Key Findings
An international research team, including Dr. Michael Bertolacci from the University of Western Australia, found that plants in the tropics absorb less carbon dioxide than previous models suggested.
"The tropics may be nearly neutral in carbon exchanges."
The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and led by the Earth Observing Laboratory at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in the United States. The Wollongong Methodology for Bayesian Assimilate of Trace-gases (WOMBAT) team, led by Dr. Bertolacci, contributed to a NASA-coordinated project estimating global CO₂ emissions and absorption.
Method
The researchers measured atmospheric CO₂ concentrations and traced their origin using wind data, combined with independent ocean and fossil-fuel flux estimates and new aircraft observations near the tropics.
Results
The results indicated that the tropics absorb less carbon than many other studies and models predicted. The region may be nearly neutral in carbon exchanges, challenging previous assumptions about its role as a major carbon sink.
Implications
- Understanding which ecosystems absorb or release CO₂ is important for climate change mitigation. Accurate data is essential for targeting conservation and policy efforts.
- The study highlights the value of new measurement campaigns for carbon cycle research, especially given current low global funding for carbon cycle science.
- Ongoing support is needed for accurate carbon cycle and climate change information to guide future decision-making.