Big Trees First to Die in Severe Droughts
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Next StepsBecause this problem is related to carbon emissions, the most logical solution is to stop these carbon emissions. There are many ways this can be done. We can convert our cars to electric, we can develop new ways to produce products so its not polluting our air. Our government is already hard at work trying to reduce these emissions but the bottom line is that our main goal should be to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Another solution to this problem could be that all we have to do is to nurture and take better care of these trees. This article is very significant because this relates to California, the state I live in. We are currently in a severe drought and the government as well as the community is making sure that we are able to get enough water not just for ourselves but for nature as well. These big trees mean that they have been around for a long time and we should be doing everything we can to make sure they maintain their stay at the forests and reduce the carbon dioxide emissions.
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SummaryAs more and more areas suffer from severe droughts, there are many dangers that can come from this problem. One of the biggest issues that droughts are causing are the deaths of gigantic trees. Researchers have gathered data from 40 drought locations in 38 forests around the world and they found that large trees had a decrease with their growth as well as they died more often. According to Nathan McDowell, big trees have a harder time to suck water as well as, "some species, such as the spotted owl, only live in big trees. Large trees provide shade for the forest ecosystem and keep the understory of forests cool and more humid." Big trees also have a large amount of carbon dioxide within them making them a big help with the excess amount of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The problem with the drought is that it is making trees less likely to take in that carbon dioxide. Also, when these trees die, they release all of that stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere adding more to our climate change. In this week alone (Sept. 28), the number of dead trees in California raised to 25 million.
ReflectionOne of the main reasons why I chose this article was because since its about droughts, it is very relatable to California. California is the state I live in and I think it is important to realize the problems that my home has to face and how we as a community can fix it. I believe everyone should take a look at this article and try to find solutions for this problem. Another reason why this interested me so much was because it focused only on the big trees and how losing them causes more problems for the environment. For example, when these large trees die, the stored carbon dioxide gets released into the air adding even more to the carbon emissions that cause even more of these big trees to die and the cycle keeps continuing.
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