July 24, 2017 5.18am EDT
Tropical rainforests are among the biggest contributors to the global greening boom. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
Rising carbon dioxide is making the world’s plants more water-wise
July 24, 2017 5.18am EDT
Pep Canadell, Francis Chiew, Lei Cheng, Lu Zhang, and Yingping Wang
Land plants are absorbing 17% more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere now than 30 years ago, our research published today shows. Equally extraordinarily, our study also shows that the vegetation is hardly using any extra water to do it, suggesting that global change is causing the world’s plants to grow in a more water-efficient way.
Water is the most precious resource needed for plants to grow, and our research suggests that vegetation is becoming much better at using it in a world in which CO₂ levels continue to rise.
The ratio of carbon uptake to water loss by ecosystems…
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