Tropical Forest News

NASA has been conducting studies on tropical rainforests and carbon dioxide absorption. Fortunately, the results are promising.

Even though greenhouse gas levels are rising in the atmosphere, the rainforests are doing very well at keeping up with the extra carbon dioxide production. The tropical rainforests absorb approximately 1.4 billion metric tons of the total global absorption of 2.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide. This is more than any other known forest areas.

Forests in the north, boreal forests, are slowing in their ability to absorb the carbon. The leader of the study, David Schimel, says that tropical forests may continue their carbon uptake for many more years to come.

Vegetation removes up to 30% of the carbon dioxide emissions on Earth during photosynthesis. If this removal process slows, global warming will escalate.

The study is providing important information about the concentration of carbon dioxide absorption in a variety of settings, including experimental forested areas. The estimates are based on several processes, narrowing it down to the most reliable, consistent data. This is the first study to combine the topic of global carbon dioxide effects on the atmosphere with forestry and modeling.

Finding out what forest type is the best at carbon absorption has far-reaching implications for our ecosystem. Humans are producing more carbon dioxide than ever, releasing it into the atmosphere. It is interesting to find that forests are responding by growing faster to reduce the amount of carbon that stays airborne. The process is being called carbon fertilization. The tropics seem to be the most effective because of the higher temperatures.

Wildfires are a problem as they reduce the size of forests available for carbon absorption. Deforestation by burning also is an issue. Fires not only reduce the number of trees, they also release carbon into the air.

The new data contradicts old models that showed northern forests possessing higher absorption rates. These models did not accurately establish flows of carbon above ground level. Air studies at higher levels, combined with ground level data and data from past studies now show a more accurate picture and a direction for scientists to follow for global warming.

Schimel reports that every pore of a single leaf in photosynthesis is accounted for in the study. It provides a new view of the role of photosynthesis in regards to the entire planet.

NASA continuously monitors air and ground ecosystems and conditions and saves long term data to add to the information about changes on our planet. Understanding and knowledge is the best way to find ways to protect Earth and all life upon it.

Rainforest protection is more important than ever now that its role in slowing global warming is known. It’s certain to provoke the curiosity of more scientists to study carbon dioxide fertilization, maintenance of the rainforests, and the rate of global warming. The significance of this new data is incredibly valuable.

For those who thought NASA only shot rockets into the air, maybe you need to take a closer look at how they take care of our planet.