From the University of California – Santa Barbara
In what might be the first study to report continuous measurements of net CO2 exchange of urban vegetation and soils over a full year or more, scientists from UC Santa Barbara and the University of Minnesota conclude that not only is vegetation important in the uptake of the greenhouse gas, but also that different types of vegetation play different roles. Their findings will be published July 4 in the current issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research – Biogeosciences, a publication of the American Geophysical Union.
“There has been little research of this type in the urban landscape,” said Joe McFadden, an associate professor in the UC Santa Barbara Department of Geography, and a co-author of the study. While continuous CO2 measurements have been made in natural ecosystems all around the globe, only in the past few years have researchers attempted to use them in developed areas such as cities and suburbs, which often contain large amounts of green space.
“The net exchange of CO2 between the land and the atmosphere is determined by the balance between things that release CO2, such as burning fossil fuels and respiration of living organisms, and the uptake of CO2 by plant photosynthesis,” said first author Emily Peters, from the University of Minnesota.
Using a method of measuring CO2 exchange that involves placing sensors high above the ground to record tiny changes in CO2, temperature, water vapor and wind, McFadden and Peters set out to monitor the suburbs just outside of St. Paul, Minn., a place with distinct seasonal changes and enough rainfall for plants to grow without irrigation.
“The question was: Can we see what the green space is doing against the backdrop of human activities?” said McFadden.
The researchers found that typical suburban greenery, such as trees and lawns, played significant roles with respect to CO2 uptake. For nine months out of the year, the suburban landscape was a source of CO2 to the atmosphere; but during the summer, the carbon uptake by vegetation was large enough to balance out fossil fuel emissions of carbon within the neighborhood. Compared to the natural landscape outside the city, the peak daily uptake of CO2 in the suburbs would have been at the low end uptake for a hardwood forest in the region.
However, the activity of the vegetation also differs by type, according to the study.
“Lawns’ peak carbon uptake occurred in the spring and fall, because they are made up of cool-season grass species that are stressed by summer heat,” said Peters, “while trees had higher CO2 uptake throughout the summer.” Evergreen trees maintained their CO2 uptake for a longer period of time than deciduous trees because they keep their leaves year-round; deciduous trees lose their leaves in fall and winter.
The study was funded by NASA and is a “first step” toward quantifying the role of vegetation in extensive developed areas, like suburbs, which are the parts of urban areas growing most rapidly in the country. Potential uses for this type of research include urban planning –– where land use and vegetation choices are major decisions –– and policy decisions based on reducing greenhouse gases.
There are a couple of caveats to consider before deciding to lay out the turf or make any big changes in urban tree planting, McFadden noted. The amount of CO2 taken up by vegetation in the suburban area was not enough to balance out, or “offset”, the total amount of CO2 released by burning fossil fuels over the course of the year. “Unfortunately, far from it,” said McFadden, “We will still need to find ways to lower our carbon footprint.”
Additionally, in more arid places like the western United States, where irrigation is a must for lawns and landscaping, the delivery of water comes with its own cost in carbon, as water is pumped from elsewhere. McFadden says further projects in California urban areas are underway.
“This study just gives us a lens into what the green spaces in developed areas are doing,” he said.
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The amount of CO2 taken up by vegetation in the suburban area was not enough to balance out, or “offset”, the total amount of CO2 released by burning fossil fuels over the course of the year.
In other words there will still be an abundant supply of CO2 for plants and plants don’t have to worry about running out.
“Living organisms” don’t include vegetation? Hmmm
This reminds me of a Douglas Adams Hitchhiker-ism: The Maximegalon Institute for Slowly and Painfully Working Out the Obvious
I thought that NASA was supposed to researching how to get people to Mars, but no, let’s find out if plants need CO_2 to grow. Maybe it will help them get to Mars.
I’m breathlessly awaiting the release of this shocking paper! So, let me see if I’ve got this right……… plants take in CO2 with a process they call photosynthesis? And, trees and grasses have different uptake rates and periods. Hmm, I wonder if weeds may also? Maybe that’ll be their next study!!!
I really should be happy, at least they’re acknowledging reality.
(bold mine)
“[…] but during the summer, the carbon uptake by vegetation was large enough to balance out fossil fuel emissions of carbon within the neighborhood. […]
[…]Additionally, in more arid places like the western United States, where irrigation is a must for lawns and landscaping, the delivery of water comes with its own cost in carbon, as water is pumped from elsewhere. […]
I think I just heard Lord Monckton’s ickle birdies chirping. Carbon; harrumph!
P.S. How does this study further NASA’s goal of Muslim outreach? I’m just not seeing it in this study. I thought all NASA studies had to include two phrases now; “due to climate change” and “as it affects the Muslim community.” Maybe they’re in the full paper.
Our tax dollars at work.
Their next study will probably be something really scientific like… ‘when the sun sets it gets dark outside’…
Emily Peters measures photosynthesis on trees in a suburban neighborhood from a……… ‘cherrypicker’.
Good to know they’re catching up to the stuff i learned in elementary school. Next step junior high sciences. GO TEAM!
The White House and NASA believe NASA’s mission to be ‘Muslim outreach.’
