The enigma of the Amazonian carbon balance
The carbon balance of the Amazon depends on a complex interplay between climate, soil and tree behaviour. Land surface models have difficulty in reproducing the observed biomass distribution and relationships between net productivity and biomass. A new model representing in more detail the effect of different succession stages is capable of observing this relationship (Rodig et al 2018 Environ. Res. Lett. 1–40). The key question for future models is how to incorporate more realistically the nutrient influences on growth and that of a future climate enriched with carbon dioxide.