Oak trees keep absorbing carbon dioxide long after their annual growth has ended, revealing that photosynthesis and wood production are not as closely linked as scientists once believed. The finding could reshape forecasts of how much carbon forests will be able to store in a warmer future.
  • hissing meerkat@sh.itjust.works
    5·
    2 months ago

    Of course plants use sugar from photosynthesis for more than just growing.

    That doesn’t make them use more carbon than the carbon you already counted them as using from the measured net carbon balance.

    • sinkingship@mander.xyz
      5·
      2 months ago

      And they probably constantly grow new leaves to replace old ones and ones that the wind has ripped off.

      But to be fair, this is probably at the same rate as leaves on the ground below the tree are rotting and releasing their carbon back into the atmosphere.