Geographical statistical assessments of carbon fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems of China: Results from upscaling network observations

• Climate-based geographical schemes can evaluate the regional carbon fluxes in China
• The mean estimated Chinese GEP, ER and NEP are 7.51, 5.82 and 1.91 PgC yr− 1
• Most areas in China show the positive NEP indicating a potential carbon sink
• Central subtropics and Southern subtropics have the largest potential carbon sink

Accurate quantifying the magnitudes and distributions of carbon budgets is helpful for strategies in mitigating global climate change. Based on spatial patterns of carbon fluxes (gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), ecosystem respiration (ER) and net ecosystem productivity (NEP)) and their drivers, we constructed geographical statistical assessment schemes and quantified the magnitudes of carbon fluxes in China. The optimal assessment scheme was then validated with observed eddy covariance data to analyze the spatial distributions of carbon fluxes. Using climate-based geographical statistical assessment schemes, our estimates of GEP, ER and NEP in China during 2000s were 7.51 ± 0.51, 5.82 ± 0.16 and 1.91 ± 0.15 PgC yr− 1, corresponding to 4.29%–6.80%, 5.65%–6.06% and 9.10%–12.73% of global annual carbon fluxes, respectively. The spatial distributions of GEP, ER and NEP, generated from the optimal scheme, were similar, following a southeast–northwest decreasing gradient. The maximum values for GEP, ER and NEP were 1790, 1300 and 490 gC m− 2 yr− 1, respectively, which occurred in Central subtropics and Southern subtropics. Climate-based geographical statistical assessment schemes provided an independent dataset for the regional carbon budget assessment, which can be deemed as the potential carbon fluxes. Meanwhile, most areas in China were potential carbon sink especially Eastern China and the largest potential carbon sink appeared in Central subtropics and Southern subtropics.