[Solved] Trees supposedly take 30 years *before* they absorb CO₂. Why?

adam_y , 7 months ago

Something you are missing is that, at night, trees respire. That is, they take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide.

Now I’m not sure of the whole 30 year thing, but perhaps that’s part of the calculation.

Knusper OP , 7 months ago

They may respire, but they must absorb more than they respire, because that’s where the wood comes from…

HeartyBeast , 7 months ago

I think the simplest answer is - they are wrong.

Trees’s structures are made up largely from cellulose and lignin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lignin - for the chemical structure).

Both are very rich in carbon.

The next time someone says that to you - point to a tree and explain that - that thing over there is largely comprised of carbon that has been extracted from the atmosphere by photosynthesis- so what are you talking about?

adam_y , 7 months ago

Yeah, it’s the simplest answer, and likely correct. But a more interesting question is why they got it wrong and what assumptions and misconceptions did they make to arrive at the wrong answer.