Impact of droughts on the carbon cycle in European vegetation: A probabilistic risk analysis using six vegetation models

van Oijen, M., Balkovič, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2955-4931, Beer, C., Cameron, D.R., Ciais, P., Cramer, W., Kato, T., Kuhnert, M., et al. (2014). Impact of droughts on the carbon cycle in European vegetation: A probabilistic risk analysis using six vegetation models. Biogeosciences 11 (22) 6357-6375. 10.5194/bg-11-6357-2014.

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Project: The terrestrial Carbon cycle under Climate Variability and Extremes – a Pan-European synthesis (CARBO-EXTREME, FP7 226701)

Abstract

We analyse how climate change may alter risks posed by droughts to carbon fluxes in European ecosystems. The approach follows a recently proposed framework for risk analysis based on probability theory. In this approach, risk is quantified as the product of hazard probability and ecosystem vulnerability. The probability of a drought hazard is calculated here from the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Vulnerability is calculated from the response to drought simulated by process-based vegetation models.

We use six different models: three for generic vegetation (JSBACH, LPJmL, ORCHIDEE) and three for specific ecosystems (Scots pine forests: BASFOR; winter wheat fields: EPIC; grasslands: PASIM). The periods 1971-2000 and 2071-2100 are compared. Climate data are based on gridded observations and on output from the regional climate model REMO using the SRES A1B scenario. The risk analysis is carried out for ~18,000 grid cells of 0.25x0.25 degrees across Europe. For each grid cell, drought vulnerability and risk are quantified for five seasonal variables: net primary and ecosystem productivity (NPP, NEP), heterotrophic respiration (Rh), soil water content and evapotranspiration.

In this analysis, climate change leads to increased drought risks for net primary productivity in the Mediterranean area: five of the models estimate that risk will exceed 15%. The risks increase mainly because of greater drought probability; ecosystem vulnerability will increase to a lesser extent. Because NPP will be affected more than Rh, future carbon sequestration (NEP) will also be at risk predominantly in southern Europe, with risks exceeding 0.25gC/(m2/d) according to most models, amounting to reductions in carbon sequestration of 20 to 80%.

Item Type: Article
Research Programs: Ecosystems Services and Management (ESM)
Bibliographic Reference: Biogeosciences; 11(22):6357-6375 (26 November 2014)
Depositing User: IIASA Import
Date Deposited: 15 Jan 2016 08:50
Last Modified: 27 Aug 2021 17:23
URI: https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/10808

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