Contribution of disturbance to increasing seasonal amplitude of atmospheric CO2.

Recent increases in the seasonal amplitude of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) at high latitudes suggest a widespread biospheric response to high-latitude warming. The seasonal amplitude of net ecosystem carbon exchange by northern Siberian ecosystems is shown to be greater in disturbed than undisturbed sites, due to increased summer influx and increased winter efflux. Increased disturbance could therefore contribute significantly to the amplified seasonal cycle of atmospheric carbon dioxide at high latitudes.