Impacts of Climate Change on Terrestrial Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles

To address the key question of how future climate change will affect terrestrial ecosystems in terms of biogeochemical cycles, we propose a model framework integrating multi-source observations and global carbon-nitrogen cycle models. This allows us to explore the response patterns of carbon and nitrogen fluxes in global forests, grasslands, and croplands under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂), warming, and altered precipitation regimes.

We find that elevated CO₂ generally benefits terrestrial ecosystems by enhancing carbon and nitrogen cycling, leading to increased productivity and reduced nitrogen loss. On the other hand, warming and altered precipitation tend to exacerbate inequalities in global carbon and nitrogen cycles, widening the development gap between the Global South and North.

Understanding these biogeochemical feedbacks under climate change is crucial for guiding effective adaptation and mitigation strategies, which are essential for maintaining the health of terrestrial ecosystems and the planet as a whole.