Trees absorb a great deal of atmospheric CO2 as they grow, but they also release a great deal when fallen leaves and dead trees decay. The net balance has been difficult to determine, but recently more accurate measurements show that the net CO2 absorption of all forests world wide is equal to approximately one quarter of all CO2 emitted by man. Thus forests are presently playing a major role in slowing the rise of atmospheric CO2.
One of the biggest concerns relative to forests is that they are coming under increasing stress due to a warmer and drier climate. In the southwest, this has been evident as major forests fires this past summer. In the Rockies and Canada pine bark beetles, no longer killed back by cold winters, have been devasting large tracks of evergreen forests. In the Amazon region, there have been two major droughts with many large trees dying.
The linked article by Justin Gillis in the NY Times provides an excellent detailed review of the role of forests, and the perils they face. On the bright side, Eastern US forests are doing very well, and even growing more rapidly than they used to due higher CO2 levels and longer growing seasons.
One of the biggest concerns relative to forests is that they are coming under increasing stress due to a warmer and drier climate. In the southwest, this has been evident as major forests fires this past summer. In the Rockies and Canada pine bark beetles, no longer killed back by cold winters, have been devasting large tracks of evergreen forests. In the Amazon region, there have been two major droughts with many large trees dying.
The linked article by Justin Gillis in the NY Times provides an excellent detailed review of the role of forests, and the perils they face. On the bright side, Eastern US forests are doing very well, and even growing more rapidly than they used to due higher CO2 levels and longer growing seasons.
2 comments:
This is off topic, but what happen to the Herring Gulls in Lewes? I didn't see any, and I mean any, during our week long visit. This gull is the pigeon of the sea board, or at least used to be. We saw plenty of Laughing gulls, but no Herring gulls.
And, the ocean fishing charter was terrible. Two small fish between three people (which of course were thrown back).
Perhaps you should expand your blog to address collapse. You can find it right in your backyard.
Jackie, I have not noticed a decline in Herring Gulls. Fishing in general has been way off since Hurricane Irene, probably due to very high turbidity and a disturbed bottom. B.
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