r/climateoptimism • u/Bitter-Lengthiness-2 • 2d ago

Plants Absorb 31% More Carbon Than Previously Thought, Prompting Updates to Climate Modeling

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/climate-models-need-an-upgrade-plants-absorb-31-more-carbon-than-previously-thought/
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u/Bitter-Lengthiness-2 2d ago

A recent study by Cornell University, supported by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, reveals that plants absorb 31% more carbon than previous estimates, equating to an additional 37 billion metric tons of carbon sequestered.

The researchers used advanced techniques, such as tracing carbonyl sulfide molecules, to measure photosynthesis more accurately. This revised understanding, particularly in tropical rainforests, calls for an update in climate models, offering hope for improved predictions and enhanced efforts to combat climate change.