The boreal forest, which covers most of inland Canada, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Russia, appears to be flourishing as levels of carbon dioxide rise as a result of fossil-fuel burning, according to a new study published in Science.
The study, according to Scientific American, says the forest is "breathing deeper," based on the growing "saw teeth" on the Keeling curve, which depicts the rise and fall of atmospheric CO2 as seasons change. The study found the forest is drawing-or breathing-more CO2 during the growing season than it has in the past. The difference between the annual peaks and valleys has increased by 50 percent in the last 50 years.
Lead author Heather Graven postulates that either warmer temperatures are changing the timing of photosynthesis and respiration, or the ecosystems might be changing how much carbon is allocated to leaves, wood or roots.
