How is respiration linked to climate change?
Written by
Paul Reynolds
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Plant respiration serves to directly contribute to climate change through carbon feedback loops. Warmer temperatures accelerate the rates at which plants metabolize, increasing the amount of CO₂ released by ecosystems globally. This results in a positive feedback cyclical process: the higher the temperatures, the higher respiratory rates, which produces more CO₂, which further increases the temperature of the atmosphere. For example, tropical forests alone are estimated to emit about 30 billion tons of respiratory CO₂ each year.
Temperature Acceleration
- Respiration rates double per 10°C temperature increase (Q₁₀ effect)
- Global warming amplifies respiratory CO₂ output exponentially
- Nighttime warming particularly increases carbon emissions
- Arctic tundra shows strongest respiration response to warming
Carbon Cycle Impacts
- Forests shift from carbon sinks to sources during heatwaves
- Soil respiration contributes 60-80% of ecosystem CO₂ emissions
- Drought-stressed plants release stored carbon through respiration
- Permafrost thaw exposes ancient organic matter to decomposition
Ecosystem Vulnerabilities
- Tropical forests emit 15-20 tons CO₂/ha/year through respiration
- Boreal forests show increased emissions during shorter winters
- Agricultural soils lose carbon faster under warmer conditions
- Mangrove respiration increases with rising sea temperatures
The Q₁₀ temperature effect drives considerable carbon releases. For every 1°C rise in temperature, the global respiration of plants increases by approximately 10%. This adds 5-6 billion tons more CO₂ into the air each year. Notably, the northern latitudes undergo great changes, as the permafrost regions release ancient carbon pools through increased decomposition.
Climate models now incorporate respiration feedbacks. Previous estimates for the contribution of respiration to atmospheric CO₂ were underpredicted by 20-30%. In current modeling, respiration is shown to cause an increase of as much as 200 ppm of extra atm CO₂ by 2100. This fact makes achieving climatic targets more difficult unless biological responses are taken into account.
Mitigation strategies are also centered around carbon management solutions. Protecting old-growth forests helps keep them as effective carbon stores. Sustainable agriculture reduces soil respiration through cover crops. Planting urban greens with native species improves their capacity to sequester carbon. These strategies aim to disrupt the carbon respiration-climate feedback loop.
Read the full article: Respiration in Plants: The Complete Process Guide
