Fires have ravage the Western United States this year. This has caused extensive damage, pollution, and destruction, but usually forest fires are beneficial in clearing ground cover and continuing the life cycle of forest trees. In the fourth year of drought, however, forests previously burned are not recovering as expected. Drought conditions cause the trees, especially pines, to grow from seed at a exceeding slow rate or to never replace the burned trees. In most cases of recovering forests, the trees are still not as dense. A smaller number of trees is bad for the ecosystem and for global warming, as less trees absorb smaller volume of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. |
Less trees are not the only thing causing less carbon dioxide use. When exposed to drought, trees slow growth and use less carbon dioxide through the drought and for up to four years following the drought. In a world where high temperatures and severe droughts are becoming ever more common, the resulting thinning of trees only serves to worsen the problem.
Original National Geographic Article (link)
Original National Geographic Article (link)