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How Trees
Fight Climate Change
Global
climate change, sometimes referred to as global warming,
is the looming environmental threat that all of us will
have to face in the 21st century. Industrial society, based
for 200 years on the combustion of oil, coal, and gas, has
changed the basic mechanics of our planet's self-regulating
temperature balance.
Fortunately, people, companies, and governments around the
world are taking steps to reduce fossil fuel emissions and
change the way we produce and use energy. Their efforts
are focused on reducing emissions, the key to long term
sustainability.
Trees sequester or store carbon as they grow, so that their
years of maximum carbon intake occur during their years
of rapid growth. For most species, this is between 10 and
60 years.
As they grow, trees compete for root space, sunlight, and
water. Not all make it to full growth, but those that do,
represent the full carbon potential of that ground area.
Shade trees, planted in the right places, can reduce your
air conditioning bills during summer, reducing your climate
"footprint."
In cities, trees cool the "Urban Heat Island"
effect and help conserve electrical energy.
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There is indeed a simple, effective way you can be part of
the solution today. Plant a Tree, Cool the Globe. You can plant
trees to offset your personal carbon dioxide emissions and reduce
CO2 in our atmosphere. Read on to learn how trees and forests,
the skin of the earth, can help us in this critical effort to
re-stabilize Earth's atmosphere.
Trees Absorb Carbon Dioxide (CO2), the primary gas causing
Global Climate Change.
Trees retain the carbon (C) from the CO2 molecule and release
oxygen (O2) into the atmosphere. The carbon makes up half the
dry weight of a tree.
** One ton of carbon equals 3.67 tons of atmospheric carbon
dioxide.
Planting and caring for trees is not the only way to fight climate
change, but it is reliable and effective. Trees remove carbon
dioxide from the air naturally.
Planting more trees, at the right time and in the right place,
is the call for the day.
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Climate Change Quick Facts
Global mean surface temperatures have increased 0.5-1.0°F
since the late 19th century. The 20th century's 10 warmest
years all occurred in the last 15 years of the century.
Of these, 1998 was the warmest year on record.
Globally, sea level has risen 4-8 inches over the past
century. Worldwide precipitation over land has increased
by about one percent. The frequency of extreme rainfall
events has notably increased.
Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases are likely
to accelerate the rate of climate change. Scientists expect
that the average global surface temperature could rise
1-4.5°F (0.6-2.5°C) in the next fifty years, and
2.2-10°F (1.4-5.8°C) in the next century, with
significant regional variation.
Evaporation will increase as the climate warms, which
will increase average global precipitation. Soil moisture
is likely to decline in many regions, and intense rainstorms
are likely to become more frequent. Sea level is likely
to rise .
Earth Sphere believes that everyone in this planet must
plant at least, ten (10) trees in his lifetime. This conservative
number could be a solid foundation for a possible global
re-greening of the world. |
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