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EmailU of M Study Highlights Importance of Suburban Plants
The University of Minnesota has released a new study that highlights the importance of suburban plants to the environment.
According to a statement from the university, the study is a first step toward quantifying the role of vegetation in densely developed areas like suburbs.
It’s long been known that wild plants and trees trap carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels. Now, the research from the U of M and UC Santa Barbara shows that suburban vegetation also plays an important role in net CO2 exchange. The study also shows that different plants reduce CO2 in different amounts.
The research was conducted by placing sensors in a St. Paul suburban neighborhood and recording changes in CO2, temperature, water vapor, and wind. During the summer, the vegetation absorbed enough CO2 to balance fossil fuel emissions in the neighborhood.
The study is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research – Biogeosciences.
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