Posted on 07/15/2013 11:14:13 PM PDT by neverdem
The fate of the world’s forests on a warming planet has long been one of the great unanswered questions about climate change. Now, new research is complicating the picture further, suggesting that big shifts are already under way in how forests work.
A paper published Wednesday suggests that trees in at least some parts of the world are having to pull less water out of the ground to achieve a given amount of growth. Some scientists say they believe that this may be a direct response to the rising level of carbon dioxide in the air from human emissions, though that has not yet been proved.
If the research holds up, it suggests some potential benefits for forests. They might be able to make do with less water, for instance, becoming more resilient in the face of drought and higher temperatures as climate change proceeds.
But the new finding also has potential downsides, scientists said. The immense volume of water that trees pull out of the ground winds up in the atmosphere, helping supply moisture to farming areas downwind of forests. So if trees use less water, that could ultimately mean less rain for thirsty crops in at least some regions of the world.
Several scientists predicted that the new research would set off a flurry of efforts to clarify whether trees are really using less, and what the implications might be, not only for forests but for the human and ecological systems that...
--snip--
At the same time, in some areas where forests are still comfortably within their preferred climatic range, they are doing better than in the past, possibly because the rising carbon dioxide level is essentially acting as a kind of plant fertilizer.
How these opposing trends will balance out over time is entirely unclear, experts said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Trees are using less water so the rivers are going to breach their banks, Manhattan is going to be flooded, its Noah’s flood all over again!!!
EEK!!
It’s Bush’s fault!
“...so the rivers are going to breach their banks...”
Not to worry. The farmers have quit growing wheat (notice the price of flour and wheat products?) in favor of water-thirsty corn. Corn for burning instead of eating. All in the name of global warming.
Well, yes, but - then again - ALL of the world’s plants (from trees; to wheat, oats, rye, grass; vegetables and bushes; to moss, through algae, and down to phytoplankton) are growing 13% to 23% faster, taller, stronger, and with more seeds and fruit.
So, actually, since more plants are growing faster, the final effect is that we are running out of fresh water even faster than ever before.
See, even the world’s future droughts are Bush’s fault!!!
I just used a urinal in a private school that was waterless. Said it saved 40,000 gallons a year. It smelled really bad and was dirty. Guess they can put the old ones back in.
Why did Marissa Alexander get a 20-year sentence despite invoking ‘Stand Your Ground’? The comments tell the story.
State Police To Gunmakers: No More Advice On Designs CT
Rush to Gun Control - In the wake of Sandy Hook, Connecticut follows the Pelosi rule.
Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.
P.S. I inclued my CT ping list for two of those links.
Oh No, Plants can't be growing faster to balance out the CO2! Noooooooo!
/Sarcasm OFF
Scientists hope that money trees will grow faster as climate change proceeds.
If the money trees grow faster (and they will), 'scientists' won't really care whether the climate changes or not so long as politicians and the public can be convinced we live on the verge of catastrophe that elicits more money from the governmental money trees.
Jeez, that's a long sentence.
Thanks for the ping!
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