中国植被碳源/汇时空演变特征及其驱动因素

植被生态系统对植被碳汇至关重要,是实现中国“碳中和”目标的重要路径之一。选择1981—2019年全球逐日NEP模拟数据产品,对1981—2019年中国植被碳源/汇时空演变进行分析,确定气候变化和人类活动对植被碳源/汇的影响区域,并量化生态修复治理工程对植被碳汇的成效。(1)通过使用BFAST模型监测NEP年际突变范围,确定2001年为时间断点,对比分析1981—2001年与2001—2019年NEP时空变化特征及驱动因素。(2)1981—2001年段植被碳汇大范围呈现递减趋势。2001—2019年,中国整体植被碳汇增加,尤其是北部地区NEP增长趋势显著。(3)1981—2001年中国北部地区植被固碳能力下降,受降水、辐射影响为主。2001—2019年,大部分地区NEP变化与降水相关性显著。(4)1981—2001年人类活动导致植被碳源/汇变化占总面积的4%,主要分布于东北地区和西南地区。2001—2019年中国植被碳源/汇变化由人类活动影响占比提高至26.23%,其中植被固碳能力提升占比25.22%。气候变化负向影响植被固碳能力较于1981—2001年减少约30%。说明人类活动在一定程...     

2000—2020年华北地区植被固碳能力时空变化特征及其气象影响分析

净生态系统生产力(NEP)是估算植被生态系统碳源/汇的重要指标,开展区域NEP时空变化特征分析,对科学评估植被生态系统固碳能力及其气候变化应对措施具有重要意义。研究基于土壤呼吸模型和TEC模型,利用2000—2020年气象数据和遥感数据,采用线性趋势分析、Hurst指数和相关分析等统计方法,对华北地区固碳能力时空变化特征、影响因素及其未来变化趋势进行分析。结果表明：2000—2020年,华北地区年均NEP为228.8 gC/m²,在空间分布上呈现从西北向东南逐步递增的趋势,总体上表现为净固碳。从变化趋势来看,华北地区生态系统的固碳能力总体呈增加趋势,分布面积占比达到88.8%,达到显著增加趋势的面积比例为54.5%(P<0.05),其中河北北部、北京北部、山西西北部、山东西部等地NEP每年每平方米增加9.0 gC以上。华北大部地区NEP年际波动较小,有79.6%的区域多处于较高稳定、高稳定的等级。从变化趋势来看,华北地区有84.9%区域NEP具有强持续性,且NEP未来仍将持续增加的区域面积占比达到51.4%。华北地区NEP的空间分布和年际变化主要受降水的影响...     

2000—2015年青海高原植被碳源/汇时空格局及变化

陆地生态系统碳循环能够综合反映全球气候变化及区域响应,是全球及区域气候变化及人类活动影响研究的重要内容。青海高原作为青藏高原的重要组成部分,在全球及区域气候与环境变化中具有极其重要的作用。因此,研究青海高原植被碳源/汇时空变化及气候因子的影响具有重要意义。采用土壤呼吸模型和改进的CASA模型,结合MODIS、气象数据估算了青海高原2000-2015年植被净生态系统生产力（NEP）,分析了植被NEP、碳汇的年际时空分布、年际动态变化、多年累积空间分布与植被NEP变异系数,定量分析了降水量、气温对植被NEP的影响。结果表明：1）2000-2015年,青海高原植被年NEP空间分布特点呈东高西低、南高北低,由西北向东南逐步增加趋势,年NEP多年平均值为128.40 gC m^-2a^-1;2）青海高原不同生态区植被NEP与碳汇量空间分异显著,碳汇区约占植被分布区面积的73.11%,其中,祁连山生态区和三江源生态区为主要的碳汇区;3）2000-2015年,青海高原植被碳汇功能逐步增强,年固碳量为-3.2-64.42 TgC,年际变化呈平稳上升;4）受自然与人为因素的协同影响,青海高原年NEP呈现逐步好转的趋势,平均趋势系数为1.52,NEP增加的区域占植被总面积的25.72%;5）青海高原植被NEP变异系数空间分布以较低、中等波动为主,稳定性颇高;6）降水量对植被NEP以促进作用为主,气温以抑制作用为主,气温对青海高原植被NEP的影响占主导地位。     

