Plants release up to 30 per cent more CO2 than previously thought, study says

[David48atTD]

Credit

While much focus is placed on human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, research from teams around
the world suggests plants could be contributing up to 11 times as much.
A study involving the Australian National University, Western Sydney University, and centres around the world has found
plants release more carbon dioxide through their respiration than previously thought.

And what is more, as global temperatures rise, scientists say the output of carbon dioxide by plants will accelerate.

During daylight hours, plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis, however plants also release
carbon dioxide through respiration.

ANU researcher Owen Atkin said plant respiration was previously thought to account for five to eight times the carbon compared to human activity.

More?



I wonder who funded the 'study'? Big Oil / Coal Industry?

... or could be straight up Uni research.

BTW ... don't tell Donald

[Maanaam]

Nonetheless, plants are still a carbon sink and the fewer plants we have, the more carbon in the atmosphere.

[Hugh Cow]

Interesting Dave. I would like to see more research carried out. In the end I guess we have to concentrate on what we can change which is human output. As I have said in the past it doesn't matter whether one agree with climate change or not. Less human pollution of the planet is a good thing and should be our aim regardless.

[Switch]

I agree HC, but we should also consider the most accurate and unbiased information available, which would seem to indicate normal cyclic temperature changes (over millennia) and less significant than thought sea level rises.
The main problem seems to arise from dependence on climate modeling, which has, unsurpringly proved to be less than accurate.
The number, complexity and variability of all the factors that can affect climate are too difficult to predict, even with the most detailed models.
Too many variables and too many unpredictable combined interactions between them.

[lob]

Interesting Dave. I would like to see more research carried out. In the end I guess we have to concentrate on what we can change which is human output. As I have said in the past it doesn't matter whether one agree with climate change or not. Less human pollution of the planet is a good thing and should be our aim regardless.

oh so true.

[VocalNeal]

So are the plants making CO2? It says they release more than was thought but are they simply releasing more of what they take in? More obfuscation about CO2?

[Looper]

Surely any carbon a plant emits as CO2 must originally be from carbon it breathed in as CO2 so they are still carbon sinks?

Different to true CO2 emitters like animals which consume carbon as food and then emit CO2 as breath.

[YourDaddy]

Who farted?

[VocalNeal]

^ That's methane. Come and see me after school.