2021 February Texas Ice Storm Induced Spring GPP Reduction Compensated by the Higher Precipitation

Abstract

Abstract Climate extremes are more frequent and affect the carbon cycle. On 10–20 February, an exceptional winter storm in Texas brought severe ecological and economic effects. However, its impacts on vegetation activities and the carbon cycle are unclear. This study evaluated the early 2021 ice storm effects on spring phenology and the carbon cycle. The results showed that the ice storm led to a significant later vegetation spring phenology and a reduction of 42.32 Tg C in gross primary production (GPP) and a reduction of 34. 47 Tg C net ecosystem production (NEP) in spring. In the 2021 spring, Texas became a carbon source from the carbon sink. More precipitation in late spring and summer precipitation recharged the rootzone soil moisture, which enhanced summer vegetation GPP and NEP and compensated for the effects of the ice storm on spring carbon uptake. The summer GPP enhancement offset all the spring GPP reduction, and thus GPP was increased by 4.97% during 2021. 91.47% of the spring NEP reduction was compensated by summer NEP enhancement due to higher root zone soil moisture. Due to the NEP enhancement during autumn, NEP did not decrease as well and increased by 10.88% during 2021. This observation‐based research highlights the seasonal compensation effects on the interactions between extreme climate events and the biosphere.

Keywords

• ice storm in Texas
• impacts
• phenology
• carbon uptake
• root zone soil moisture
• precipitation