基于BIOME-BGC模型的秦岭北坡太白红杉林碳源/汇动态和趋势研究

为了解秦岭北坡太白红杉(Larix chinensis)的碳源/汇动态,运用BIOME-BGC模型模拟了1959-2016年太白红杉生产力、碳储量和碳利用效率(CUE),并利用气候情景设定方法预测碳源/汇功能的未来趋势。结果表明,58年间太白红杉的平均净初级生产力(NPP)、初级生产力(GPP)和净生态系统生产力(NEP)分别为328.59、501.56和31.42 g C m–2a–1,平均碳储量为35.38 kg C m–2a–1,平均CUE为0.65;除1960-1961、1969-1970、1997-1999年为"碳源"年外,绝大多数年份为"碳汇"年,年内呈现"碳源-碳汇-碳源"的变化特征,碳储量总体增加,潜在固碳能力较为稳定。GPP、NPP、碳储量的正向作用排序为气温上升CO_2浓度增加,NEP的正向作用排序反之,降水增加对生产力和碳储量增加起反作用,气温升高对CUE起反作用;气温和CO_2浓度是北坡太白红杉生长的限制因子,气温的限制性强于CO_2浓度,未来气温或CO_2浓度升高有利于碳汇功能发挥,降水增加减弱碳汇效果。RCP4.5、RCP8.5情景下太白红杉生产力和碳储量在21世纪呈上升趋势,RCP8.5上升幅度略大于RCP4.5,潜在固碳能力仍较强;1-3月和10-12月为"碳源"月,5-9月为"碳汇"月。这揭示了气候变化背景下气温、降水和CO_2浓度对太白红杉碳源/汇的影响方式,气温和CO_2浓度上升是碳汇的促进因素,降水增加为阻碍因素。     

东北森林净第一性生产力与碳收支对气候变化的响应

以东北地区(38.43'N～53.34'N,115.37'E～135.5'E)为研究对象,利用当前气候状况和不同气候情景下的气象数据驱动基于个体生长过程的中国森林生态系统碳收支模型FORCCHN,模拟了气候变化对东北森林生态系统净第一性生产力(NPP)和碳收支(NEP)的影响.结果表明:1981～2002年期间,东北森林NPP总量位于0.27～0.40 pgc·a-1之间,平均值为0.34 pgc·a-1;土壤呼吸总量在0.11～0.27 PgC·a-1,平均为0.19 PgC·a-1;NEP总量位于0.11～0.18 PgC·a-1之间,且近20多年来该区森林起着CO2汇的作用,平均每年吸收0.15 Pg C的CO2;该区森林NPP和NEP对温度升高比对降雨变化的反应更为敏感;综合降雨增加(20%)和气温增加(3℃)的情况,该区各点森林的NPP和NEP增加的幅度最大;温度不变、降水增加(不变)情景下最小.     

1981—2000年中国陆地生态系统碳通量的年际变化

应用一个生物地球化学模型(CEVSA)估算了中国陆地净初级生产力(NPP)、土壤异养呼吸(HR)和净生态系统生产力(NEP)在1981—1998年期间对气候和大气CO2浓度变化的动态响应。结果显示,全国NPP总量波动于2．89—3．37Gt／a之间,平均值为3．09Gt C／a,年平均增长趋势约为0．32％。HR总量变化范围为2．89—3．21Gt C／a,平均值为3．02Gt C／a,年均增长0．40％。NEP总量变动于-0．32和0．25Gt C／a之间,在统计上没有明显的年际变化趋势。在研究时段内,年平均NEP约为0．07Gt C／a,表明中国陆地生态系统在气候与大气CO2浓度变化的条件下吸收了碳,为碳汇,总的吸收量为1．22Gt C,约占全球碳吸收总量的10％,与同期内美国由大气CO2和气候变化所产生的碳吸收量大致相当。尽管由于较高的年际变率,NEP在统计上没有明显的变化趋势,但NPP的增长率低于HR的增长率,说明在研究时段内,中国陆地生态系统的吸碳能力由于气候变化降低了。全国大多数地区年平均NEP接近零,明显的NEP正值区(即碳汇)出现在东北平原、西藏东南部和黄淮平原等地区,而大小兴安岭、黄土高原和云贵高原等地区NEP为负值(即碳源)。研究认为,1981～1998年期间中国气候温暖、干旱,因此估算的NEP可能低于其他时段。如果气候进入一个比较湿润的时期,碳吸收量可显著增加,但若当前干旱和暖化趋势以此为继,中国的NEP可能会变成一个负值。     

