Task 1

Whole-Soil Experiments and Biogeochemistry

Task 1 creates and maintains long-term, whole-soil warming experiments in the field and measures emergent ecosystem responses to warming, such as soil CO2 respiration and nutrient availability. Results are showing that soil temperature has a large effect on decomposition and SOM composition at all depths. Warming by 4°C increased respiration by about 35%, a temperature sensitivity higher than that predicted by most Earth system models. To study temporal responses, the SFA has added additional experimental plots seven years after the original started.