Research: Future Trees May Store Less Carbon Than Expected
A new study reveals that oak trees stop growing by mid-summer, even if they continue to photosynthesize, suggesting that forests may store less carbon than current climate models predict. This decoupling of photosynthesis from wood production means that increased CO2 levels might not lead to the expected long-term carbon sequestration.
Why it matters
This finding challenges existing climate change mitigation models that rely on the assumption that more photosynthesis automatically equals more carbon storage in trees.
It's intuitive to think that if a tree is photosynthesizing, it's also growing. But that's not necessarily so - and a new study of oak trees, published in the journal Science Advances, found that even as they photosynthesize late into the year, their growth stops by mid-summer.
The article reports on scientific research findings in a neutral, objective manner.
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