西南高山地区净生态系统生产力时空动态

西南高山地区生态系统类型丰富、地形复杂,是响应全球气候变化的重点区域,对全球气候变化具有重要的指示作用.应用生态系统模型(Carbon Exchange between Vegetation,Soil,and the Atmosphere,CEVSA)模型估算了1954-2010年西南高山地区净生态系统生产力(NEP)的时空变化,分析了其对气候变化的响应.结果表明:(1)1954-2010年西南高山地区NEP平均为29.7gC·m-2·a-1,其中低海拔地区常绿针叶林和常绿阔叶林NEP较高,而高海拔地区的草地覆盖类型NEP较低.(2)西南高山地区NEP总量的变动范围为-8.36-29.4Tg C/a,平均每年吸收碳15.4Tg C;NEP年际下降趋势显著(P＜0.05),平均每年减少0.187Tg C,下降显著的区域占研究地区总面积的35.2％ (P＜0.05),其中草地(-0.526 g C·m-2·a-2,P＜0.01)和常绿针叶林(-0.691g C·m-2·a-2,P＜0.01)下降趋势极为显著.(3)年NEP总量的年际变化与年平均温度呈负相关(r=-0.454,P＜0.01),与年降水量呈正相关(r=0.708,P＜0.01),与温度显著负相关的区域占60.3％ (P＜0.05),与降水显著正相关的区域占52.1％(P＜0.05),其中草地和常绿针叶林均与温度极显著负相关(r=-0.603,P＜0.01;r=-0.485,P＜0.01),而与降水量极显著正相关(r=0.554,P＜0.01; r=0.749,P＜0.01).(4)西南高山地区是明显的碳汇区,但是由于土壤异养呼吸(HR,heterotrophic respiration)的增长速度大于净初级生产力(NPP,net primary production)的增长速度,最近20a有部分地区开始由碳汇转为碳源.     

1981～2000年中国陆地生态系统碳通量的年际变化

应用一个生物地球化学模型(CEVSA)估算了中国陆地净初级生产力 (NPP)、土壤异养呼吸(HR)和净生态系统生产力 (NEP) 在1981～1998年期间对气候和大气CO2浓度变化的动态响应.结果显示,全国NPP总量波动于2.89～3.37 Gt C/a之间,平均值为3.09 Gt C/a,年平均增长趋势约为0.32%.HR总量变化范围为2.89～3.21 Gt C/a,平均值为3.02 Gt C/a, 年均增长0.40%.NEP总量变动于 -0.32和0.25 Gt C/a之间,在统计上没有明显的年际变化趋势.在研究时段内,年平均NEP约为0.07 Gt C/a,表明中国陆地生态系统在气候与大气CO2浓度变化的条件下吸收了碳,为碳汇,总的吸收量为1.22 Gt C,约占全球碳吸收总量的10%,与同期内美国由大气CO2和气候变化所产生的碳吸收量大致相当.尽管由于较高的年际变率,NEP在统计上没有明显的变化趋势,但NPP的增长率低于HR的增长率,说明在研究时段内,中国陆地生态系统的吸碳能力由于气候变化降低了.全国大多数地区年平均NEP接近零,明显的NEP正值区(即碳汇)出现在东北平原、西藏东南部和黄淮平原等地区,而大小兴安岭、黄土高原和云贵高原等地区NEP为负值(即碳源).研究认为,1981～1998年期间中国气候温暖、干旱,因此估算的NEP可能低于其他时段.如果气候进入一个比较湿润的时期,碳吸收量可显著增加,但若当前干旱和暖化趋势以此为继,中国的NEP可能会变成一个负值.     

