In this blog, I’ll be writing about photosynthesis and plant growth in a CO2-enriched world, as well as providing a Canadian perspective on climate change.
An appreciation of photosynthesis isn’t necessary to understand climate change, but it can complement it. If we take a long perspective, looking back over Earth’s history, we can see that changes in the rates of photosynthesis, on grand, planet-changing scales, have shaped our evolution and our world. Photosynthetic carbon fixation by photoautotrophs has maintained an atmosphere with free oxygen, life supporting oceans, and vast and heavy food chains of organisms. It is the light from the sun of millions of days captured by photosynthesis and buried and stored in oil and coal and gas, that is now being burned and released in atmosphere-changing proportions.
No method exists on Earth that is as effective at fixing carbon than photoautotrophic growth. It is light and carbon, captured via photosynthesis, that got us into this situation. Photosynthesis is still active, fixing anthropogenic CO2. But will it be enough get us out of trouble?
Forests can absorb some of the extra carbon. New forest growth and expansion of the treeline, maybe still more. Even so, the steady annual rise of the Keeling Curve shows that photosynthesis has not been keeping up. We expect there to be limits, and we would be wise to expect unexpected feedbacks. For example, growth of shrubland tundra may increase the per unit area carbon fixation, but at the expense of permafrost, which currently stores a vast amount of methane and soil carbon.
Much of this topic should be uncontroversial. It is a matter of fact that CO2 has increased in the atmosphere, and a matter of biology that plants will respond to it, and to increasing temperatures. Understanding and observing the consequences of increased CO2 and temperature on plant life and the planet shouldn’t be a political or ideological matter, although it often is.
CO2 levels are increasing. The world, from a plant’s perspective, has already changed.
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Contact: carbonfixated (at) gmail.com
OMG. I really hope you will take a look at my blogging about trees and other forms of vegetation, all of which appear to be in a state of dire emergency.
I am a bit obsessive about it, because it’s happening right here on my own little farm. But also, I think it’s important because many of the policy makers who work in Washington will soon notice it’s happening in their backyards as well. And that’s when we may see some transition.
Most people refuse to recognize the precipitous decline and foliar damage that is rapidly increasing in velocity.
For a while I thought it was global warming induced drought, or perhaps the vast change (40%!) in increased CO2. And I don’t rule that out.
But it’s definitely something atmospheric that is causing a dramatic rate of death in trees and as of this past growing season, annual crops, and aquatic plants.
I think it could be from burning ethanol. Or perhaps, from an increase in nitrous oxide. It’s been really difficult to find a trained specialist to even be interested in combining the realms of botany, physics, and chemistry.
The most sensible response I’ve gotten so far from writing to every forester and academic and government agency I can find was from a paleontologist who said simply, “climate change is always followed by mass extinctions.”
Because sure enough it seems to me that if one major component of the environment is altered rapidly – say, temperature or precipitation or the composition of the atmosphere, let alone more than one – then, the species that are evolved over millions of years to occupy that particular niche simply must die out, it’s inevitable. And then there are cascading effects as the loss of any one species affects the survival of another.
If you accept Darwinian evolution, no other conclusion can be expected. I have had foresters write me that trees and other species are robust. But I disagree. I think, the relationships between species, and with their environment, are delicately calibrated and any disruption has consequences.
I look forward to reading through your past posts and appreciate any response.
Gail
Oldwick, NJ
Hello Cam, I came to check out your site after you left a comment on my blog. Great stuff you have going on here! I wonder why I haven’t heard of it until now! The sociology/media/CRU satires you’ve been doing for the last few months are especially fantastic. Keep up the good work – I’ll be subscribing.
[Cheers Kate!]