If trees are a big source of methane and methane is a global warming gas....?

Question

does that mean there will be this fantastically big fight between the tree huggers and the global warming supporters? Now THAT would be funny.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1684378,00.html

Answer 1

Oh don't listen to Dana that person doesn't know what they are talking, but yes I agree that would be really funny.... Could you imagine two geeky people in a slap fight.......Now that my friend would be a good Kodak moment :)

Answer 2

In some circumstances trees can be a source of methane. A living tree produces some methane but is more likely to produce noticeable quantities when it rots, if this occurs in the absence of oxygen then a process known as biomethanation or methanogenesis occurs and the result is the release of methane - not a lot of it but enough.

I don't have to hand a figure for the amount of methane trees release but would estimate that it be in the order of 20% of the total anthropogenic CH4 release. Human produced CH4 contributes just under 8% to the total anthropogenic warming effect, trees are therefore going to be in the order of 1% or 2%. Considering that CO2 absorbption by trees reduces the CO2 contrinution to global warming by 30% then the net effect of trees is 94 to 97% beneficial and 3% to 6% detrimental.

Further, natural releases of CH4 form part of the natural methane cycle, this has been ongoing since the world formed. Historically there has been much greater biomass than there is now and subsequently a greater release of CH4 from trees and the like, all of which was recycled naturally. In the last 150 years or so we've pushed the levels of CH4 in the atmosphere to way beyond that of the natural cycle.

Answer 3

Methane only accounts for 18% of human contribution to global warming. Please take some time to learn about global warming before asking "questions" like this.

You might also want to try reading your own articles sometimes.

"The headline above overstated the more circumspect case outlined in the article below, which said that plants emit up to 30% of the methane, a greenhouse gas, entering the Earth's atmosphere. Scientists have just discovered this, but to conclude that it is a new cause of rising temperatures is mistaken."

Answer 4

Yes, this has been known for some time. The Smokey Mountains were named because the methane produced by the trees keeps a smokey haze around the hills. The Blueridge Mountains were named for the blueish haze the methane produces.

You don't hear much about these sources, as the goal is to change mans activities through guilt.

Answer 5

Intelligent people don't fight, they debate.

People with dim intellects fight. Mainly because their low intelligence means they struggle to formulate an argument, they get frustrated and the only way they see to resolve the problem is by lashing out at the other person until they go away.

Answer 6

Trees are not a "big source of methane.

Why don't you stick to real science? Instead of wasting your time on nonsense.

Or do something really radical: READTHEWHOLE ARTICLE.

Answer 7

Won't happen. They are all too busy being led around by Cindy Sheehan to anti war protests, and because of her shrill voice they are holding their hands over their ears, thus making it impossible for them to fight.