RTNew research carried out over 90 years has found that up to half of California’s iconic big trees have disappeared, with scientists suspecting climate change as the prime reason.
The report published in the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences examined changes in the number of large trees – two feet in diameter or more – between data gathered in the 1920s and 30’s and the first decade of this century.
The research covered all of California and found that all areas had seen significant declines with up to 75 percent of the big trees dead in some southern part of the state.
Scientists suspect that climate change is the biggest factor as large trees are much more susceptible to drought than small ones. Other factors including logging were also blamed for their decline.
Although the authors were clear that in national parks where there has been no logging, but which were situated in the south of California which has suffered long term drought, big tree loss was dramatic but in the north of the state which has not experienced significant drought, even in areas where logging is allowed, the decline of large trees was not significant.
The result is that some of California’s iconic trees, such as the redwoods and ponderosa pines are dying off at an alarming rate.
“Older, larger trees are declining because of disease, drought, logging and other factors, but what stands out is that this decline is statewide. Based on our data, water stress helps to explain the decline of large trees. Areas experiencing declines in large-tree density also experienced increased water stress since the 1930s,” said lead author of the report Patrick McIntyre, of the University of California in Berkeley.
Scientists are not certain why larger trees suffer more from dry conditions, but they suspect it’s because they need more water than smaller ones to withstand drought and disease.
Big trees are much more important to the ecosystem than small ones as they provide food and shelter for wildlife and suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
“There’s no question that if you are losing large trees, you are losing standing carbon in the forest. Loss of these big trees and the impact of drought stress become a big concern going forward in terms of its impact on the carbon cycle; they can turn a carbon sink into a source of carbon released into the atmosphere,” said co-author David Ackerly.
However, the study found an increase in small trees right across the state as well as increased dominance of oak trees over pines, which are more resistant to drought.
They predict that the process will continue as the average annual temperature is expected to increase by up to 5 percent by 2100, with a corresponding increase in water reduction of 30 percent.
God forbid they go after the REAL reason the trees and plants are dying.
Heaven forbid they discuss the chemical poisoning of the soil, air, and water….
Guess they think there are no critical thinkers left…. but there are….
“their” truths…. are lies…. some things never change.
Until these scientists come clean on global geoengineering and how chemtrails are poisoning our soil and plants and trees there is no point in having any conversation with them……………aluminium and barium and other chemicals being sprayed on our plant non-stop for decades now is killing the planet…and then there is the subject HAARP – weather as a weapon – for causing droughts….if the powers that be and their paid off scientists continue to deny the role chemtrails and HAARP plays in all of this we are all screwed.
Why even post this pro-Agenda 21 marxist bullshit?
Number one, to show it is out there.
Number two, so we can condemn it for the pro-Agenda 21 marxist bullshit it is.
What other could you possibly be trying to imply on this site?
“Scientists are not certain why larger trees suffer more from dry conditions, but they suspect it’s because they need more water than smaller ones to withstand drought and disease.” lol LOL lol
This reads like its for kids.
Ok, I am sure plenty of “scientists” know that larger trees get larger amounts of their water intake via the canopy. A redwood for instance might only pump water up itself 3/4 of the way. The amount diminishes as you ascend as well. The canopy absorbs the remaining water it needs. The more available the bigger they grow.
Now think ‘man-made climate change’. You think CO2 right? Well if the CO2 was raising it would seem these trees would have MORE of the elements they need to grow.
Now spray metal aerosol on it from above and then ask why they are dying. Especially the larger ones since it clogs them up.
Now spray nuclear waste for a few years upwind about 5100 miles and see if that helps.
‘Its hard work. The “scientists” are working hard’
yep!!
For the record I am not a licensed arborist , however I can understand that trees which have been living , some for a thousand years or more suddenly are dying off in recent decades is not an accident . I blame this on the so called chosen ones , IMO.
Proving once again that logic and common sense are anathema to science.