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Trees and Global Warming

ALL TREES WORK TO OFFSET OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT, BUT NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT WHERE THEY GROW GREATLY ENHANCES THEIR EFFECTIVENESS. WE’RE OFF TO THE TROPICS ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

RESEARCH BY GOVINDASAMY BALA OF LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY SHOWS THAT TREES IN TROPICAL FORESTS DO MORE TO COOL THE PLANET THAN THOSE IN NORTHERN REGIONS.

TROPICAL TREE CANOPIES NOT ONLY ABSORB CARBON DIOXIDE – THEY RELEASE WATER VAPOR, FORMING DENSE CLOUDS THAT DEFLECT SUNLIGHT AND COOL THE PLANET. FOREST CANOPIES IN NORTHERN REGIONS ALSO TAKE UP C-O-TWO, BUT THEY ABSORB MORE SUNLIGHT AND MAY THEREFORE WARM THE EARTH.

BALA SAYS LIKE REAL ESTATE, REDUCING GLOBAL WARMING IS ABOUT LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION - SOMETHING TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A CARBON OFFSET PROGRAM.  HIS RESEARCH ALSO UNDERSCORES THE NEED TO PRESERVE TROPICAL RAINFORESTS.

To learn more, read the article in the New Scientist.

Or visit the BBC site.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org