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https://theconversation.com/study-shows-hot-leaves-cant-catch-carbon-from-the-air-its-bad-news-for-rainforests-and-earth-246975>
"On the east coast of Australia, in tropical North Queensland, lies the
Daintree rainforest – a place where the density of trees forms an almost
impenetrable mass of green.
Stepping into the forest can feel like stepping back in time. It contains many
ancient plant families dating back to the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana.
The air is warm and thick with humidity, carrying the earthy scent of wet
leaves and soil. Sunlight filters through the dense canopy in scattered beams,
while ferns and seedlings carpet the forest floor.
The Daintree and other tropical rainforests, including those in the Amazon, the
Congo Basin and Southeast Asia, have been called the “lungs” of our Earth. They
absorb carbon dioxide from the air while releasing water vapour and oxygen via
photosynthesis – the process by which plants take in carbon dioxide and fix
energy.
Because of this, their leafy canopies play a crucial role in regulating the
global climate – and mitigating global warming.
But our recent research shows that rising temperatures will severely affect the
ability of tropical forests to photosynthesise. This will hinder their capacity
to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reducing their role in mitigating
global warming and exacerbating climate change."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
