Temperature (annual mean) limitation on plant growth

This map is one of the layers used to recreate Figure 2 in Churkina and Running (1998) in Data Basin (file title: Climate controls on plant growth) Each pixel (0.5 x  0.5) on the map represents a value derived from a specific function of annual mean temperature (Figure 1 in Churkina and Running 1998).

Exerpt from Churkina and Running 1998:

Though extreme low mean annual temperatures restrict vegetation productivity, less extreme low temperatures may also limit plant productivity during the period of maximum growth. The degree of thermal limitation on NPP gradually declines as the annual temperatures rise; the limitation increases again when the annual temperatures get too high. Vegetation productivity can be limited by temperature in very hot environments as a result of an abrupt decrease in gross photosynthesis (specific changes in chloroplast and enzyme activity) and a continuous increase in respiration (Waring and Schlesinger 1985). These considerations are represented in the function defining temperature limitation on NPP. Global mean annual temperatures were obtained from the CLIMATE database.