Frontiers and challenges in soil respiration research: from measurements to model-data integration

Soil respiration, the flux of CO2 from the soil to the atmosphere represents a major flux in the global carbon cycle. Our ability to predict this flux remains limited because of multiple controlling mechanisms that interact over different temporal and spatial scales. However, new advances in measurement and analyses present an opportunity for the scientific community to improve the understanding of the mechanisms that regulate soil respiration. In this paper, we address several recent advancements in soil respiration research from experimental measurements and data analysis to new considerations for model-data integration. We focus on the links between the soil–plant-atmosphere continuum at short (i.e., diel) and medium (i.e., seasonal-years) temporal scales. First, we bring attention to the importance of identifying sources of soil CO2 production and highlight the application of automated soil respiration measurements and isotope approaches. Second, we discuss the need of quality assurance and quality control for applications in time series analysis. Third, we review perspectives about emergent ideas for modeling development and model-data integration for soil respiration research. Finally, we call for stronger interactions between modelers and experimentalists as a way to improve our understanding of soil respiration and overall terrestrial carbon cycling.