Introduction to the Study
An international team of researchers led by the University of Birmingham has shown for the first time that bacteria living in the bark or wood itself remove atmospheric methane on a scale equivalent to or bigger than soil. They estimate that this newly discovered strategy makes plants 10 percent more useful to the environment than previously thought.
Based on new research, tree bark bacteria absorb ample amounts of it, enhancing trees’ climatic aids by approximately 10%. This research points out the role of trees in mitigating climate change and supports tree planting and forest conservation as major tactics in worldwide methane reduction efforts.
According to a study published in Nature, tree bark surfaces help to remove this gas from the atmosphere.
Trees’ New Role in Methane Absorption
While trees have long been known to aid the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, new research suggests an unexpected extra climate advantage. Microbes concealed in tree bark can absorb it, a potent greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere.
An international team of researchers led by the University of Birmingham has demonstrated for the first time that bacteria living in the bark or in the wood itself remove atmospheric methane on a scale comparable to or greater than that of soil. They estimate that this newly found technique makes plants 10 percent more beneficial to the climate overall than previously believed.
It is responsible for approximately 30% of global warming since pre-industrial times, and emissions are currently increasing faster than at any time since monitoring began in the 1980s.
Professor Vincent Gauci of the University of Birmingham, the study’s lead researcher, stated that “the main ways in which we consider the contribution of trees to the environment is through absorbing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and storing it as carbon.” These findings, however, reveal a stunning new mechanism in which trees deliver critical climatic services.
“The Global Methane Pledge, launched in 2021 at the COP26 climate change summit, aims to reduce its emissions by 30% by the end of the decade.” Our findings indicate that planting more trees and limiting deforestation must be key components of any approach to this goal.”
Findings from Tropical, Temperate, and Boreal Forests
The study aimed at upland tropical, temperate, and boreal forest trees. They specifically measured tropical forests in the Amazon and Panama, temperate broadleaf trees in Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire, UK, and boreal coniferous forests in Sweden. Its absorption was highest in tropical woods, most likely due to the warm, moist conditions that exist there. On average, the newly revealed methane absorption increases the climatic benefit provided by temperate and tropical trees by about 10%.
The Importance of Tree Bark in Methane Removal
By studying its exchange between the atmosphere and tree bark at various heights, they were able to demonstrate that, while trees are likely to emit a small amount of it at the soil level, the direction of exchange switches, and methane from the atmosphere is consumed a few meters higher.
Global Methane Pledge and Climate Goals
In addition, the team employed laser scanning methods to assess the overall worldwide forest tree bark surface area, with early estimations indicating that trees contribute 24.6-49.9 Tg (millions of tonnes) of methane. This closes a significant gap in understanding the worldwide sources and sinks of methane.
The tree shape research also demonstrates that if all of the world’s trees’ bark were spread flat, the area would be equivalent to the Earth’s land surface. “Tree woody surfaces boost a third dimension to how life on Earth connects with the atmosphere, and this third dimension is filling with life and surprises,” stated co-author Yadvinder Malhi from the University of Oxford.
Professor Gauci and colleagues at Birmingham are currently launching a new study program to determine whether deforestation has raised atmospheric methane concentrations. They also want to learn more about the microorganisms themselves, the processes they utilize to absorb methane, and whether trees might improve atmospheric methane removal.