基于BEPS模型的云南省碳源/汇时空特征及其适用性分析

净初级生产力(NPP)和净生态系统生产力(NEP)是估算陆地生态系统碳源/汇的重要指标,云南为我国碳汇的主要区域之一,开展云南NPP和NEP时空变化特征分析对科学评估陆地生态系统碳源/汇功能,以及开展碳排放交易具有重要意义。基于BEPS模型1981—2019年NPP和NEP产品,采用线性趋势分析、文献对比等方法,研究云南NPP和NEP时空变化特征及其在云南的适用性。结果表明：(1)1981—1999年云南NPP和NEP呈水平波动,2000年后云南NPP和NEP呈明显波动上升趋势,2000—2019年云南NPP高值区域主要分布在西部和南部,而NEP高值区则主要分布在东部和西部局部地区;(2)2000—2019年云南NPP和NEP除西北部部分地区为下降趋势外,其余大部地区为上升趋势;(3)云南NPP峰值出现在7、8月,谷值出现在2月,NEP峰值出现月份与NPP基本相同,但谷值出现月份较NPP滞后1—3个月,6—10月是云南碳汇的主要月份;(4)BEPS模型估算的NPP与目前广泛应用的CASA和遥感模型结果较为一致,时空变化特征与云南生态恢复措施和气候特征吻合,其估算的NEP与陆地生物圈模型...     

百年尺度地球系统模式模拟的陆地生态系统碳通量对CO2浓度升高和气候变化的响应

利用了加拿大地球系统模式CanE SM2(Canadian Earth System Model of the CCCma)的结果,针对百年尺度大气CO_2浓度升高和气候变化如何影响陆地生态系统碳通量这一问题,分析了1850—1989年间陆地生态系统碳通量趋势对二者响应,以及与关键气候系统变量的关系。结果表明,140年间,当仅仅考虑CO_2浓度升高影响时,陆地生态系统净初级生产力(NPP)增加了117.1 gC m~(-2)a~(-1),土壤呼吸(Rh)增加了98.4 gC m~(-2)a~(-1),净生态系统生产力(NEP)平均增加了18.7 gC m~(-2)a~(-1)。相同情景下,全球陆地生态系统的NPP呈显著增加的线性趋势(约为0.30 PgC/a~2),Rh同样呈显著增加线性趋势(约为0.25 PgC/a~2)。仅仅考虑气候变化单独影响时,NPP平均减少了19.3 gC/m~2,土壤呼吸减少了8.5 gC/m~2,NEP减少了10.8 gC/m~2。在此情景下,整个陆地生态系统的NPP线性变化趋势约为-0.07 PgC/a~2(P0.05),Rh线性变化趋势约为-0.04 PgC/a~2(P0.05)。综合二者的影响,前者是决定陆地生态系统碳通量变化幅度和空间分布的最重要影响因子,其影响明显大于气候变化。值得注意的是,CanE SM2并没有考虑氮素的限制作用,所以CO_2浓度升高对植被的助长作用可能被高估。此外,气候变化的贡献也不容忽视,特别是在亚马逊流域,由于当温度升高、降水和土壤湿度减少,NPP和Rh均呈显著减少趋势。     

Increasing relevance of spring temperatures for Norway spruce trees in Davos,Switzerland, after the 1950s

Key message

Relevance of spring temperatures for tree-ring growth steadily increased since 1950s. Closely linked tree-ring growth and net CO ₂ exchange driven by spring temperatures.

Abstract

We investigated long-term (over 100 years) tree-ring width (TRW) variabilities as well as short-term (10 years) variations in net ecosystem productivity (NEP) in response to climate to assess the driving factors for stem growth of Norway spruce in a subalpine forest at Davos in Switzerland. A tree-ring width index (TRWi) chronology for the period from 1750 to 2006 was constructed and linked with climate data from 1876 to 2006, and with NEP available for the period from 1997 to 2006. Based on TRWi, we found that only two out of the 257 years exhibited extreme negative TRWi, compared to 29 years with extreme positive anomalies, observed mainly in recent decades. Annual temperature, annual precipitation, as well as autumn and winter temperature signals were well preserved in the TRWi chronology over the last 130 years. Spring temperatures became increasingly relevant for TRWi, explaining less than 1 % of the variation in TRWi for the period from 1876 to 2006, but 8 % for the period from 1950 to 2006 (p = 0.032), and even 47 % for 1997–2006 (p = 0.028). We also observed a strong positive relationship between annual TRWi and annual NEP (r = 0.661; p = 0.037), both strongly related to spring temperatures (r = 0.687 and r = 0.678 for TRWi and NEP, respectively; p = 0.028; p = 0.032). Moreover, we found strong links between monthly NEP of March and annual TRWi (r = 0.912; p = 0.0001), both related to March temperatures (r = 0.767, p = 0.010 and r = 0.724, p = 0.018, respectively). Thus, under future climate warming, we expect stem growth of these subalpine trees and also ecosystem carbon (C) sequestration to increase, as long as water does not become a limiting factor.     

