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Global warming may suffocate giant redwood forests
by Matt Jansen on February 15, 2010
The oldest trees on Earth are facing a life or death battle with climate change, possibly due to global warming. The giant redwood forests in California lay snug against the coast where a swath of fog keeps them moist periodically throughout the year. But, climate changes over the last century have reduced how likely it is that fog will form and now scientists are concerned that the redwoods may not survive.
Measurements taken recently captured the height of moisture-producing clouds and scientists meshed that data with recorded maximum temperature readings. Overall they discovered that fog is 33% less likely to form now than 100 years ago.
Redwoods are accustomed to a regularly humid client, which puts them in sharp contrast with other trees in California because they do not retain moisture well over longer dry spells. The culprit behind the changing climate is “. . . a decline in a high-pressure climatic system that usually ‘pinches itself’ against the coast, creating fog . . .” according to National Geographic.
Somewhere around 96%-98% of the original redwoods are gone, chopped down over the last 100 years to supply lumber for industry’s every voracious appetite. There are regulations in place protecting the forests but there are many loopholes, and most of the land is owned by private interests who at some point want to monetize their investment.
That’s two strikes for humans against redwoods. First the very obvious effect of a human need for lumber, and secondly the potential affect of our carbon output into the atmosphere. This is a glaring example of our inability to live in balance with an existing environment.
Both of those strikes against redwoods stem from economic drivers and the accumulation of wealth. There may be some hope though, ranging from trees growing faster in the pervasive carbon to tracking tools telling us where the lion’s share of deforestation is taking place.