Tropical Forests Could Upset Global Carbon Balance - Irish Weather Online

Tropical Forests Could Upset Global Carbon Balance - Irish Weather Online: "Increased tropical forest growth could upset the global carbon balance, according to a study by ecologists who say that the resulting increase in litterfall could stimulate soil micro-organisms leading to a release of stored soil carbon.

The research was led by scientists from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the University of Cambridge, UK. The results have been published online in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change.
Human activities have led to increases in carbon dioxide levels but it was thought that trees would respond to this by increasing their growth and taking up larger amounts of carbon. However, enhanced tree growth leads to more dead plant matter, especially leaf litter, returning to the forest floor and it is unclear"