Modeling Canopy CO₂ Exchange in the European Russian Arctic

Abstract

In this study, we use the coupled photosynthesis-stomatal conductance model of Collatz et al. (1991) to simulate the current canopy carbon dioxide exchange of a heterogeneous tundra ecosystem in European Russia. For the parameterization, we used data obtained from in situ leaf level measurements in combination with meteorological data from 2008. The modeled CO₂ fluxes were compared with net ecosystem exchange (NEE), measured by the eddy covariance technique during the snow-free period in 2008.

The findings from this study indicated that the main state parameters of the exchange processes were leaf area index (LAI) and Rubisco capacity (V _cmax). Furthermore, this ecosystem was found to be functioning close to its optimum temperature regarding carbon accumulation rates. During the modeling period from May to October, the net assimilation was greater than the respiration, leading to a net accumulation of 58 g C m^-2. The model results suggest that the tundra ecosystem could change from a carbon sink to a carbon source with a temperature rise of only 2–3 °C. This is due to the fact that, in the continental Arctic, a global warming of a few degrees might restrict the net assimilation, due to high temperatures, whereas the respiration is predicted to be enhanced. However, future changes in vegetation composition and growth, along with acclimation to the new thermal regime, might facilitate the assimilation to counterbalance the carbon losses.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank M. Marushchak, V. Elsakov, R. Jensen, D. Pedersen, and I. Samarina for their contribution in field work and the Center for Permafrost (CENPERM), University of Copenhagen, for its support. This research was financially supported by the Danish Council for Independent Research | Natural Sciences (FNU) (Reference number: 645-06-0493) and the EU 6th Framework Programme Global Change and Ecosystems (CARBO-North, project contract number 036993).