Interannual Variation in Carbon Sequestration Depends Mainly on the Carbon Uptake Period in Two Croplands on the North China Plain

Interannual variation in plant phenology can lead to major modifications in the interannual variation of net ecosystem production (NEP) and net biome production (NBP) as a result of recent climate change in croplands. Continuous measurements of carbon flux using the eddy covariance technique were conducted in two winter wheat and summer maize double-cropped croplands during 2003–2012 in Yucheng and during 2007–2012 in Luancheng on the North China Plain. Our results showed that the difference between the NEP and the NBP, i.e., the crop economic yield, was conservative even though the NEP and the NBP for both sites exhibited marked fluctuations during the years of observation. A significant and positive relationship was found between the annual carbon uptake period (CUP) and the NEP as well as the NBP. The NEP and the NBP would increase by 14.8±5.2 and 14.7±6.6 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹, respectively, if one CUP-day was extended. A positive relationship also existed between the CUP and the NEP as well as the NBP for winter wheat and summer maize, respectively. The annual air temperature, through its negative effect on the start date of the CUP, determined the length of the CUP. The spring temperature was the main indirect factor controlling the annual carbon sequestration when a one-season crop (winter wheat) was considered. Thus, global warming can be expected to extend the length of the CUP and thus increase carbon sequestration in croplands.     

Response of terrestrial carbon uptake to climate interannual variability in China

The interest in national terrestrial ecosystem carbon budgets has been increasing because the Kyoto Protocol has included some terrestrial carbon sinks in a legally binding framework for controlling greenhouse gases emissions. Accurate quantification of the terrestrial carbon sink must account the interannual variations associated with climate variability and change. This study used a process‐based biogeochemical model and a remote sensing‐based production efficiency model to estimate the variations in net primary production (NPP), soil heterotrophic respiration (HR), and net ecosystem production (NEP) caused by climate variability and atmospheric CO₂ increases in China during the period 1981–2000. The results show that China's terrestrial NPP varied between 2.86 and 3.37 Gt C yr^?1 with a growth rate of 0.32% year^?1 and HR varied between 2.89 and 3.21 Gt C yr^?1 with a growth rate of 0.40% year^?1 in the period 1981–1998. Whereas the increases in HR were related mainly to warming, the increases in NPP were attributed to increases in precipitation and atmospheric CO₂. Net ecosystem production (NEP) varied between ?0.32 and 0.25 Gt C yr^?1 with a mean value of 0.07 Gt C yr^?1, leading to carbon accumulation of 0.79 Gt in vegetation and 0.43 Gt in soils during the period. To the interannual variations in NEP changes in NPP contributed more than HR in arid northern China but less in moist southern China. NEP had no a statistically significant trend, but the mean annual NEP for the 1990s was lower than for the 1980s as the increases in NEP in southern China were offset by the decreases in northern China. These estimates indicate that China's terrestrial ecosystems were taking up carbon but the capacity was undermined by the ongoing climate change. The estimated NEP related to climate variation and atmospheric CO₂ increases may account for from 40 to 80% to the total terrestrial carbon sink in China.     

Combined global change effects on ecosystem processes in nine U.S. topographically complex areas

Concurrent changes in climate, atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition, and increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) affect ecosystems in complex ways. The DayCent-Chem model was used to investigate the combined effects of these human-caused drivers of change over the period 1980–2075 at seven forested montane and two alpine watersheds in the United States. Net ecosystem production (NEP) increased linearly with increasing N deposition for six out of seven forested watersheds; warming directly increased NEP at only two of these sites. Warming reduced soil organic carbon storage at all sites by increasing heterotrophic respiration. At most sites, warming together with high N deposition increased nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions enough to negate the greenhouse benefit of soil carbon sequestration alone, though there was a net greenhouse gas sink across nearly all sites mainly due to the effect of CO₂ fertilization and associated sequestration by plants. Over the simulation period, an increase in atmospheric CO₂ from 350 to 600 ppm was the main driver of change in net ecosystem greenhouse gas sequestration at all forested sites and one of two alpine sites, but an additional increase in CO₂ from 600 to 760 ppm produced smaller effects. Warming either increased or decreased net greenhouse gas sequestration, depending on the site. The N contribution to net ecosystem greenhouse gas sequestration averaged across forest sites was only 5–7 % and was negligible for the alpine. Stream nitrate (NO₃ ^?) fluxes increased sharply with N-loading, primarily at three watersheds where initial N deposition values were high relative to terrestrial N uptake capacity. The simulated results displayed fewer synergistic responses to warming, N-loading, and CO₂ fertilization than expected. Overall, simulations with DayCent-Chem suggest individual site characteristics and historical patterns of N deposition are important determinants of forest or alpine ecosystem responses to global change.     

