Publication date:
July 25, 2024
Trees Found to Absorb Methane, Enhancing Climate Benefits
A new study reveals that trees, particularly their bark, absorb significant amounts of methane from the atmosphere, potentially removing up to 50 million tons annually.
Climate Science
A groundbreaking study has uncovered a new dimension in the climate benefits of trees, revealing their capacity to absorb substantial amounts of methane from the atmosphere. This discovery adds to the well-known ability of trees to sequester carbon dioxide, further emphasizing their crucial role in combating climate change.
Researchers, led by Vincent Gauci, conducted extensive measurements across various forest types in countries including Brazil, Peru, Panama, the UK, and Sweden. The team found that while trees in Amazon floodplains emitted methane, those in upland forests demonstrated a significant methane absorption capacity.
The study revealed that tropical trees were the most effective methane absorbers, likely due to the thriving methane-eating microbes in their bark under warm conditions. On average, this newly discovered property makes trees about 10% more climate-beneficial than previously thought.
To quantify the global impact, researchers used advanced 3D scanning techniques to estimate the total surface area of tree bark worldwide. The results were staggering: if all the world's tree bark were laid flat, it would cover Earth's entire land surface. This extensive microbial habitat is estimated to remove between 25 million and 50 million tons of methane from the atmosphere annually.
This finding is particularly significant given methane's potent greenhouse effect, which is 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. The discovery could help explain discrepancies in the global methane budget, where satellite measurements have detected lower methane emissions than ground-based studies suggested.
The implications for energy markets and climate policy are substantial. This new understanding of trees' role in methane absorption could influence forest management strategies, carbon offset programs, and global climate models. For energy traders and analysts, this information may impact long-term forecasts for carbon pricing and regulatory frameworks surrounding greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers, led by Vincent Gauci, conducted extensive measurements across various forest types in countries including Brazil, Peru, Panama, the UK, and Sweden. The team found that while trees in Amazon floodplains emitted methane, those in upland forests demonstrated a significant methane absorption capacity.
The study revealed that tropical trees were the most effective methane absorbers, likely due to the thriving methane-eating microbes in their bark under warm conditions. On average, this newly discovered property makes trees about 10% more climate-beneficial than previously thought.
To quantify the global impact, researchers used advanced 3D scanning techniques to estimate the total surface area of tree bark worldwide. The results were staggering: if all the world's tree bark were laid flat, it would cover Earth's entire land surface. This extensive microbial habitat is estimated to remove between 25 million and 50 million tons of methane from the atmosphere annually.
This finding is particularly significant given methane's potent greenhouse effect, which is 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. The discovery could help explain discrepancies in the global methane budget, where satellite measurements have detected lower methane emissions than ground-based studies suggested.
The implications for energy markets and climate policy are substantial. This new understanding of trees' role in methane absorption could influence forest management strategies, carbon offset programs, and global climate models. For energy traders and analysts, this information may impact long-term forecasts for carbon pricing and regulatory frameworks surrounding greenhouse gas emissions.
