14 DAY TRIAL // Researchers writing in the scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters document how rising CO2 levels impact on landscapes worldwide.
They say that, according to data they have compiled and analyzed, the world's driest regions will soon starts growing noteworthy patches of greenery, all thanks to the elevated CO2 levels that they are or will be exposed to.
In fact, the specialists say that the phenomenon is already observable in Africa, North America, the Middle East and the Australian outback, Daily Mail informs us.
Satellite images have shown that, in a rather limited time frame (i.e. between 1982 and 2010), these regions experienced an 11% increase in their amount of vegetation.
Taking into consideration the fact that atmospheric CO2 levels are known to have upped by 14% within the same time span, the researchers suspect that these two phenomena are intertwined.
Apart from their having this so-called fertilization effect, high concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere can encourage the growth of various types of vegetation and hinder that of others.
As explained on the official website for the American Geophysical Union, trees and other woody plants are the ones bound to make the most of the ongoing changes in the make-up of our planet's atmosphere.
“Trees are re-invading grass lands, and this could quite possibly be related to the CO2 effect. Long lived woody plants are deep rooted and are likely to benefit more than grasses from an increase in CO2,” specialist Randall Donohue explains.
“The effect of higher carbon dioxide levels on plant function is an important process that needs greater consideration. Even if nothing else in the climate changes as global CO levels rise, we will still see significant environmental changes because of the CO2 fertilization effect,” he warns.
About two weeks ago, scientists in Hawaii announced that, as their measurements indicated, CO2 average daily levels had surpassed 400 parts per million for the first time in human history.
They said that, unless measures to curb CO2 emissions were soon implemented, these concentrations would only up in the years to come.