Photosynthesis may stop in tropical forests: what risks it brings to the world
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A new study indicates that in some places, leaves in tropical forests from South America to Southeast Asia are getting so hot that they can’t photosynthesize as they used to. This could have serious consequences for forests around the world, writes CNN. Photosynthesis is the process by which energy is produced from carbon dioxide, sunlight and water. But the ability to photosynthesize drops when the temperature reaches about 46.7 degrees Celsius. However, the temperature of the leaves can be much higher than the air. This is confirmed by a study by scientists from leading countries, including Australia, Brazil and the United States, which was published in the journal Nature. Photo: Ricardo Lima/Gettyimages.com The researchers used temperature data from thermal satellite sensors on the International Space Station. This was combined with ground observations during leaf warming experiments. Instead of looking at average temperatures, scientists looked at extremes. So they discovered that forests can no longer photosynthesize as before. Scientists also found out that currently 0.01% of leaves exceed the temperature threshold – the limit where their ability to photosynthesize is lost. The researchers say that this small percentage may increase as the world warms. This will pose a threat to the world’s tropical forests, which occupy about 12% of the planet and contain almost half of the world’s species. In addition, they play an important role in the absorption and storage of carbon. According to the report, tropical forests can withstand another 4 degrees Celsius of global warming. But if this happens, critical leaf temperature thresholds can rise to 1.4% – meaning potential large-scale leaf loss and the death of the entire tree. At the same time, such a level is not expected at the moment. According to the current policy, growth will take place at 2.7 degrees above the pre-industrial level. However, the risk of even such growth is high – especially if we take into account the importance of trees for the climate. “Almost all life, including humans, depends directly or indirectly on photosynthesis for food,” said Kevin Collins, senior lecturer in the Department of Environment and Systems at the Open University. He also noted that fires in Canada have become more likely precisely because of climate change. Some other scientists who did not participate in the study made their own conclusions. For example, Chloe Brimicombe, a climatologist at the University of Graz in Austria, said that with such a small number of leaves reaching the critical temperature threshold, as well as the overall temperature level that needs to be reached, indicates that rainforests are quite resilient. to climate change. We will remind, this year the water temperature in the world ocean reached record values. Read also: Temperature records in July are related to climate change – scientists
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