Quote:
Originally Posted by machinehead
Trees etc. take IN co2 and belch OUT oxygen.
It's called Photosynthesis.  |
Yeah, it's kind of a conundrum.
They do give out some Co2, but not as much as they take in. A sick or dying tree will release more unless it is not left to decay, and converted into wooden planks or something. At night, trees release some of the Co2 they absorb because photosynth. cannot happen at night so they release some of their "energy". But the amount is smaller than what they took in that day, because they need less energy to function at night since there's no process going on.
As for a tree that dies, this can release all it's co2 and is considered more harmful. But see, the seeds from plants and trees fall around them, ensuring that another will take its place to kinda stopgap that excess. This is why forests are so important and why de-forestation is so damaging. And a just-growing plant or tree will absorb more co2 than a mature one because it is thriving. Another thing to note is that fruit plants or plants that bear anything tend to absorb more co2 because they need more process to bear goods.