Beam me to Planet Gore !
Posted on 01/22/2009 2:40:13 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Trees in old-growth forests of the western United States are dying at twice the usual rate, and scientists say climate change may be to blame.
In one of the largest-ever surveys of U.S. forests, ecologists analyzed data on nearly 60,000 trees in 76 old-growth forests. Set to be published Friday in the journal Science, the study reported a startling jump over the past few decades: regardless of type, size or elevation, twice as many trees are dying each year.
And while death rates have increased, birth rates for new trees have remained stable — meaning there aren't enough new trees to replace the old ones.
For now, the percentage of trees dying each year is small, so doubling the rate means an increase of only 1 or 2 percent per year. But over time, small increases can add up, said Dr. Phillip van Mantgem, U.S. Geological Survey researcher and co-leader of the research team.
"If current trends continue, forests will become sparser over time," van Mantgem said. "Simple projections of forest stand structure indicate that average tree age will eventually decrease by half, and this will potentially lead to decreasing average tree size."
Sparser forests provide fewer places for animals to live, van Mantgem said, and also put trees at-risk for sudden die-off from catastrophic incidents such as fire, drought and bark beetle attack.
In addition, because large trees absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide, death of old-growth forests could further exacerbate climate change.
The study analyzed data collected since 1955, from forests across California, the Pacific Northwest and several Rocky Mountain states.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
But I heard that they did not care to call it global warming anymore on account of all the record cold weather. I heard they were changing it to “Climate Change”.
They guys are all a bunch of scam artists. Power and money is all it is about. The American people need to just tell them to shut up already.
The bark beetle is killing trees.
My grandmother lived to be 98. My grandmother drank tea every day.
Thus, tea is why my grandmother lived to be 98.
Same logic, same stupidity. Back in the 70s trees were dying from acid rain. Once they proved Acid rain didn’t really exist they kind of dropped the whole subject.
Mr. Horsted used historical pictures, some taken by the photographer with Custer's 1874 Expedition, thne meticulously found the EXACT spots, and dupilicated the camera angles and fields of view for a maodern view; then published them side by side in a coffe table book.
Be sure to read the caption on this:
But we aren’t talking about them dying naturally, we’re talking about cutting them down. Longevity is therefore not a factor.
Besides who cares? I’ll be dead long before this becomes a real big problem, and future generations will get used to no trees just like we’ve gotten used to no buffalos running around the neighborhood.
It’s not junk science but junk math.
No where is the percentage stated. I get the percentage increase to be less than 1/2 of 1%. So even if its doubled, it’s less than 1 %.
“For now, the percentage of trees dying each year is small, so doubling the rate means an increase of only 1 or 2 percent per year.”
QUACK SCIENCE!!!!
Pacafic Decadal Oscillation was in WARM phase most of those years! PDO just switched to cool phase!!!!
PDO COOL Phase:
October-March Northwestern North America and Great Lakes precipitation..above average
Northwestern North American spring time snow pack...above average
Winter and spring time flood risk in the Pacific Northwest...ABOVE AVERAGE!!!!
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~mantua/REPORTS/PDO/PDO_cs.htm
Actually in Colorado its the pine beetle doing it. Entire swatches of the front range are nothing but dead trees as far as the eye can see. Global warming has nothing to do with it.
Cool! That is really neat.
But...I don’t think we’re supposed to confuse the ‘Greenwits’ with the FACTS. :)
The article is not about cutting trees, it’s about the old trees getting sick and dying, because Bush didn’t sign Kyoto.
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