A study in the journal Nature Communications discovered that planting trees in the incorrect areas can contribute to global warming.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide, and recovering degraded forests or planting seedlings to increase forest cover is one strategy for combating climate change. However, in other circumstances, more trees reduce the amount of sunlight reflected back from the earth's surface, allowing the globe to absorb more heat. A new map shows the ideal places to replant woods and cool the globe.
Restoring forest cover resulted in changes in albedo, or the quantity of solar energy reflected off the planet's surface. Researchers discovered that initiatives that did not consider albedo overstated the climate benefit of more trees by 20 to 80 percent. The maps also include tools to assist policymakers in determining where to best direct limited resources for maximum climate effect.
Albedo is highest in frozen regions of the earth, and mirror-like pure snow and ice with high albedo reflect up to 90% of the sun's energy. Many countries have pledged to plant billions of trees to combat global warming, but not all initiatives benefit the earth equally.
In conclusion, while planting trees is an effective technique for addressing climate change by absorbing CO2, it is critical to consider the effects of albedo on global warming. Planting trees in the right places, where they can effectively chill the globe while not increasing heat absorption, is critical for maximizing the climate benefits of reforestation initiatives.
A CSR Initiative of
Designed and Executed by
Implemented by
Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master, it was rightly said. Electronic devices have grown into an inevitable part of our daily lives.
