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Carbon Fertilization: A New (Good) Greenhouse Effect Byproduct

Study shows tropical trees absorbing more carbon dioxide as its trapped in the atmosphere, spurring their growth via carbon fertilization.



According to new research, trees in tropical forests are absorbing MORE carbon dioxide as levels of the greenhouse gas rise in the atmosphere. This is causing the tropical trees to grow at a more rapid rate, absorbing even more carbon in a cycle called effect called carbon fertilization


Presented by David Schimel of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the study used a meta-analysis of data from computer and atmospheric models, satellite data, and ground data from the forest themselves. 

What Schimel’s team found flipped the current understanding of which ecosystems removed the most carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.  Scientist original thought boreal forests in cooler region absorbed more atmospheric carbon when in fact it was the reverse.

Blue Planet Biomes

Tropical forest biome.

tropical forest in MalaysiaWikiCommons

Example of a tropical forest from Malaysia.

Schimel hopes the new understanding of carbon absorption and atmospheric carbon flow produced by his study will better inform both preservation and carbon reduction efforts.

Read more at NASA’s website.



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