As any science fiction fan knows, human survival depends on a planet like Earth. atmosphere That is, 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 0.03% carbon dioxide, and traces of other elements. The small percentage of carbon in the air allows some room for variation.
During the ice ages, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide was around 200 ppm, which was not ideal for human comfort. During warmer periods, the concentration was closer to 280 ppm, but current levels are 426.91 ppm Where is the highest concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere? 50 million yearsBy the way, that was about 48 million years before the appearance of the Earth. The first Homo sapiens on Earth.
With numbers like these, Earth seems like a good candidate for terraforming, at least in part because reducing carbon dioxide emissions is no longer enough: we need to remove excess carbon dioxide from Earth’s atmosphere.
Carbon SequestrationCarbon capture is the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide.
Carbon Sequestration
Ideally, carbon sequestration would be a process that results in negative carbon emissions – meaning that carbon dioxide is actually removed from the atmosphere – but most existing carbon capture technologies aim to mitigate carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion at the source.
Carbon capture and storage (CSS) technology, also known as geological carbon sequestration, separates carbon dioxide from other gases produced in power plants and factories. The captured carbon is then transported, often in liquid form, and stored underground in the same place where the oil was originally extracted.
Biological Carbon SequestrationGeostorage, on the other hand, is a naturally occurring process that stores carbon in plants, soil, and water. Unlike geostorage, which uses technology to remove carbon, this process takes advantage of the natural carbon cycle, where biomass (plants and microorganisms) absorbs CO2. As individual trees decay or are destroyed, they release carbon, but as long as the total amount of biomass is increasing, there is a net decrease in atmospheric carbon.
Both types The fight against climate change requires increased carbon sequestration, but whereas CSS is a high-tech industrial solution, biological carbon sequestration is something each of us can be a part of.
Tree cover
In various studies over the past year, 7.1% increase Over the past 35 years, global tree cover has Net loss is the same as Nicaragua’s In 2018, losses were down from peaks in 2016, 24% increase Global tree loss has reached 10 million in the past five years, and statistics vary widely, so it’s impossible to know how much of an impact reforestation would have.
Certainly, reforestation for carbon sequestration needs to be done on a large scale – that’s the logic behind many carbon offset programs. Healthy Forests They capture more carbon than monocultures or individual trees in urban areas.
Plant a tree
But planting just one tree can absorb carbon and help many others. advantageThese include strengthening support for biodiversity and encouraging young people to engage with nature.
The average hardwood is about 48 pounds of carbon dioxide That amounts to roughly one ton of carbon dioxide emissions per year, a tiny fraction of the average American’s carbon dioxide emissions. 27 tonnes of CO2 Planting trees annually makes a big difference, but when combined with reducing emissions, planting trees makes a big difference.
If the United States could maximize its available land use for carbon sequestration, it could reduce the nation’s emissions by twenty one%.
How to plant
There is no point in planting trees if they do not grow. Choose a tree Species suitable for your climate and the specific location available.
Proper Planting techniques It can make the difference between a tree that dies after a few seasons and one that survives and absorbs a ton of carbon. If you plant a tree in a disturbed environment like a suburban yard or urban bedstrip, you’ll need long-term care. You’ll need to water your tree for at least the first few years; invasive species may need water throughout their lives. (However, if you choose a species that’s well-suited to your site, it may need less pruning than you think.)
Even if you don’t have the space to plant new trees, you can still maintain the trees around you. Tree cover is declining In American cities, these trees Generates $18.3 billion in annual economic impact. in A rapidly developing regionUrban deforestation is severe: Atlanta has lost 90,000 trees since 2013, and Seattle, once nicknamed the “Emerald City” for its urban forests, is estimated to have just 6,000 mature trees left.
Protecting trees
These numbers are a stark reminder that personal landscaping choices make a difference. Even if you don’t have space to plant new trees, you can still protect them. Instead of cutting them down, Trees create a viewConsider building root barriers to protect building foundations, pruning trees to keep them away from power lines and roofs, and leaving fallen leaves on them – doing so can save a ton of carbon.
Editor’s note: This article was originally posted on February 10, 2020 and updated in July 2024.
