Scientists from Imperial College London and the University of New York had recently conducted a study to prove that carbon dioxide absorbing capacity of the terrestrial ecosystems will be greater in the future, when global warming and greenhouse emissions will rise. They studied how changes in temperature and carbon dioxide levels will affect soil respiration, growth rate of plants, photosynthesis, etc.
Some scientists have in the past suggested that the increase in temperatures will release greenhouse gasses from oceans, soils, etc. that will result in runaway climatic change and after passing the tipping point lead to worsening the impact on climate change. But, the study we will explore here makes claims that the terrestrial eco systems may have much more buffering capacity than we have been expecting.
For proving the claims, the scientists mimicked future temperatures and carbon dioxide levels in an experimental cabinet. Plants were grown in the cabinet and they were provided with proper soil, light and other atmospheric conditions. The plants were observed for several months and extra amounts of carbon dioxide were introduced in the cabinet. In fact the conditions introduced were similar to the one that matched the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scenario regarding man made greenhouse emissions that would prevail in 2100. It was observed that the plants did absorb greater amounts of carbon dioxide.
The study gives us a deep insight into the inner workings of plants and how they will adapt themselves to the changing global conditions. There are still certain discrepancies with regard to real world conditions and the only solution is to improve upon these simulations through further experimentation.
Via: Imperial
