Using satellite-derived snowmelt data as well as carbon dioxide measurements to examine the spring recovery of photosynthesis following snowmelt in northern hemisphere boreal forests from 1979-2014, researchers found that the timing of spring recovery, which influences the carbon balance at high latitudes, advanced an average of 8.1 days over the study period and corresponded to an increase in January-June gross primary production of 3.7% per decade, findings potentially relevant to determining carbon uptake in boreal forests.
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Article #17-07889: "Early snowmelt significantly enhances boreal springtime carbon uptake," by Jouni Pulliainen et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jouni Pulliainen, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, FINLAND; tel: +358505895821; e-mail: < jouni.pulliainen@fmi.fi >
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences