Details of the study

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert CO2.₂ to sugars that are also used for growth and metabolism. This is a natural way to reduce carbon levels in the atmosphere and mitigate the effects of climate change.

But the paradox is that current climate changes caused by humankind through increased emissions and the cutting down of more and more trees may affect this process. It was unclear how vegetation would respond to higher CO concentrations₂temperature and precipitation will be very different from what we have today or even observed in the recent past. Yes, it is known that severe drought and heat can weaken the absorptive capacity of terrestrial ecosystems.

In a new study from Trinity College Dublin, scientists presented the results of their simulations predicting the impact of climate change on carbon absorption by vegetation by the end of the 21st century. Different versions of the model were used in the study, taking into account different physiological processes of plants. While the previous simpler version ignored some important mechanisms of photosynthesis, the most complex version took all of these mechanisms into account.

In particular, the efficiency of the movement of carbon dioxide from the inner part of the leaf, the adaptation of plants to temperature changes and the economical distribution of nutrients in plant crowns were taken into account. These mechanisms strongly influence the ability of plants to regulate the carbon cycle but are often ignored by global models.

However, scientists emphasize that just planting new trees will not solve all problems. Scientists emphasize that emissions should continue to be reduced in all sectors.