Researchers Discover Trees Struggling to Absorb CO2, Leading to a Surge in Emissions.
Trees play a crucial role in absorbing CO2 and providing oxygen for life. However, a recent study warns that record greenhouse gas levels in 2023 may indicate that nature’s carbon removal systems are facing significant challenges.
Wildfires ravage Stanislaus National Forest in California, USA on July 22. (Photo: AFP).
Notably, in some areas, trees may “reverse” CO2 back into the environment through a process known as daytime respiration.
Temperature is considered a key factor negatively affecting the carbon absorption capacity of trees and terrestrial ecosystems.
According to The Guardian, terrestrial and oceanic processes previously absorbed about half of the CO2 emissions produced by humans. However, if this performance cannot be sustained, it will pose a significant concern.
“So far, nature has balanced our abuse”, said Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. “However, this is about to end.”
Can nature still balance our abuse? (Illustrative image: UWL).
This expert pointed out that current climate models do not account for the collapse of the “carbon sinks.” This explains why global warming continues to occur faster than predicted.
In the study, ecologist Piyu Ke from Tsinghua University and colleagues found that terrestrial “sinks” even temporarily stopped absorbing carbon at times in 2023.
Not only is the absorption of CO2 problematic, but vegetation is also rapidly disappearing due to deforestation, natural disasters, wildfires, and other factors. All these issues are partially the responsibility of humans and will have long-lasting consequences.
The research team discovered that while CO2 emissions only increased by about 0.6% compared to the previous year, the increase detected in the atmosphere above the Mauna Loa station was as much as 86% higher than in 2022.
This result indicates an alarming situation, as temperatures continue to remain extremely high into 2024. They warn that if this trend continues, the Earth will lose balance in essential cycles, and we will gradually move towards an irreversible phase.
Previously, studies have also indicated that the ocean’s capacity to absorb CO2 has severely declined over many years due to rising temperatures.