Landscape-variability of the carbon balance across managed boreal forests

Boreal forests are important global carbon (C) sinks and, therefore, considered as a key element in climate change mitigation policies. However, their actual C sink strength is uncertain and under debate, particularly for the actively managed forests in the boreal regions of Fennoscandia. In this study, we use an extensive set of biometric- and chamber-based C flux data collected in 50 forest stands (ranging from 5 to 211 years) over 3 years (2016–2018) with the aim to explore the variations of the annual net ecosystem production (NEP; i.e., the ecosystem C balance) across a 68 km² managed boreal forest landscape in northern Sweden. Our results demonstrate that net primary production rather than heterotrophic respiration regulated the spatio-temporal variations of NEP across the heterogeneous mosaic of the managed boreal forest landscape. We further find divergent successional patterns of NEP in our managed forests relative to naturally regenerating boreal forests, including (i) a fast recovery of the C sink function within the first decade after harvest due to the rapid establishment of a productive understory layer and (ii) a sustained C sink in old stands (131–211 years). We estimate that the rotation period for optimum C sequestration extends to 138 years, which over multiple rotations results in a long-term C sequestration rate of 86.5 t C ha⁻¹ per rotation. Our study highlights the potential of forest management to maximize C sequestration of boreal forest landscapes and associate climate change mitigation effects by developing strategies that optimize tree biomass production rather than heterotrophic soil C emissions.     

Carbon sequestration in a high-elevation, subalpine forest

We studied net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) dynamics in a high‐elevation, subalpine forest in Colorado, USA, over a two‐year period. Annual carbon sequestration for the forest was 6.71 mol C m^?2 (80.5 g C m^?2) for the year between November 1, 1998 and October 31, 1999, and 4.80 mol C m^?2 (57.6 g C m^?2) for the year between November 1, 1999 and October 31, 2000. Despite its evergreen nature, the forest did not exhibit net CO₂ uptake during the winter, even during periods of favourable weather. The largest fraction of annual carbon sequestration occurred in the early growing‐season; during the first 30 days of both years. Reductions in the rate of carbon sequestration after the first 30 days were due to higher ecosystem respiration rates when mid‐summer moisture was adequate (as in the first year of the study) or lower mid‐day photosynthesis rates when mid‐summer moisture was not adequate (as in the second year of the study). The lower annual rate of carbon sequestration during the second year of the study was due to lower rates of CO₂ uptake during both the first 30 days of the growing season and the mid‐summer months. The reduction in CO₂ uptake during the first 30 days of the second year was due to an earlier‐than‐normal spring warm‐up, which caused snow melt during a period when air temperatures were lower and atmospheric vapour pressure deficits were higher, compared to the first 30 days of the first year. The reduction in CO₂ uptake during the mid‐summer of the second year was due to an extended drought, which was accompanied by reduced latent heat exchange and increased sensible heat exchange. Day‐to‐day variation in the daily integrated NEE during the summers of both years was high, and was correlated with frequent convective storm clouds and concomitant variation in the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Carbon sequestration rates were highest when some cloud cover was present, which tended to diffuse the photosynthetic photon flux, compared to periods with completely clear weather. The results of this study are in contrast to those of other studies that have reported increased annual NEE during years with earlier‐than‐normal spring warming. In the current study, the lower annual NEE during 2000, the year with the earlier spring warm‐up, was due to (1) coupling of the highest seasonal rates of carbon sequestration to the spring climate, rather than the summer climate as in other forest ecosystems that have been studied, and (2) delivery of snow melt water to the soil when the spring climate was cooler and the atmosphere drier than in years with a later spring warm‐up. Furthermore, the strong influence of mid‐summer precipitation on CO₂ uptake rates make it clear that water supplied by the spring snow melt is a seasonally limited resource, and summer rains are critical for sustaining high rates of annual carbon sequestration.