Responses of ecosystem carbon exchange to multi-level water addition in an alpine meadow in Namtso of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,China

Aims Alpine meadow is widely distributed in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, playing an important role in regulating the regional carbon budget. Over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, precipitation generally shows an increasing trend during past the several decades, and is projected to increase during the 21st century. Alpine meadow is very susceptible to such climate change, but it remains unclear how its ecosystem carbon exchange responses to precipitation change. In this study, we aim to clarify the effects of altered precipitation on ecosystem carbon exchange in the alpine meadow by conducting a manipulative field experiment.