Posted on 01/11/2006 11:57:30 AM PST by lunarbicep
LONDON (Reuters) - German scientists have discovered a new source of methane, a greenhouse gas that is second only to carbon dioxide in its impact on climate change.
The culprits are plants.
They produce about 10 to 30 percent of the annual methane found in the atmosphere, according to researchers at the Max-Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany.
The scientists measured the amount of methane released by plants in controlled experiments. They found it increases with rising temperatures and exposure to sunlight.
"Significant methane emissions from both intact plants and detached leaves were observed ... in the laboratory and in the field," Dr Frank Keppler and his team said in a report in the journal Nature.
Methane, which is produced by city rubbish dumps, coal mining, flatulent animals, rice cultivation and peat bogs, is one of the most potent greenhouse gases in terms of its ability to trap heat.
Concentrations of the gas in the atmosphere have almost tripled in the last 150 years. About 600 million tonnes worldwide are produced annually.
The scientists said their finding is important for understanding the link between global warming and a rise in greenhouse gases.
It could also have implications for the Kyoto Protocol, which calls for developed countries to cut their emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12.
Keppler and his colleagues discovered that living plants emit 10 to 100 times more methane than dead plants.
Scientists had previously thought that plants could only emit methane in the absence of oxygen.
David Lowe, of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand, said the findings are startling and controversial.
"Keppler and colleagues' finding helps to account for observations from space of incredibly large plumes of methane above tropical forests," he said in a commentary on the research.
But the study also poses questions, such as how such a potentially large source of methane could have been overlooked and how plants produced it.
"There will be a lively scramble among researchers for the answers to these and other questions," Lowe added.
Somehow you just knew the Germans would be on the cutting edge of this..
we should drive over all the plants with our SUVS to solve this.
If clear-cutting will reduce "glo-bull warming", I'm all for it!
There is no room for any study that deflates the current "global warming" belief that America is solely responsible for all weather changes and pollution.
Cut those trees!!!!
We're doooooooooooomed!
Exactly right.
I think brussel sprouts are the worst offenders so I'll start there today. Maybe I can make the news. J
The only answer really, is to get rid of all of the people. That way, no one will be around to measure or worry about this stuff....
susie
"'Keppler and colleagues' finding helps to account for observations from space of incredibly large plumes of methane above tropical forests,' he said in a commentary on the research."
Sting is deeply saddened...
IMO the European stories of late about plants harming the environment are part of a battle about carbon credits. Another story involved tree farms in England. People were paying to plant trees in lieu of cutting their own emissions.
I don't think the Kyoto heavies had tree planting in mind for their scheme. They counted on trans-national exchanges with countries like Russia and China who will "sell" credits but not cut back emissions at all. Just post phony stats.
Cover the Planet in White Concrete (to reflect the heat from the sun)
hey now. this study SUPPORTS the statement that america is responsible. aren't we the ones with the ecco freeks that want more trees and plants?
Global Warming! Kill the plants! /sarc tag shouldn't be needed.
"New source of global warming gas found"
Democrats on the Judiciary committee must be asking questions again.
Lift those bales!
It's Big Gardening!! They are responsible!! I propose a Miracle Grow tax.
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