Trees may store less planet-heating carbon than hoped, study suggests

Trees may store less planet-heating carbon than previously estimated, according to a study published this week. Researchers discovered that photosynthesis in trees does not consistently translate into wood growth, a critical process for carbon dioxide sequestration. The study analyzed data from 137 sites across the United States and observed that trees ceased their growth significantly before the end of the period when photosynthesis typically stops for the year. This finding suggests that the capacity of forests to act as carbon sinks might be overestimated, potentially impacting climate change mitigation strategies that rely on forest carbon storage. The research highlights a more complex relationship between plant physiology and carbon cycling than often assumed, indicating that not all carbon captured through photosynthesis is permanently stored as wood.