Trees in urban areas are growing faster than those in rural areas

[Harkonnen]

The heat island effect is likely having a noticeable effect on the growth rate of trees in metropolitan areas across the world.
New research from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has shown that on average, trees in urban areas have been growing faster than trees in rural areas worldwide over the last 50 to 60 years.
"We can show that urban trees of the same age are larger on average than rural trees because urban trees grow faster,“ said Professor Pretzsch. Further observation showed that the relative difference in size between urban and rural trees decreases with increasing age, but still remains relevant. While the difference amounts to about a quarter at the age of 50, it is still just under 20 percent at a hundred years of age.“
Higher temperatures can increase tree growth by stimulating photosynthetic activity and prolonging the vegetation period, which extends the time of the year during which trees can grow.
Unfortunately, this increase in growth rate comes at a price. Cities may have to replace dying trees sooner due to the accelerated aging process.
The researchers also noted that there has been a general acceleration of growth in all trees (urban and rural) by about 20 percent, which is likely a result of climate change.
In addition, fertilization effects due to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and increased nitrogen depositions are also contributors to the overall growth rate increase.

LMAO at ridiculous negatrolling. How is it possible these idiots turn a obvious net-positive into bad baad thing. And then millions of bigger loonies eat it hook, line and sinker

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weath...areas/70003289

[Ayetooey]

More trees=more oxygen.

[Harkonnen]

More trees=more oxygen.

Indeed. In Eocene when mile-high trees were growing everywhere and cabbages were the size of elephants, it was because CO2 levels were at least double what they are today. AND THIS MEANT that also oxygen levels were double what they are today, as all that massice amount of green things produced massive amounts of oxygen. The air was just filled with all kinds of gasses. Ever wonder why in the Eocene there were dog-sized beetles, grasshoppers and flies roaming amidst the foliage? Insects don't have lungs so they benefit greatly from increased oxygen and thus grow larger. Also air pressure was lower back then, so flying was easier.


So if we keep pumping that CO2 to the atmosphere, in the future we could have bear-sized spiders walking the streets. How freaking cool would that be

[Ayetooey]

Indeed. In Eocene when mile-high trees were growing everywhere and cabbages were the size of elephants, it was because CO2 levels were at least double what they are today. AND THIS MEANT that also oxygen levels were double what they are today, as all that massice amount of green things produced massive amounts of oxygen. The air was just filled with all kinds of gasses. Ever wonder why in the Eocene there were dog-sized beetles, grasshoppers and flies roaming amidst the foliage? Insects don't have lungs so they benefit greatly from increased oxygen and thus grow larger. Also air pressure was lower back then, so flying was easier.


So if we keep pumping that CO2 to the atmosphere, in the future we could have bear-sized spiders walking the streets. How freaking cool would that be

Bear sized spiders. It would solve world hunger. Spider stew anyone?

[Harkonnen]

300 million years ago arthropleuras roamed Scottish highlands. Arthros were giant centipedes that could reach 3 metres in length and they HAD ENOURMOUS APPETITE. Curiously also one of few exotic dishes that did not taste "like chicken".

[Harkonnen]

New paper on topic. Scientists grew wheat in greenhouses at a normal level of CO2 -> 400 ppm. Then they did another try where they increased level of CO2 to 700 ppm. Wheat yield was 104% higher. The nutritional value was slightly weaker.

The researchers grew wheat in greenhouses at normal (400 parts per million; ppm) or elevated (700 ppm) CO2 concentrations. The team found that wheat grown under elevated CO2 levels showed a 104% higher yield of mature grain. However, the nitrogen content of the grain was 0.5% lower under these conditions, and there were also small declines in protein content and free amino acids. The researchers used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze metabolic changes in the grains at different developmental stages. Among other changes, elevated CO2 altered the levels of certain nitrogen-containing amino acids during grain formation and at maturity. Although the metabolic changes they detected had modest impacts on final grain quality, the effects could be amplified by other changes in a plant's environment, such as limited nitrogen availability or drought conditions, the researchers say.

The increased carbon dioxide content reduces the need for plants to breathe, which means that the plant needs less water when evaporation decreases as breathing decreases. This mechanism may be useful for crops if water is now a limiting factor for growth or the climate becomes less rainy at regional level. This mechanism also protects world food production if the climate in some places becomes too hot and/or low rain from the point of view of food production.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0724084543.htm