The enigma of the Amazonian carbon balance

The carbon balance of the Amazon depends on a complex interplay between climate, soil and tree behaviour. Land surface models have difficulty in reproducing the observed biomass distribution an relationships between net productivity and biomass. A new model representing in more detail the effect of different succession stages is capable of observing this relationship (Rodig et al 2018 Environ. Res. Lett. 1-40). The key question for future models is how to incorporate more realistically the nutrient influences on growth and that of a future climate enriched with carbon dioxide.