Amazon Forest May Be Adding To Greenhouse Gases

[charrison]

linkage

Parts of the Brazilian Amazon forest might be emitting more carbon dioxide than is absorbed, Brazilian and U.S. scientists said in a study published Friday in the magazine Science, adding that previous studies on the issue probably overstated the amount of the gas absorbed by the forest.

During a three-year inquiry, researchers from Universidade de Sao Paulo, the National Institute of Space Research and Harvard University measured levels of emission and absorption of the gas in the National Forest of Tapajos, in Para, nothern Brazil.

The scientists found that carbon dioxide emissions actually increased during rainy seasons, when decomposing foliage, set off by a high degree of humidity, released their carbon-rich emissions into the air. Scientists had previously believed that emissions only increased during dry seasons (Reinaldo Jose Lopes, Folha de Sao Paulo, Nov. 28, U.N. Wire translation).

One of the main proposals of the Kyoto Protocol, which targets a decrease of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, is to slow deforestation and increase incentives for planting new forests. According to BBC Brasil, the result of the latest study supports previous statements from some environmentalists that politicians developed the protocol based on the now dubious role forests play in cutting gas emissions (BBC Brasil, Nov. 28, U.N. Wire translation).

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: charrison
linkage

Parts of the Brazilian Amazon forest might be emitting more carbon dioxide than is absorbed, Brazilian and U.S. scientists said in a study published Friday in the magazine Science, adding that previous studies on the issue probably overstated the amount of the gas absorbed by the forest.

During a three-year inquiry, researchers from Universidade de Sao Paulo, the National Institute of Space Research and Harvard University measured levels of emission and absorption of the gas in the National Forest of Tapajos, in Para, nothern Brazil.

The scientists found that carbon dioxide emissions actually increased during rainy seasons, when decomposing foliage, set off by a high degree of humidity, released their carbon-rich emissions into the air. Scientists had previously believed that emissions only increased during dry seasons (Reinaldo Jose Lopes, Folha de Sao Paulo, Nov. 28, U.N. Wire translation).

One of the main proposals of the Kyoto Protocol, which targets a decrease of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, is to slow deforestation and increase incentives for planting new forests. According to BBC Brasil, the result of the latest study supports previous statements from some environmentalists that politicians developed the protocol based on the now dubious role forests play in cutting gas emissions (BBC Brasil, Nov. 28, U.N. Wire translation).

So carbon dioxide emissions increase both in the rainny season and the dry season?

 

[Piano Man]

Yes, we should burn the whole thing.

 

[ReiAyanami]

as long as it absorbs more than it outputs OVERALL. us humans aren't exactly processing carbon dioxide into oxygen. more the reason to cut back on excess CO^2 for when the case of nature doing it's half of the job inefficiently

 

[Captain4]

Do these U.S. scientists happen to work for International Paper or Boise Cascade?

 

[glugglug]

Photosynthesis can only occur when plants are exposed to plenty of sunlight. At night when there is no sunlight available, plants take in oxygen and emit CO2 just like animals. Furthermore, in a dense forest, only the tallest trees use photosynthesis. The lower ones that are shaded by them emit CO2. Therefore a grassy field will have more net oxygen production than a rainforest (hell, any positive amount is "more").

The real source of oxygen on Earth is water undergoing electrolysis from lightning strikes over the oceans. The reason this process doesn't eventually lower the water levels is because water waver in space gets slingshotted into Earth's orbit by the gravitational pull of Jupiter.

Yes, the air actually would have more oxygen if the forests were cut down....

 

[zephyrprime]

as long as it absorbs more than it outputs OVERALL.

The only thing that absorbs more than it produces are the oceans. The vegatation on earth should have nearly 0 net co2 emmision.

 

[Genesys]

Originally posted by: Piano Man
Yes, we should burn the whole thing.

nah, dont waste the wood that way. cut it down and use the luber to build the amazonian people better quality shcaks

 

[maluckey]

And domesticated cows spew out so much methane gas that it destroys the atmosphere as well. Good thing they taste soooo good! I don't feel guilty for eating them. Trees are mostly undigestible by humans, so maybe they should all be eliminated, and parking lots for all the cars put in their place.

 

[Spencer278]

The only way to get net loss of CO2 is for it to be turned into oil and left in the ground. The reason that a rain forest is bet for CO2 levels then your grass medow is that the rain forest is made out of carbon. When the rain forest get clear cut and burned it release lots of CO2 and when a rain forest takes over grass or what ever it stores CO2.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Piano Man
Yes, we should burn the whole thing.

There still is a Forest? I thought they burned it all already, at least they are working on it.
The article is moot, it will be gone soon anyway.

 

[Moonbeam]

Raping and pillaging the earth is good because the faster humans go extinct the better off the earth will be. All that really matters is that we don't allow ourselves to notice how bad we feel and now empty our lives are. Making money and having it, even if only a temporary fix for humanity, is good enough for me. Who really gives a sh!t about long term. F8ck the children. I'm going to die with lots of toys and that's all that matters. And you're just like me.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Raping and pillaging the earth is good because the faster humans go extinct the better off the earth will be. All that really matters is that we don't allow ourselves to notice how bad we feel and now empty our lives are. Making money and having it, even if only a temporary fix for humanity, is good enough for me. Who really gives a sh!t about long term. F8ck the children. I'm going to die with lots of toys and that's all that matters. And you're just like me.

Ah, Moonie is honest, :beer:

 

[Moonbeam]

Yup, I am.

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Raping and pillaging the earth is good because the faster humans go extinct the better off the earth will be. All that really matters is that we don't allow ourselves to notice how bad we feel and now empty our lives are. Making money and having it, even if only a temporary fix for humanity, is good enough for me. Who really gives a sh!t about long term. F8ck the children. I'm going to die with lots of toys and that's all that matters. And you're just like me.

You better watch it moonie, this might be the only time cady and corn agree with you

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: glugglug
Photosynthesis can only occur when plants are exposed to plenty of sunlight. Furthermore, in a dense forest, only the tallest trees use photosynthesis. The lower ones that are shaded by them emit CO2.

The lower ones (of which there are few) don't really grow much, because they can't do photosynthesis (and therefore can't produce "food") so can't grow, so don't produce CO2.
All the plants do photosynthesis as it's how they produce glucose to use for respiration and protein synthesis.

 

[Ldir]

Originally posted by: glugglug
Photosynthesis can only occur when plants are exposed to plenty of sunlight. At night when there is no sunlight available, plants take in oxygen and emit CO2 just like animals. Furthermore, in a dense forest, only the tallest trees use photosynthesis. The lower ones that are shaded by them emit CO2. Therefore a grassy field will have more net oxygen production than a rainforest (hell, any positive amount is "more").

The real source of oxygen on Earth is water undergoing electrolysis from lightning strikes over the oceans. The reason this process doesn't eventually lower the water levels is because water waver in space gets slingshotted into Earth's orbit by the gravitational pull of Jupiter.

Yes, the air actually would have more oxygen if the forests were cut down....

You forgot the smiley.