Widespread reduction in sun-induced fluorescence from the Amazon during the 2015/2016 El Niño

• DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0408
• Publication Date: 2018-10-08T07:26:04Z
• Authors: Gerbrand Koren; Erik van Schaik; Alessandro C. Araújo; K. Folkert Boersma; Antje Gärtner; Lars Killaars; Maurits L. Kooreman; Bart Kruijt; Ingrid T. van der...; Celso von Randow; Naomi E. Smith; Wouter Peters
• Keywords: Amazon basin

The tropical carbon balance dominates year-to-year variations in the CO 2 exchange with atmosphere through photosynthesis, respiration and fires. Because of its high correlation gross primary productivity (GPP), observations sun-induced fluorescence (SIF) are great interest. We developed a new remotely sensed SIF product improved signal-to-noise tropics, use it here to quantify impact 2015/2016 El Niño Amazon drought. find that was strongly suppressed over areas anomalously temperatures decreased levels water soil. went below climatological range starting from end 2015 dry season (October) returned normal by February 2016 when atmospheric conditions normal, but well before low precipitation persisted June 2016. Impacts were not uniform across basin, eastern part experiencing much larger (10–15%) reductions than western basin (2–5%). estimate integrated loss GPP relative eight previous years be 0.34–0.48 PgC three-month period October–November–December 2015. This article is discussion meeting issue ‘The on terrestrial cycle: patterns, mechanisms implications’.