Botta, A. and J.A. Foley (2002). Effect of climatic variability and disturbances on the Amazonian terrestrial ecosystems dynamics. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 16(4), doi:10.1029/2000GB001338, 2002.

Abstract:

The Amazon basin contains some of the most productive ecosystems on the planet, yet we have little understanding of their long-term behavior. By examining historical climate records over the Amazon, we identify several modes of climatic variability – including previously undocumented long-term modes. Furthermore, using a process-based ecosystem model, we show that these variations in climate generate variations in terrestrial carbon fluxes on short (3-4 year), intermediate (8-9 year), and long (24-28 year)time scales. These long-term cycles in terrestrial carbon balance has not been previously suggested. Finally we find that time-lags between productivity and decomposition enhance the short-term variations in net carbon balance, while slightly dampening the long-term variations. Given the worldwide attention on terrestrial carbon cycling, and the potential for “carbon sinks ”, we suggest that an improved understanding of long-term climatic and ecosystem processes is crucial. Other regions should be examined for potential long-term carbon cycle variations.