Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

In a compelling study, Hicks Pries et al (Reports, 31 March 2017, p. 1420) showed that 4°C warming enhanced soil CO₂ production in the 1-meter soil profile, with all soil depths displaying similar temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀). We argue that some caveats can be identified in their experimental approach and analysis, and that these critically undermine their conclusions and hence their claim that the strength of feedback between the whole-soil carbon and climate has been underestimated in terrestrial models.