However, the southeasternmost fringe of this tree species – the Eastern Carpathians – has not yet suffered large-scale dieback. Studying temporal shifts of climate sensitivity (TSCS) over time may elucidate the degree to which Norway spruce may be vulnerable to

Anthropogenic climate change poses a significant threat to global ecosystems, necessitating nature-based solutions to achieve net-zero emissions and mitigate climate change. Restoration of degraded ecosystems is critical for terrestrial carbon dioxide removal (TCDR), in addition to preserving biodiversity and reducing emissions of carbon and other greenhouse gases. However, the quantitative estimation

Various yield forecasting methods have been reported in literature, but the benefits of assimilating seasonal climate forecasts and satellite observations for in-season yield forecasting during different growth stages have rarely been examined using machine learning. By synthesizing census yields, seasonal climate forecasts (SCF) and satellite-based gross primary production (GPP), this study develops

Leaf spectral reflectance is a crucial indicator of leaf physiology both in eco-physiology and remote sensing. To assess how alpine plants acclimate or adapt to altitudinal environments, we examined leaf optical properties at wavelengths from 280 to 1100 nm in 797 leaves of 38 broad-leaved herbaceous species along an altitudinal gradient from 3200 m to 4400 m on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau