Earth system models' inaccurate gross primary productivity simulations threaten land carbon uptake estimates

Earth system models' inaccurate gross primary productivity simulations threaten land carbon uptake estimates

Terrestrial ecosystems, vital for absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change, rely on Earth system models (ESMs) for estimating carbon uptake—a cornerstone of climate policy, carbon budgeting and land management strategies. Yet new research from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) reveals critical flaws in how these models represent a key metric of carbon absorption, raising concerns about the reliability of long-term clim…