Maximum Lifetime of the Vegetative Biosphere

Abstract

We use a three-dimensional model to calculate steady-state climates at various intervals in Earth's future, across a parameter space of increasing insolation and decreasing CO${}_2$ mixing ratio. Comparison with prior results shows an overestimation of warming by one-dimensional models when solar constant is increased and CO${}_2$ mixing ratio is fixed. We consider two future trajectories as limiting cases: strong weathering, in which surface temperature remains constant but CO${}_2$ is drawn down; and weak weathering, in which CO${}_2$ remains constant and surface temperature increases. Under strong weathering, we find the conventional 10 ppm CO${}_2$ starvation limit for C4 photosynthesis that occurs at 1.35 Gyr; however, we suggest that crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis could persist below this limit and note that aquatic macrophytes can utilize dissolved bicarbonate if atmospheric CO${}_2$ is low. If we take the CO${}_2$ starvation limit at 1 ppm instead, then the vegetative biosphere could continue until 1.84 Gyr. Thermal limits apply instead under weak weathering, in which Earth would be too hot for most land plants at 1.68 Gyr (>323 K) and too hot for all land plants (>338 K) at 1.87 Gyr. These lifetimes approach the moist and runaway greenhouse limits for Earth. We discuss other possible mechanisms for extending the lifetime of Earth's biosphere, noting that both technological intervention and evolutionary processes could enable life to adapt to a brightening sun.

arXiv commentPublished open access in Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres

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