Tree-Planting Could Add to Warming

[GaryC 7]

April 10, 2007 — Planting new trees in snow-covered northern regions may actually contribute to global warming as they have the counter-effect of tropical forests, according to a study out Monday.

While rainforests help cool the planet by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing clouds that reflect sunlight, the dark canopy of Canadian, Scandinavian and Siberian forests catches sunrays that would be reflected back to space by the snow, the study said.

The study, published Monday in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that reforestation projects in the tropics would help mitigate global warming, but such projects would be "counterproductive" in high latitudes.

In mid-latitude locations like the United States and most of Europe, more trees would only create marginal benefits for climate change, the researchers said.

"Our study shows that only tropical rainforests are strongly beneficial in helping slow down global warming," Govindasamy Bala, who led the research, said in a statement.

"It is a win-win situation in the tropics because trees in the tropics, in addition to absorbing carbon dioxide, promote convective clouds that help to cool the planet," he said.

"In other locations, the warming from the albedo effect (sunlight absorption) either cancels or exceeds the net cooling from the other two effects," said Bala, an atmospheric scientist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Researchers used a three-dimensional computer simulation to study the effects of large-scale deforestation and look at the positive and negative effects of tree cover at different latitudes.

"When it comes to rehabilitating forests to fight global warming, carbon dioxide might be only half of the story; we also have to account for whether they help to reflect sunlight by producing clouds, or help to absorb it by shading snowy tundra," said study co-author Ken Caldeira.

By 2100, forests in temperate and northern countries will make some places 10 degrees Farhenheit warmer that if the trees had not been there, the study said.

However, the authors did not endorse slashing down boreal forests as a measure against global warming.

"Preservation of ecosystems is a primary goal of preventing global warming, and the destruction of ecosystems to prevent global warming would be a counterproductive and perverse strategy," said Caldeira.

"In planning responses to global challenges, it is important to pursue broad goals and avoid narrow criteria that may lead to environmentally harmful consequences," said Caldeira, of the Carnegie Institution.

Bala added: "Forests provide natural habitat to plants and animals, preserve the biodiversity, produce economically valuable timber and firewood, protect watersheds and indirectly prevent ocean acidification."

Researchers from Stanford University in California and Universite Montpellier II in France contribute to the study.

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/04/10/d...w19-502-ak-0000

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

We should start working on that beaver breeding program sooner rather than later.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Gary, Global Warming doesn't exist...remember?

[Ban Hammer 13,625]

Gary, Global Warming doesn't exist...remember?

at least now we can blame the eskimos for planting all them darn trees

Edited April 11, 2007 by charlesandnessa

[Nagishkaw 510]

Erm, they call themselves Inuits.

But I still blame Algore's farts.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Speaking of trees and the Discovery Channel... Have any of you been watching the epic series, Planet Earth? The cinematography is breathtaking, and they don't shy away from showing nature's brutality. The other night there was an artic fox stealing goslings (baby chicks?). It was shocking to see the little thing still squeeling while the fox carried it away in its mouth. Then seeing the mother fox bringing the newly found food back to her young pups so they can eat. Great stuff.

[Ban Hammer 13,625]

Erm, they call themselves Inuits.

But I still blame Algore's farts.

yeah something like that. in a few decades that will change too, along with everything else.

[almaty 19]

Inuits......

However, the term Eskimo is still considered acceptable among Alaska Natives of Yupik and Inupiaq (Inuit) heritage, and is preferred over Inuit as a collective reference. To date, no replacement term for Eskimo inclusive of all Inuit and Yupik people has achieved acceptance across the geographical area inhabited by the Inuit and Yupik peoples.

i

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Speaking of trees and the Discovery Channel... Have any of you been watching the epic series, Planet Earth? The cinematography is breathtaking, and they don't shy away from showing nature's brutality. The other night there was an artic fox stealing goslings (baby chicks?). It was shocking to see the little thing still squeeling while the fox carried it away in its mouth. Then seeing the mother fox bringing the newly found food back to her young pups so they can eat. Great stuff.

I'm sure my wife would think it's a cooking show and want to make a soup with all of them.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Speaking of trees and the Discovery Channel... Have any of you been watching the epic series, Planet Earth? The cinematography is breathtaking, and they don't shy away from showing nature's brutality. The other night there was an artic fox stealing goslings (baby chicks?). It was shocking to see the little thing still squeeling while the fox carried it away in its mouth. Then seeing the mother fox bringing the newly found food back to her young pups so they can eat. Great stuff.

I'm sure my wife would think it's a cooking show and want to make a soup with all of them.

[rclouse 0]

Speaking of trees and the Discovery Channel... Have any of you been watching the epic series, Planet Earth? The cinematography is breathtaking, and they don't shy away from showing nature's brutality. The other night there was an artic fox stealing goslings (baby chicks?). It was shocking to see the little thing still squeeling while the fox carried it away in its mouth. Then seeing the mother fox bringing the newly found food back to her young pups so they can eat. Great stuff.

Reminds me of the brilliant "Thank You For Smoking". Nick Naylor takes his son with him to meet a Hollywood producer about putting cigarettes in their movies. While they're waiting in the lobby, the high def is showing a nature film of killer whales attacking, rending, and killing seals. Hilarious.