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2010/07/white-house-nasa-defend-comments-about-nasa-outreach-to-muslim-world-criticized-by-conservatives/
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2010/02/nasa-plans-more-outreach-to-muslim-countries.html
Nexct steps: 1) stimulus funds for homeowner tax credits for favored plants, 2) high speed rail projects to local nurseries, 3) more study grants
Is is possible someone has the source of this study mixed up? I think it came from a seventh grade science class at an alternative school for the less able. I mean didn’t we learn this stuff in like fourth grade?
And as a result of this study Smart Growth Zoning akak Agenda 21, will have the “Scientific Basis” to fine those home owners and businesses that do not have enough of the “RIght” (or is it left) type of plants on their property.
@TomG:
Obviousness aside, the following is actually worded correcly —
“…and respiration of living organisms, and the uptake of CO2 by plant photosynthesis”
Plants do respire, and so would be covered by “living organisms” in this context. We just don’t think of it much because of the (usual) net gain by Ps.
Conclusion: We just measured this for fun. No matter what result we got, we’d still know that the only possible solution is to rip civilization to shreds, send all jobs to China, and send all money to Wall Street.
“This study just gives us a lens into what the green spaces in developed areas are doing,”</i? he said.
_________________
I view the last line as revelatory, indicating that this article is an announcement that the process has begun to put numbers next to all of the photosynthetic processes vis a vis urban artificial processes.
For those who will inevitably decry the waste of more gov't money, I would say, all monies spent by the US gov't. on scientific study may be money down a rat hole, especially the agenda- driven kind of research which appears to have become the norm, but the amount spent is nevertheless insignificant in light of the govt's payments to individuals and payments on interest.
In the humid zones of the developed countries, there are many areas where land has reverted from agriculture to forest. This is a result of the commoditization and globalization of food. Vast irrigated factory farms in semi arid (sunny, warm) climates have become the main sources of many crops. It’s a double whammy of reforestation meanwhile, elsewhere, creation of environments with more biomass than existed in nature.
Tom G(ologist),
Plants respire too, so are not excluded by the statement,
Why is this result unexpected and important? I suspect that Luther Wu (10.37 AM) is on to something.
The assumption here and basis for the study is there is a problem and they will use the cover of the university to prove a need to engineer the restructuring of where and how we live.
Gail Combs says:
June 27, 2012 at 9:49 am
And as a result of this study Smart Growth Zoning akak Agenda 21, will have the “Scientific Basis” to fine those home owners and businesses that do not have enough of the “RIght” (or is it left) type of plants on their property.
________________________________________________________________________
Olen says:
June 27, 2012 at 11:07 am
The assumption here and basis for the study is there is a problem and they will use the cover of the university to prove a need to engineer the restructuring of where and how we live.
_______________________________________
After what we have been seeing from mankind up until now, one could say: it would be exceedingly foolish, not to keep an eye on ’em.
Another study that is not new at all. We were doing urban heat island (UHI) studies in Winnipeg, Manitoba in the late 1960 sponsored by the Manitoba Environmental Research Council. We identified the dramatic difference in temperature and other conditions in treed city parks that were only one city block square. Oke and others had similar results in Hamilton and Vancouver.
We also carried out air sampling studies across the city to determine air particulates and pollen to compare with the UHI results. This work was triggered, was were some of the first awareness of heat island effect by the work of Kratzer in the Ruhr Valley in the 1930s.
The role of trees in modifying climate is enhanced by their ability to cleanse the air. It was well known that certain species survived the urban environment better than others. In England the Plane Tree was chosen for urban environments, especially London because the bark peeled and shed the pollution every year.
http://www.2020site.org/trees/plane.html
I was keynote speaker at the first North American conference on urban forests also held in Winnipeg. I promoted establishment of a department of flora and fauna for the city of Winnipeg with little success.
I gave a public presentation on the role of trees affecting the climate and cleansing of air in the urban environment using the example of Winnipeg at the invitation of the Manitoba Lung Association. This presentation preceded a presentation by Jane Goodall of chimpanzee fame. (It was a rare opportunity to be a warm up act for chimpanzees)
I spoke as a dinner speaker at the University of Toronto to protest the closing of the Department of Forestry – the theme was a tree in the city was more important than those in the countryside.
More proof of the damage down to advancing climate research by the IPCC.
“The net exchange of CO2 between the land and the atmosphere is determined by the balance between things that release CO2, such as burning fossil fuels and respiration of living organisms, and the uptake of CO2 by plant photosynthesis,”
Give this man a degree in tautology….sheesh. We needed a study to tell us that???
“Compared to the natural landscape outside the city, the peak daily uptake of CO2 in the suburbs would have been at the low end uptake for a hardwood forest in the region.”
That means that there’s enough excess CO2 to run some algae ponds in the city to produce the oil needed for the cars.
And it means that something must import carbon into the city, otherwise the cars and heatings couldn’t provide the excess CO2.
Maybe there’s a correlation with those bulky trucks constantly driving around with names like BP or Shell on them.
The study might not be new, but it does help. Among other things, it will likely help advances estimates of atmospheric CO2 residence time toward a lower figure than some of the absurdly long spans used in the IPCC’s preferred climate models.
Lawns on every urban rooftop! (Then there’s that drainage thing and the original intended purpose of the roof. There’s always something.)