Scientists have discovered that 86% of the terrestrial ecosystems are gradually losing their ability to absorb CO2 where levels of carbon dioxide are high. The study concluded that the effects of climate change has been debilitating the ability of plants to alleviate the worsening of climate conditions.
Land ecosystems have a significant role in reducing the effects of climate change as it absorbs carbon dioxide through trees and plants during photosynthesis. Its a natural process of decreasing the carbon dioxide trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere, to prevent increases in temperature and slow down the progress of climate change.
The process aids in photosynthesis as carbon dioxide is a nutrient that enables the plants to grow. There is a direct proportion between plant growth and increased concentrations of carbon dioxide, this phenomenon is called CFE or CO2 fertilization effect. This phenomenon aids the elimination of formidable greenhouse gases found in the atmosphere. However the recent findings indicate that it is likely to change with the current situation.
How Researchers Conducted the Study
The researchers from the recent study published last December 10 examined multiple field model-based datasets they obtained from satellites to identify the effects of rising levels of CO2 to CFE.
The researchers are worried that other restrictions are taking effect, the other necessary factors of photosynthesis are lacking such as sunlight, water, or other growth nutrients. As a result, in situations where even CO2 is abundant, the CO2 fertilization effect phenomenon will not be able to aid in plant growth.,
According to the report, the reason there is a drop in CFE is because of the moisture and nutrient limitation especially in tropical areas, and in high-latitude temperate and boreal regions. In tropical areas, there is not enough phosphorus and nitrogen to continue photosynthesis. On the other hand, soil moisture is limited in high-latitude temperate and boreal regions because of the recent increase in temperature.
