co2 and global warming.?

Question

could it be that global warming , in part, is caused by the deforestation of our planet? afterall, trees do an awfull lot of co2 recycling. so, as our planet gets warmer and more foilage grows, could that be a counter for all the co2? just a "valid question " from a layman.

Answer 1

Good question. Global warming most likely isn't caused by deforestation though it certainly doesn't help. However, forested areas are great sources of carbon sequestration, in the plants and soils. Forests' role in today's climate crisis most likely will be in remediating anthropogenic carbon dioxide. As an example, trees currently sequester 10.6% of US carbon emissions. To completely sequester the world's carbon emissions, it would take a planting of the size of Texas, every 30 years.
So, while deforestation is not a primary cause and reforestation is not a primary solution, both are a percentage of the overlal issue.
So yes, you are right but I believe the focus should be on other areas of the environment.

Answer 2

Global warming is at the fore front because politicians found how to use a new platform to get re-elected. The world leadersuse it because they found ways to make money at it. This is a made up problem just like Global Cooling in the 1970's. Wake up people. I agree we need to be more efficient with our resources, and we should fine and jail companies who are dumping into our rivers maliciously. I want to stop the raiforest destruction, but to say that global warming is a serious man made issue and we need to destroy the American economy and bow down to the rest of the world certainly does not float my boat. Follow the money on this one and you will see that it is all for political gain and grant money for those scientists who profit off of the government if global warming stays at the front of the issues. Look deep into the Keoto (sp?) Treaty, first of all they took jets to a non-central resort location. Not very environmentally concious. THen in the parameters of the treaty they have a clause that makes it so you can buy or sell polution credits. This is all about shifting wealth and breaking down the United States. This is painfully obvious, just look at peoples agenda. The earth's mean temperature has risen .6 degrees C in the past 125 years. Greenland's icecaps have gotten colder in the past 10 years. The Scientists who do not gain anything on their posisition will tell you that the earth has a natural progression and this is what we are seeing. The UN report is made up of POLITICIANS not a good spread of scientists. THere are as many or more scientists who believe that man in NOT the reason and it is over hyped, but their voice is not heard in the LIberal Mainstream Media. This issue is 99% political, and an attempt to make the USA a socialist nation, and eventually communisim. WAKE UP AMERICA, IT IS TIME TO BE AMERICANS. FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE. STOP THE LIES

Answer 3

It is avalid question--and yes, deforestation does contribute to increased CO2 levels--though it's effect is far less than that of burning fossil fuels.

Reforestation could help remove some if the CO2--thugh it won't do much good if we keep putting more in the atmosphere. BTW--warming wont particularly help plants (especially trees) grow. Many trees are adapted to cold climates--and, as in Glacier National Park and elsewhere, the warming may allow plant diseases to flourish--killing trees, not helping them. Some plants dobenefit from higher CO2 temperatures, though. The best known is poison ivy--in a high CO2 environment it grows better--and produces stronger toxins. Somehow, that doesn't seem like much help! :)

Answer 4

Some trees help with global warming but some actually release stuff that makes it worse, it depends on the species. Overall, I would say that yes deforestation is one of the many causes of global warming. I think that trees are being cut down faster then they can naturally regrow. And the loss of trees is hurting the earths ability to take carbon out of the air. There's actually a campaign at the UN going on right now to plant a billion trees, maybe that will help.

Answer 5

The deforestation of most of the world happened over 100 years ago. England and Europe cut 95% of there trees down for sailing ship and to build towns as well as fuel for steam trains. This happened in North America to about 50 years latter.. Get out of the city and walk the forest you will find many with trees that are less than 50 years old. Look at history past your own life and you will see all most all the trees were cut and to day they grow.

Many things have happened to make the temp go up one is cleaning up the air. The suet form coal and wood fires that drove the industries 100 years ago could be why it was so cool. to day the air is by far cleaner so more sun gets to earth.

Answer 6

Very valid question. Deforestation is a factor, but a minor one. And vegetation can help fight global warming. But it's nowhere near powerful enough.

There is a natural "carbon cycle" which recycles carbon dioxide. But it's a delicate balance.

We're messing up that balance by digging up carbon the natural cycle buried over a very long time, and burning it really fast. That overwhelms the natural process.

You can see it clearly in this carefully measured data.

http://scrippsco2.ucsd.edu/graphics_gallery/mauna_loa_record/mlo_record.html

The small teeth are the natural cycle in operation. CO2 goes down a little during the summer, when plants are active, and up a little in the winter. The huge push upwards is us burning fossil fuels. Unfortunately we're kicking natures' butt on this one.

Energy conservation and developing alternative energy sources are far more powerful tools to fight global warming.

Answer 7

Deforestation does contribute to increased CO2 levels--though it's effect is far less than that of burning fossil fuels.

Seventy million tons of greenhouse gas DAILY into the atmosphere is nothing to sneeze at.

We are screwing ourselves over for a buck.
Shooting ourselves in the herd.
Stepping on our own ducks.
Cutting off our nose to spite our finch.
Kicking ourselves in the asparagus beetle.

For the almighty dollar we're ruining it for everybody and everything, and people who deny it are three fries short of a Happy Meal.
Have a nice day.

Answer 8

That is what I have said all along. We have a theory and there is nothing to make it so. CO2 problem has been taken care of ,and was never a problem.