Big Trees First to Die in Severe Droughts
Summary:
This week the number of dead trees have gone up to 25 million. As droughts are increasing in severity, large trees become the first to die. Larger trees tend to die faster because they require so much more water and because it's harder to transport water within them. A smaller tree would only have to bring water up it's trunk only a couple feet, while a bigger tree has to carry it around 200 feet. Dry conditions can also weaken trees by limiting their carbon intake. When trees begin to experience low water levels they close their stomata, holes in their leaves to take in CO2, in an attempt to prevent water from evaporating out of the leaves. Trees don't necessarily die because of their reduces carbon intake, but it makes their defense system more vulnerable. Bark beetles, for example, have a much easier time eating large trees. It is estimated that 12 million of the 25 million trees has died because of bark beetles taking advantage of these trees in their weakened state. Scientists are studying on which trees are most vulnerable to a drought, and if they will continue to act as a large carbon sink. A researcher with the Earth and Environmental Sciences Division at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, Nathan McDowell claims that instead of limiting carbon emissions, we stop carbon emissions completely.
This week the number of dead trees have gone up to 25 million. As droughts are increasing in severity, large trees become the first to die. Larger trees tend to die faster because they require so much more water and because it's harder to transport water within them. A smaller tree would only have to bring water up it's trunk only a couple feet, while a bigger tree has to carry it around 200 feet. Dry conditions can also weaken trees by limiting their carbon intake. When trees begin to experience low water levels they close their stomata, holes in their leaves to take in CO2, in an attempt to prevent water from evaporating out of the leaves. Trees don't necessarily die because of their reduces carbon intake, but it makes their defense system more vulnerable. Bark beetles, for example, have a much easier time eating large trees. It is estimated that 12 million of the 25 million trees has died because of bark beetles taking advantage of these trees in their weakened state. Scientists are studying on which trees are most vulnerable to a drought, and if they will continue to act as a large carbon sink. A researcher with the Earth and Environmental Sciences Division at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, Nathan McDowell claims that instead of limiting carbon emissions, we stop carbon emissions completely.
Opinion
Places like the National Redwood Park are likely to lose their biggest trees, which is an important tourist attraction. Also because these trees are so big, they can block out sunlight from smaller trees, which mean as the large trees die there won't be many trees to take their place. I didn't know that plants close the holes in their leaves to prevent water loss, which is really smart. It's surprising to see that half of the death of trees aren't because of dehydration, but because of bark beetles. The claim that McDowell sounds very unrealistic because I personally don't think we have the cooperation to pull something like that off. I think that limiting carbon emissions is a great first step and should be continued from there.
Places like the National Redwood Park are likely to lose their biggest trees, which is an important tourist attraction. Also because these trees are so big, they can block out sunlight from smaller trees, which mean as the large trees die there won't be many trees to take their place. I didn't know that plants close the holes in their leaves to prevent water loss, which is really smart. It's surprising to see that half of the death of trees aren't because of dehydration, but because of bark beetles. The claim that McDowell sounds very unrealistic because I personally don't think we have the cooperation to pull something like that off. I think that limiting carbon emissions is a great first step and should be continued from there.