What trees they give it to you, the trees take it from you. The importance of forests for storing large amounts of carbon is well known. They extract CO2 from the atmosphere and they use it to produce nutrients and plant components, so it can no longer act as a greenhouse gas. This is very useful while the tree is alive. However, when it dies, all the carbon is released back into the environment as it decomposes. It has long been suspected that the method, known as wooden vault could be the solution. Therefore, a group of scientists from University of Maryland I recently started working and decided if it was a good idea. What they didn’t know was that the answer would stare them right in the face. Almost literally.
This answer was locked in a tree trunk. 3775 years. Even though it had been dead for a long time, it had lost virtually no internal carbon. He was locked in a wooden crypt, but it turned out to be even more effective than expected.
The study authors believe that subjecting dead trees to the same process that the trunk would undergo naturally could be very beneficial for combating climate change. This would not be a unique solution, but it could be added to the arsenal as another weapon against global warming. In fact, one of the most powerful weapons.
Wooden crypts for burying trees
It is assumed that 8% carbon stored in forests, found in dead trees. Besides, these trees are let out around 115% of carbon is emitted by humans. More carbon than ourselves.
Therefore, for a long time the possibility bury dead trees to prevent the release of carbon into the atmosphere. This is the so-called wooden vault. But there is a problem that these scientists demonstrated in their statement about the coffins. Throughout history, millions of wooden coffins have been buried, but many of them have not survived to this day. They decomposed and the wood released carbon inside. It would be necessary for the trees to remain virtually mummified. But how?
Perfect coincidence
In 2013, a group of scientists from the University of Maryland designed an experiment to study the effectiveness of wooden vaults. The first step was to dig a large trench into which to bury the remains of the dead trees to test how they decomposed over time.
But something happened that changed everything. While digging a trench, the excavator shovel came across ugly and confusing trunk. When he threw it into the street, it attracted the attention of those responsible for the project, who visited the excavation with three ecologists from McGill University. They determined that it was a red cedar log and that it was in very good condition.
Analysis of his rings showed that he had more than 3700 years and the determination of the carbon level concluded that during this time he had only lost 5% of its amount.
What happened?
The study’s authors believe the key to the trunk’s preservation lay in the soil material under which they found it. Excavations took place around Quebec clay soilsin Canada. These materials have fairly low permeability. This protects them from decomposing substances, as well as from oxygen itself. If the trunk does not decompose, no matter how dead it may be, no carbon is released.
The good news is that there are many lands where these types of materials can be found. The authors of the study, published in Sciencecalculated that enough trees could be buried to store about 10 gigatons of CO2 per year. Thus, exactly the red line established in the Paris Agreement will be achieved. Global temperature rise can be prevented 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Given what we’ve seen and the situation the planet is in, it’s worth a try.
Source: Hiper Textual
