New research shows that trees have a bigger benefit to the environment by up to 12% when it comes to fighting global warming.
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We know trees are good for the environment. They provide oxygen. They absorb CO2. They help regulate rainfall. Now, new research shows an added benefit, absorbing one of the most powerful greenhouse gases warming our planet- methane. And, scientists have been surprised to learn it’s the most unlikely part of the tree that absorbs methane- the bark.
Previous research shows how trees absorb CO2 through photosynthesis. This year, marks the first time scientists have an understanding about microbes that live on tree bark and suck greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. “This research describes a new discovery of a process whereby trees cool the planet, completely apart from taking up carbon dioxide through photosynthesis,” said Alexander Shenkin, director of the Ecosystem Science and Innovation Lab at Northern Arizona University.
A Win Against Climate Change
Methane is responsible for 30% of global warming and its concentration in the atmosphere has been rising quickly for nearly two decades. This poses a serious threat to Earth’s climate because methane traps much more heat than an equal amount of CO₂. However, while CO₂ can persist in the atmosphere for centuries, methane only lasts about a decade. This short lifespan means that changes to methane sources or removal processes (known as methane sinks) can have quick effects.
Enhancing removal could provide a rapid climate win, helping to slow down the pace of climate change.This is why scientists are keen to understand how methane enters the atmosphere and how various processes remove it. It’s also why teams of ecologists and climate scientists have been examining methane exchange between tree bark – a surface previously overlooked for its climate impact – and the atmosphere.
The Research
Wetlands are known to be the main natural source of methane – trees in swamps and floodplains can release methane from the lower parts of their trunks. However, methane exchange in trees growing in most of the world’s forests hasn’t been thoroughly studied until recently
The research teams measured methane exchange on hundreds of tree stems in forests from the Amazon and Panama to Sweden and the U.K. Initially, they looked for methane emissions from trees. Some do release a small amount from their trunk base. But scientists were surprised when they measured higher up the trunks: trees were absorbing methane from the atmosphere, and this uptake grew stronger the higher they went, with methane removal from the atmosphere dominating overall exchange.
Previously, it was believed that only soil had the necessary bacteria to absorb it. This new research gives trees an even more pivotal role in reducing climate change and could impact the world’s approach to fighting climate change. “These results suggest that planting more trees and reducing deforestation will be an important global approach to this goal,” said professor Vincent Gauci of the University of Birmingham and lead researcher on the study.
A Hidden Sink
Trees absorb between about 25 and 50 million tonnes of atmospheric methane each year, with tropical forests taking up the most. This is comparable to the only other land-based methane sink – soils – and it makes temperate and tropical trees 7%-12% more beneficial for climate than currently recognized.
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Unfortunately, trees are changing in area. Forests are shrinking and growing through deforestation and reforestation and these changes can affect atmospheric methane. While decarbonizing the global economy and energy system is the main way to address climate change and global warming, reforestation and planting trees in suitable locations offers another way to remove greenhouse gases like methane and address climate change.
Studies like these could give countries stronger incentives to protect existing natural forests and avoid further deforestation. This new evidence also underscores the importance of trees and forests for our climate system and the importance of protecting and preserving them.