Comparison of radiative and physiological effects of doubled atmospheric CO2 on climate

The physiological response of terrestrial vegetation when directly exposed to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration could result in warming over the continents in addition to that due to the conventional CO2 ''greenhouse effect.'' Results from a coupled biosphere-atmosphere model (SiB2-GCM) indicate that, for doubled CO2 conditions, evapotranspiration will drop and air temperature will increase over the tropical continents, amplifying the changes resulting from atmospheric radiative effects. The range of responses in surface air temperature and terrestrial carbon uptake due to increased CO2 are projected to be inversely related in the tropics year-round and inversely related during the growing season elsewhere.