%26quot;In a paper published June 7 in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography, researchers present evidence that over the past century, vegetation has been gradually moving toward the poles and up mountain slopes, where temperatures are cooler, as well as toward the equator, where rainfall is greater.
Moreover, an estimated one-tenth to one-half of the land mass on Earth will be highly vulnerable to climate-related vegetation shifts by the end of this century, depending upon how effectively humans are able to curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to the study.
The results came from a meta-analysis of hundreds of field studies and a spatial analysis of observed 20th century climate and projected 21st century vegetation.%26quot;
%26quot;The dieback of trees and shrubs in the Sahel leaves less wood for houses and cooking, while the contraction of Arctic tundra reduces habitat for caribou and other wildlife. Globally, vegetation shifts are disrupting ecosystems, reducing habitat for endangered species, and altering the forests that supply water and other services to many people.%26quot;
%26quot;Approximately one billion people now live in areas that are highly to very highly vulnerable to future vegetation shifts,%26quot; said Gonzalez. %26quot;Ecosystems provide important services to people, so we must reduce the emissions that cause climate change, then adapt to major changes that might occur.%26quot;
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/201…
Deniers love to tell us that life has thrived during warmer climates, that plants benefit from increased CO2, that warming will lead to larger crop yields, etc. Yet this comprehensive study seems to indicate that vegetation is shifting in a way that is threatening humans and entire ecosystems. How do the denier arguments jive with this research?Climate Change Linked to Major Vegetation Shifts Worldwide - but more CO2 is better?More CO2 is good for you if you are a greenhouse tomato. But as you point out, for pretty well everything else, increasing temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns are a lot more serious.
True Blood; I am NOT a %26quot;believer%26quot;. I am CONVINCED, which is a very different matter.
Winston: the amount of CO2 we have added to the atmosphere is far far greater than could have been removed in that time by vegetation, so by itself the amount in the atmosphere doesn't tell us anything about this question.Climate Change Linked to Major Vegetation Shifts Worldwide - but more CO2 is better?People need to live in denial in order to avoid feeling like they have to make changes in their life and lifestyle.
Obviously, the earths climate is changing as it always does. The difference now is the changes are extremely accelerated.
I'm a believer.Climate Change Linked to Major Vegetation Shifts Worldwide - but more CO2 is better?I believe that vegetation has gone down for the mere fact that earth has further increased its deseritification from the 60% datum as of 2005. It is also a fact that unprocessed CO2 in the atmosphere which remains trapped, would also mean less green plants since no massive photosynthetic action is taking place. Natural disasters such as floods, landslides, quakes, volcanic debri, etc. destroy horizontal developments on land and hence, crop planting %26amp; infertility could not be greater %26amp; better, leading to abandonment of fields %26amp; farms (low yields %26amp; income) and eventually turning in the end as deesert eco-system. .Climate Change Linked to Major Vegetation Shifts Worldwide - but more CO2 is better?As someone who has studied science throughout my life, it isn't any news to me that vegetation and habitats shift as climates warm and cool. Too many people, alarmist in particular, have a naive view that habitats and climate are stable throughout time. They aren't and attempting to blame man on it is silly and unscientific. It is just more alarmists nonsense.
The article stated:
Moreover, an estimated one-tenth to one-half of the land mass on Earth will be highly vulnerable to climate-related vegetation shifts by the end of this century, depending upon how effectively humans are able to curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to the study.
Translation, Vegetation is flourishing and plants are migrating to areas they couldn't live in before. It is a very slow process but is nothing new. The only thing new is that alarmists have figured it out and are attempting to scare people with it. What a shock. Have you ever wondered why I nearly always call alarmists %26quot;alarmists%26quot;. It fits.Climate Change Linked to Major Vegetation Shifts Worldwide - but more CO2 is better?“Climate Change Linked to Major Vegetation Shifts Worldwide - but more CO2 is better?”
Well, yes apparently.
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/dow…
“Our results indicate that global changes in climate have eased several critical climatic constraints to plant growth, such that net primary production increased 6% (3.4 petagrams of carbon over 18 years) globally.”
