Forests losing the ability to absorb man-made carbon

[Barrett808]

Source: The Independent

Forests losing the ability to absorb man-made carbon
By Steve Connor, Science Editor
Published: 01 November 2007

The sprawling forests of the northern hemisphere which extend from China and Siberia to Canada and Alaska are in danger of becoming a gigantic source of carbon dioxide rather than being a major "sink" that helps to offset man-made emissions of the greenhouse gas.

Studies show the risk of fires in the boreal forests of the north has increased in recent years because of climate change. It shows that the world's temperate woodlands are beginning to lose their ability to be an overall absorber of carbon dioxide.

Scientists fear there may soon come a point when the amount of carbon dioxide released from the northern forests as a result of forest fires and the drying out of the soil will exceed the amount that is absorbed during the annual growth of the trees. Such a prospect would make it more difficult to control global warming because northern forests are seen as a key element in the overall equations to mitigate the effect of man-made CO2 emissions.

Two studies published today show that the increase in forest fires in the boreal forests – the second largest forests after tropical rainforests – have weakened one of the earth's greatest terrestrial sinks of carbon dioxide.

Read more: http://environment.independent.co.uk/climate_change/article3115537.ece

[jgraz]

1. Every time I see one of these posts, I'm even more certain that not having kids was the right move

Seriously depressing. :scared:

[Lorien]

6. Yep, I always find myself thinking the same thing

and I wish it weren't so. Maybe the Mayan Calendar was right; there isn't anything for us past 2012. :-(

[Ilsa]

2. Wasn't it oceans last week? Our world is dying. nt

[Westegg]

5. Yep, it was!

Oceans, and now forests. So then you have to think, "Gee, oceans and forests. What else is left? Well, deserts and the polar regions." And then you have to think, "But the polar regions are disappearing, and the deserts...the deserts.... OH, I get it! The arrid wastelands of the deepest deserts will survive, because...because they're already DEAD!" Welcome to the future.

[environmentalist]

8. Link to oceans' story

http://www.the-environmentalist.com/2007/10/everything-but-oceans-sinks.html

[silverojo]

15. Deserts aren't "dead"

Deserts are a delicate ecosystem, with flora and fauna that often aren't found anywhere else. Climate change will harm them, just as they'll harm every other region of earth. :scared:

[Westegg]

17. Yes. You are right, of course...

...and I knew when I posted my comment that it was inaccurate. I was speaking more metaphorically, I guess. But it doesn't even work metaphorically. Sorry. My bad. I know enough about deserts to regret, in retrospect, trying to make a point the way I did. Indeed, I have spent many happy times in the deserts of Southern California, from Joshua Tree to Death Valley and beyond. When I think of the 15 years I lived in L.A. (I'm in NYC now), and what I miss most, the answer for me is quite simple: The desert.

[mlevans]

3. Not to worry...

Bush admin scientists say it's all a myth. We're all as safe as houses..err...never mind...

[Fresh_Start]

4. oceans less able as well

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6665147.stm

[Lorien]

7. And the world's Rain Forests:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3499500.stm

[Doctor Cynic]

9. My guess

is that eventually we will be forced to develop a "silver bullet", such as seeding the Antarctic oceans with iron (which also risks acidifying the water), or kicking up enough dust to block out radiation. It ain't pretty, but it's something we will have to do. And at the same time I think we're all in for a worldwide crisis like Russia in the 1990s in the next decade. Industries grind to a halt, there will be shortages of food in areas that don't have it now, the death rate climbs due to increased cost of medical services (think of Russia's life expectancy falling 10 years), and anything else. It's just Malthusian theory.

[Acadia Blue]

10. Stop cutting them down and plant more.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Barrett.

[truthisfreedom]

12. Every time I read one of these posts I think James Lovelock is right.

He says it's irreversable. I think he's right.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/16956300/the_prophet_of_climate_change_james_lovelock/1

We should be in retreat, moving to the most likely places where we can survive, and building nuclear-powered cities that are designed to be self-sustaining and protected from extreme climate conditions. I think it's over, folks, and I also believe that bushco has known it's over for a long time, so that's why they've used our tax money to build the biggest mercenary force ever known on the planet, which can be hired by individuals or corporations who have enough cash when the panic begins.

[kurth]

13. The Homo sapiens species is nearing the end

[gulfcoastliberal]

14. Abrupt climate change/runaway warming under way.

Gnarley.

[The2ndWheel]

16. We don't get to have everything

We don't exist outside of nature. Everything we do has an impact somewhere, and the more we do, on ever increasing scales, the more and larger the impacts will be. Physical reality still counts.